How are these? Other than having a really macho name, I mean. 
I've seen this one in CL for a little while now. Should I run away?
How are these? Other than having a really macho name, I mean.
I've seen this one in CL for a little while now. Should I run away?
Afraid I can't tell you much, but how is this off-topic?
I'm hoping to have that lovely shape as a GTV6 someday.
That DeDion/watts link rear suspension is jewelry.
ransom wrote: Afraid I can't tell you much, but how is this off-topic?
Oooops! I post here so much that I forgot! Mods feel free to reposition at your discretion.
Unloved.
There are people who just adore the car, but from the Alfa community as a whole, they are not nearly as popular as the predecessor, the GTV.
And they were the first real cars to have significant emissions hardware put on them, so gain a little weight (mostly in the bumpers), lose a little power, and you get a not so popular car.
Still, they can be great cars. The "expensinve" part is that the speed parts (springs, mainly) are not share with anything but other cars with torsion springs... Can be converted, but not trivial.
For the money, if the rust isn't there, it's a good buy. If there's rust- well, that's a lot of work. Engine is incredibly rebuildable, trans is not too bad (rubber giubos are the weakest link), ballance is awesome.
It's a good car all around, and the price reflects the fact that not many consider it a great car. A GTV in that condition seems to want to sell for about 5-10x that.
My first Alfa was an Alfetta.
Sorry- had to run to a meeting...
As been posted before- http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/index.php
There's a section there for Alfettas.
Looking at the pictures, the car is certainly dirty, but pretty free of rust. If there is rust on the inner front fenders near the back- that's pretty typical, and not nornally a problem. If it's more than that- metal is hard to find, a rusty Spider is a lot easier to repair. Wolf Steel does have Alfetta steel- http://www.alfaparts.net/alfetta.htm I've bought from them, and it's good stuff. Some CM advertisers probably have patch panels, too.
The enigne is 99% the same as the spider. The main difference is the crank isn't drilled for a trans input shaft (since the trans is in the back), there's no mechanical fan, and the exhaust headers are different (ignoring the difference in oil pan- performance parts are the same).
IMHO, a SPICA car is easy to install MS on, if you decide to go that way (and unless you are a fan of mechanical injection, you'll spend less to put a decent MS install than rebuild the SPICA pump). Can be turbo'ed pretty easy- a little easier in the Alfetta than Spider thanks to the steering.
Whatelse....
rear inboard brakes can be a pain to work on. Wheel nut pattern is unique to the Alfetta and a Fiat. You might be able to get GTV6/Milano parts to swap, but it's not as if that 5 bolt is that common...
Still, I did enjoy driving one. The reason I parted with it is that I got more into autocrossing, and the GTV was easier to do, and was a better investement. Alfettas are good cars.
If the car was uuber rusty- the powertrain would make an interesting Locost.
Alfadude: Can you really use one of the tranaxles for a Locost? On a Locost, you sit just forward of the diff and between the rear wheels. Wouldn't a transaxle force you to move the seats forward?
As long as the bolts aren't rusty the brakes aren't hard to work on really. One kinda scary thing on those is they have a rubber coupler in the steering that can disconnect the steering wheel from turning the wheels when it fails. Other than that if it runs good, the glass is all good and it isn't rusty they are decent.
kreb wrote: Alfadude: Can you really use one of the tranaxles for a Locost? On a Locost, you sit just forward of the diff and between the rear wheels. Wouldn't a transaxle force you to move the seats forward?
Can? I'm sure you can. How to do it, yea- dunno. Probably not all that easy, and you probably would have to move forward, or at least make some provisions.
It would be a lot easier if the gears were behind the axle, that's for sure.
but at least the front of the tunnel would be easy.
I have been in that car and have seen it run down the road. I would hate to know how much it cost him but that is one sweet mode of transportation.
