Alfa Romeo 164 Cloverleaf: Spotted
A front-wheel-drive Alfa from the early 1990s, for 13 grand. Sounds rather steep - but is it?
Frankly, there are relatively few large executive cars from the 1990s you can really go weak at the knees for, but the Alfa Romeo 164 is one of them. And no more so in our book than the 24v Cloverleaf, of which just 191 were specially imported, to order, by Alfa Romeo between 1993 and 1997.
But is the 164 QV special enough to warrant the £12,990 price tag being asked for it here? Certainly, a few years ago you'd have picked up a shiny one for less than half that. Have prices really risen to the extent that this sort of figure is justified for not only an Alfa dating from the early 1990s - making it barely a classic, in other words - but also one with front-wheel drive?
However, Alfa Romeo worked on the problem, and this continual evolution meant that by the time of the 24v's introduction the issues had, for the most part, been ironed out, leaving a car that was remarkably agile for its size. The engine changes boosted power to a not-inconsiderable 232hp, enough to cover the 0-60 benchmark in around seven seconds.
Like all Cloverleafs, of course, this one looks fabulous - its two-tone red-over-grey paintwork suiting the 164's shape and Cloverleaf bodykit down to the ground. Inside it's glorious, too, all black leather, heavily bolstered seats and angular dashboard lines. And then there are those gorgeous split-rim telephone dial wheels - here, freshly renovated.
In short, this looks about as good a Cloverleaf as you'll find, which brings us back to the original question: is it worth £13k, or close to? With everything it has going for it, we're inclined to say so. What do you think?
SPECIFICATION - ALFA ROMEO 164 3.0 V6 24V QUADRIFOGLIO VERDE
Engine: 2,959cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 232@6,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207@5,000rpm
MPG: 27.4 (ECE touring)
CO2: n/a
First registered: 1995
Recorded mileage: 91,000
Price new: £31,486
Yours for: £12,990
See the original advert here.
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Although there are different versions, with sill covers etc, it's not quite a body kit in the traditional sense: the lower sections of the door are plastic (ABS I imagine) so the whole lower section of the car is protected against minor knocks.
Edit = should have tried harder!
I always look on the 164 fondly as my late Dad had a great deal of interest in them, possibly as a purchase in the late-80's after the brand new Fiat Regata 85s he bought, but even a non-Cloverleaf 164 was a big step up from the 6k the Fiat cost in 1984. It never happened but it's probably for the best. The 164 could have been ruinous at the time and instead he went into a series of non-glamourous but very dependable Hyundai models such as the Stellar.
Still love the interior in these which I remember from several magazine articles he had - rows of buttons and fancy LED displays as I recall. At current prices I think they are best left in my imagination rather than on my driveway.
Fair to say dad loved them and would love another.
k all that, I’m not going to praise a manufacturer for being crap. 13 grand, ok....give me an E36 M3 instead....actually I’ll take a 500 pound 318i E36 over this?!
When will this bubble burst
k all that, I’m not going to praise a manufacturer for being crap. 13 grand, ok....give me an E36 M3 instead....actually I’ll take a 500 pound 318i E36 over this?!
When will this bubble burst
k all that, I’m not going to praise a manufacturer for being crap. 13 grand, ok....give me an E36 M3 instead....actually I’ll take a 500 pound 318i E36 over this?!
When will this bubble burst
k all that, I’m not going to praise a manufacturer for being crap. 13 grand, ok....give me an E36 M3 instead....actually I’ll take a 500 pound 318i E36 over this?!
When will this bubble burst
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