Wednesday 28th May 2014

Alfa Romeo 164: PH Ad Break

What's better than one American One Sixty Four ad? A medley!

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Given it's been a little while since we've observed the delights of commercials gone by, PH Ad Break needed a return in appropriately OTT fashion. Alfa selling the 164 in America is perfect.

On the classic car commercial checklist this collection scores highly. Owner testimony? Yup. Figures 'proving' superiority over competitors? Plentiful. Jazzy backing music? Oh yes. Cheesy slogan? 'The power to express yourself' works just fine.

There's plenty more to sell this 'precision driving instrument' (owner Ronald King's view, not ours). The clip with the V6 howling interspersed with feet 'dancing' on pedals makes the 164 look even more alluring than usual. Alfa though, aware of the US audience, is keen to point out an auto is available for those who abhor driving stick. Super.

One final thing to look out for in this two-minute clip; count the dash warning lights. If you have 18 as well then we're in agreement.

Enjoy the ad(s).

 

[Itsallicanafford]

saw one of these at the weekend (A414 driving through Hertford). V6 Super in black in A1 condition, it looked bloodly marvelous!

[Limpet]

One of the best looking saloon cars of all time, IMHO, and with a Busso V6, one of the best sounding.

[B.J.W]

Such a pretty, pretty car - of a time when form took precedent over function.

[Corkman]

I counted 19 lights... although one was flashing so you might have paused the video at the wrong moment....

...and yes.... I can't believe I counted them either.

[Prawnboy]

Damn you TV!
of to car and classic....

[Fast Bug]

I miss my 164 Cloverleaf

[chrisc156]

Great!, just given me the motivation to get my 164 Super 24v MOTd again.

[bencollins]

"Millions of Europeans already know the pleasure of owning an Alfa Romeo."

[Chris944_S2]

I miss my old one, would still have it if I hadn't moved to a LHD country. Great cars these 164's

[Fast Bug]

Looks just like my Cloverleaf, except mine had the tan leather. Awesome car, with an awesome engine note. One of only 2 cars I regret selling

[carinaman]

Those commercials doubtless proved to be a seminal influence to The Fast & The Furious gearchange scenes.

[carinaman]

http://pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/alfa-...

Wasn't this for sale in the north Glos./West Midlands area with a hole in the cloth due to a hungry rodent or cigarette burn. I'm not sure it was advertised with a price then though.

[Twoshoe]

God I miss mine (all 5 of them). Can't remember the last time I saw one on the road.

[British Beef]

My Dad had a red 164 V6, nice styling, great engine, and all in great family wagon and totally reliable over 3 years and 60k miles.

Alfa has given up on the large family cars of late, shame me thinks!

[LotusEspritTurbo]

A really lovely looking car, beautifully proportioned and detailed. Makes todays saloon cars look bulbous blobs.

[GTEYE]

I vaguely remember from back in the day that Pininfarina came in for a bit of stick for recycling the (similar) design for the 164 and the Peugeot 405.....front and rear clearly different but the centre sections do look pretty similar. Peugeot then copied it again for the 605.

[ws323f]

I have only ever saw one of these on the road, it parks a couple of miles from my house. It only seems to appear in the spring/summer. Its a light metallic gold colour.

Its a great looking car.

[Quhet]

Is that a whole dash full of warning lights at 1.20?

[Northernchimp]

Gear change at 1:24 covered several meters.

[Northernchimp]

Seems a bit pricey...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-164-3-0-24val...