Usually, the '90s are dismissed as something of a nadir for the hot hatch, that low point between the '80s heyday and the 21st-century resurgence that didn’t produce much of note. Which never really seemed very fair, and especially not now that the decade is under a little more scrutiny; with those classic heroes and even those icons of the '00s seemingly more expensive than ever, alternatives are being sought.
The Peugeots and Citroens are the obvious cars to think of from back then, various GTIs and VTSes and Rallyes as good as the French got when it came to hot hatches. But there was also the more rare-groove stuff, the 200 BRMs, Almera GTIs, and Civic VTIs of this world to consider. Maybe not the absolute pinnacle, though likely a right old hoot in a contemporary context: lightweight construction, great naturally aspirated engines, and manual gearboxes make for a very good start.
Then, of course, there are the Cloverleaf Alfa Romeos. They could hardly be more '90s, the flagship 145 and 146, with their slightly odd styling, revvy 16-valve engines, and back-to-basics - by modern standards - driving environment. While never as loved back in the day as some others and nowhere near as powerful as the later 147 GTA, in the '20s, both the Twin Spark 2.0-litres look like classic hatches well worth seeking out.
The trouble, as with so many of this ilk, is finding one. Not many sold in the first instance because hot hatch insurance was such an issue in the '90s, and that’s before thinking about what rust and poor maintenance could have claimed. You can bet scrappage schemes must have claimed what would have looked like fairly low-value cars back in 2010 or so. All of which makes this 146 look an absolute delight, with low miles, low owners, and a temptingly low price, too.
It’s covered just 39,000 miles in 28 years, the first owner presumably saving it for best and keeping their Alfa Romeo for a quarter of a century. The interior in particular can attest to that modest mileage, the leather beautiful throughout. Some back to black, a quick polish and a wheel refurb of the teledials would have the outside looking just as good.
Even as is, though, the 146 is a properly enticing proposition. It’s super rare (believed to be one of just 22 left in the UK), it’s been recommissioned by recent owners (including a 2023 cambelt at Alfa Workshop), and is currently in the ownership of someone who loves them (this one having been bought after enjoying a new one in ‘98 so much). It’s just been on a thousand-mile tour of the Loire Valley, no less, and was said to be ‘absolutely faultless.’
This is all on offer for £4,500. You probably don’t need us to remind you how far that gets when buying the more famous hot hatches in 2025. For anything from the '90s with fewer than 40,000 miles, it’s hard to imagine paying less than £4,500, and most of that will be crap. Not a cool old Alfa you might actually want. It was freshly MOT’d at the end of May with just one handbrake advisory, so the Cloverleaf is ready to roll into its next adventure. There might even be a possible deal if you have a convertible to trade…
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