I had a 78. It was one of the best cars I have owned, At 130K it would still pull to over 130 mph. The balance was great and the car was comfortable on long trips. Rust is the big issue with these cars, but if it is relatively rust free, it is well worth the money providing it doesn't take much to make it a runner. I also lust for a GTV6 and would love to find a Callaway.
In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:
My friend built that engine. And took derivatives of that out to the salt flats.
Pros? For starters, that's a decent price (depending on what "no major rust" really means).
Cons? Aren't these the Alfas with the ....I almost said strange instrument cluster, then I remembered, that term could describe SEVERAL models of Alfa. But seriously, isn't the tach on these cars in front of the driver and all the other gauges in a pod in the center of the dash tilted towards the driver?
And while I like the sedans and coupes, I don't know how you can call the name "Macho". When I hear Alfetta, I think "bitty Alfa".
In reply to alfadriver:
The motor in that car is a work of art that can send the back end sideways with very little effort.
I really miss my GTV-6 and will have another Alfa one of these days.
In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:
One of the derivatives is now a coffee table. After it did +200mph. Very much art.
To the OP, get it. There's plenty of help out there to work you through most issues. The only real non DIY thing is a SPICA pump rebuild.
My best friend in HS had a '78 Alfetta GT. It had a super-nice red Imron paint job and was mint inside. Unfortunately it had a habit of eating driveshaft guibos and 2nd gear synchros. It also lost it's head gasket and blew oil all over the place while we were cruising A1A one Saturday afternoon. When it was whole and running right though, man did that thing make a wonderful noise...
I had a '76 and two '78's, as well as a couple of the earlier GTV's. Hands down the earlier cars are better, but they are also now a lot more expensive. The Alfetta's have their own character, if somewhat mutted, and can be made to be fairly quick. Unfortunately most are rusty and unloved, and that equals big money to put back in any kind of shape,
They share the 2 liter with the Spider and all mods applicable to them are good for the Alfetta too. Unfortuantely, to get any kind of power gains and going through the other pieces will cost as much as simply buying a GTV6 which is VASTLY superior in every respect.
I liked mine ok, but the minute I got a GTV6 I never wanted another one, nor did I ever want to even drive it. It's really stuck between the retro goodness of the GTV and the much better driving GTV6.
integraguy wrote: I don't know how you can call the name "Macho". When I hear Alfetta, I think "bitty Alfa".
I realize that sarcasm is hard to convey on the internet, but I thought this one would get through. I mean with the smilie and all.
And for the record: By rule, no name which ends in the letter "a" can properly be considered "macho."
kreb wrote: Alfadude: Can you really use one of the tranaxles for a Locost? On a Locost, you sit just forward of the diff and between the rear wheels. Wouldn't a transaxle force you to move the seats forward?
I couldn't find what I was looking for but I did find this one: http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4146&start=15
1988RedT2 wrote:integraguy wrote: I don't know how you can call the name "Macho". When I hear Alfetta, I think "bitty Alfa".I realize that sarcasm is hard to convey on the internet, but I thought this one would get through. I mean with the smilie and all. And for the record: By rule, no name which ends in the letter "a" can properly be considered "macho."
I figured you were on the sarcastic side...
But for the record- Alfetta does mean little Alfa. I think it's because the original Alfettas were 1.5l boosted to the moon engines after the bigger 8C late 30's Grand Prix cars. They were introduced at the Tipoli Grand Prix before the war, thinking that the small formula would catch Auto Union and Mercedes off guard- didn't work. But the 158/159 Alfettas were hidden in caves during the war, and when Grand Prix racing started again, they ruled the roost.
The Alfetta line in the 70's was named after the GP cars from the late 30's-early 50's.
Not terribly imprtant trivia....
In reply to alfadriver:
Thanks for all the info. You are well-versed in all things Alfa!
1988RedT2 wrote: In reply to alfadriver: Thanks for all the info. You are well-versed in all things Alfa!
Not all, not even close. Just enough to be annoying.
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