I had one of these as my first ever Alfa during pandemic 2020. That was a 3 litre V6 auto in Volcane Black. Here's the thread for it...
forum.retro-rides.org/thread/214645/99-alfa-166-litre-v6
I had it for a few months, and sold it to a friend when something else I had my eye on came up. Those few months with it made a big impression on me, and I'm delighted to be back in one of these gorgeous machines.
As I said in my other thread, I honestly used to think these were a big ugly duckling. Especially the small front headlights. However, I have really come to appreciate it's lines, it's quirkiness and it's boldness of design. It dared to be something different in the big car sector, and I doff my cap to the designers now.
This particular car belonged to the son of a regular customer in my coffee shops. It was mentioned in our conversations back in the summer of 2019 that her son might be selling, and if he did, would I be interested. I was of course, but it just didn't happen for whatever reason. Of course, I went on to buy the black one instead, and oddly I'm now in this one. I have to say, I think it's a stunner.
It's a 2.5 litre Busso manual. I like my autos, and generally like to waft about in my big execs letting the car do all the work. However, this Busso V6 so suits having the manual box, although it probably means I'll be visiting the local Shell garage more than if it was an auto! The mileage is a respectable 102k miles, which isn't bad for being 21 years old I guess. There is some service history, in which it was interesting to read that in 2008, at around 72k miles, it had a snapped timing belt due to an issue with an idler bearing! It was on it's second timing belt at the time, the first one having been changed at 40k miles. It had 24 new valves, 10 new guides, 0.010" head skim, cam-cap holes helicoiled, new belt (obviously), tensioner and idlers, water pump, radiator etc etc.
And I'm so glad all the above work was carried out...I mean, just look at it man!
The interior on this is Momo cream leather, and the colour goes very well with the Minerva Green exterior...
Here it was on the day I went to view. It wasn't in the best shape, having basically been sat for a couple of years, much of it under a tree on his parents drive. All a bit dusty and in need of a bit of tlc...
WEll, I just couldn't turn it down. The colour is great, the Zender bodykit suits it so well, and the 17" Supersport alloys are the best wheels for them. I know I'm a bit weird, but I do love a first wash...
And it was rather lovely under all that dust...
Lovely to see another rare Italian motor whilst out and about in the 166...
I was glad to be able to spend a bit of time under the bonnet with the Busso. It was obvious that it had sat under a tree for quite a while...
After a thoroughly enjoyable hour under the bonnet...
Little details are important, such as screw caps...
Some random bits and pieces pics...
There are, of course, some things to sort. It will be heading down to the 166 specialists in Bradford next week for the list below:
Timing belt
Water pump
Aircon fault
Full service
Leaking heater matrix
Slight oil leak
New front badge
4 new tyres
..so quite an expensive list, but it'll be worth it. I mean, just look at it. How much style and class can you get in a big car?....
forum.retro-rides.org/thread/214645/99-alfa-166-litre-v6
I had it for a few months, and sold it to a friend when something else I had my eye on came up. Those few months with it made a big impression on me, and I'm delighted to be back in one of these gorgeous machines.
As I said in my other thread, I honestly used to think these were a big ugly duckling. Especially the small front headlights. However, I have really come to appreciate it's lines, it's quirkiness and it's boldness of design. It dared to be something different in the big car sector, and I doff my cap to the designers now.
This particular car belonged to the son of a regular customer in my coffee shops. It was mentioned in our conversations back in the summer of 2019 that her son might be selling, and if he did, would I be interested. I was of course, but it just didn't happen for whatever reason. Of course, I went on to buy the black one instead, and oddly I'm now in this one. I have to say, I think it's a stunner.
It's a 2.5 litre Busso manual. I like my autos, and generally like to waft about in my big execs letting the car do all the work. However, this Busso V6 so suits having the manual box, although it probably means I'll be visiting the local Shell garage more than if it was an auto! The mileage is a respectable 102k miles, which isn't bad for being 21 years old I guess. There is some service history, in which it was interesting to read that in 2008, at around 72k miles, it had a snapped timing belt due to an issue with an idler bearing! It was on it's second timing belt at the time, the first one having been changed at 40k miles. It had 24 new valves, 10 new guides, 0.010" head skim, cam-cap holes helicoiled, new belt (obviously), tensioner and idlers, water pump, radiator etc etc.
And I'm so glad all the above work was carried out...I mean, just look at it man!
The interior on this is Momo cream leather, and the colour goes very well with the Minerva Green exterior...
Here it was on the day I went to view. It wasn't in the best shape, having basically been sat for a couple of years, much of it under a tree on his parents drive. All a bit dusty and in need of a bit of tlc...
WEll, I just couldn't turn it down. The colour is great, the Zender bodykit suits it so well, and the 17" Supersport alloys are the best wheels for them. I know I'm a bit weird, but I do love a first wash...
And it was rather lovely under all that dust...
Lovely to see another rare Italian motor whilst out and about in the 166...
I was glad to be able to spend a bit of time under the bonnet with the Busso. It was obvious that it had sat under a tree for quite a while...
After a thoroughly enjoyable hour under the bonnet...
Little details are important, such as screw caps...
Some random bits and pieces pics...
There are, of course, some things to sort. It will be heading down to the 166 specialists in Bradford next week for the list below:
Timing belt
Water pump
Aircon fault
Full service
Leaking heater matrix
Slight oil leak
New front badge
4 new tyres
..so quite an expensive list, but it'll be worth it. I mean, just look at it. How much style and class can you get in a big car?....
