Interesting Alfa for sale

So RARE you would be lucky to see more than 5 every day ...

Pete

 

Not all that hard to get worked on. All though you might have to wait for a part from Italy. There is a ALFA 166 here in Plano quite happily being driven as a daily commuter.

 

You can bet on one thing. That Title (if there is one) won't do you any good.
It can't be registered for use on the roads in this country. Damn shame, since it is probably more environmentally friendly then most domestic cars, and I'm sure it is safe enough too. Bureaucracy is ugly.

 

This car was on display at the Seattle Italian Concours last year (plus I think also at the "Ferraris on 12th", but I missed that show). In very nice shape, but what do you do with a car you can't drive on the street? Track days??

(I cover up license plates in my pictures: )
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Nice car. Anyone know what those run for since they were never available in the good old USA.

 

Common as dirt in Australia ... still nice car and I am a Alfisti through and through.

[size=+2]Word of WARNING for those in USA thinking of buying a modern Alfa romeo[/size]

Be very careful in what you buy regarding new Alfa Romeos. They are not legal in USA and the company that was importing them (and rebadging them as something else) has resulted in both partners doing big time I believe ..

http://alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=3641

I would not touch a modern Alfa Romeo with a very long pole if I lived in the USA.

Thus I cannot see how this Alfa Romeo can be used ... ?

Pete

BTW: That 166 that 'icars' mentioned has to be a grey import and from my understanding is not legal ...

Rob, as for the 164 ... great long legged tourers, but watch out for front windscreen leaks!

 

Excuse the ignorant Brit,but why are Alfas not allowed into the states?

 

The ebay picture has got UK plates on it.

Pretty common cars over here - pile of pants though.

 

For those of us in the states, is that a postitive or negative comment?

 

Complying with our safety and emission regs is expensive and certain companies either cannot afford to comply or choose not to. Sad, really that we lose out on a lot of interesting cars.

 

I’ve driven the coupe and it’s a kick in the pants! I Fell in love with it and looked at importing one of these spiders to enjoy here in the USA!

It would have cost me about $15K for a used one (That’s with a V6 not a little 4 like the one here). To federalize it would have cost me $10-12K just to have it examined and another $10-15K for possible modifications needed to make it Fed worthy. (not including shipping, prep, documents..blah blah blah...)

I own a 164 and use it as a daily driver with just under 200K !! I love the car! It’s looks are still in style. It’s rare (fewer than 400 imported in 94) and reliable! I anxiously await Alfa’s return to the USA!

PD

 

The 166 was not a gray market car. It is complety legal anybody can bring one in if you are willing to deal with enough paperwork. You can import the car as a show car driving less than 5K per year. The secret here of course is there is no government intenty to inforce that 5k per year. This is a once in a lifetime event by current law.

The fellow here in Plano that imported it just dug through the red tape.

 

Rob I doubt you will see an ALFA before 2010 if at all. The year 2007 was being talked about when GM was part of the mix. The ALFA factory reps had published the 2010 year more currently on ALFA web sites.

 

I understood that a foreigner can bring a personal car into the USA “Fed exempt” on a temporary visa. He can drive and use it, but upon expiration the car must leave with him.
I thought that was an interesting way to get the car of your dreams over here for a temporary period of time. (at least for me it could work since I have close relationships with foreign partners who work here)

PD

 

OK guys Here is the full story on this car. I've accually talked to the owner for 10-15 minutes about the car and how it was brought to the US.

Alfa built the new spiders to US spec because they thought they would be the car to re-launch Alfa in the US so there was very little to fedralize to get this car on the road. As for being a legal import that is questionable. Jeff, the current owner of the spider told me the car was origanially imported buy a British citizen that lives in Oklahoma. If this is the car the Car was brought over within the law, but the fact that the car is still here may not be legal.

As far as getting service you might be up a creak without a paddle. This car has Alfa's Twin Spark engine in it. This is an engine that was never imported to the US when Alfa was still around. I know Jeff has been getting the work done at Alfa of Tacoma here in Seattle, but I don't know how many Alfa garages will be willing to dive into it. As for parts I think he told me he waited 2-3 months for spark plugs

He has been trying to sell this car for 6 months os so. He origanally was asking $40K, but I've been told by some of my Alfa buddies he bought the car for $30k. I would imagine he looking for $35k.

 

Currently this is not possible with an Alfa. Alfa filed a motion with the US DOT to bar all private imports of Alfa made after 1980 I think. Some speculate this was done as part of their positioning to come back to the US market. When I was looking for my 164 I looked into importing one of the all wheel drive version from Germany. There is a ton of red tape to cut through if you were to try doing the right now.

 

Rob
Don't sell the 164 short. I will agree with you that the design is on the boxy side, but performance wise it's top notch. If you seriuosly think about a sport Italian daily driver I would encourage you to get a 24valve 164 a try. If you could find a Quadrifoglio it is an amazing car. It's only got 230hp on paper, but it will pull away from just about anything with 4 doors, and some 2 doors as well.

 

Actually I think he only paid 25k for the car. The fellow that he bought it from In Norman had two spiders. He kept one and sold one. He offered me the car for 25k before he sold it. This car was at our Taste of Addison show a few years ago.

The fellow in question is actually an Iranian here under British Passport. He is a member of the Roman Chariots Italian car group. He offered to get me a car for cost + 5K.

Again while not really easy to service, it's not impossible. The 166 is serviced at my mechanic. The only issue they have had is the necessity of getting parts from Italy.

 

On the 164 question. They are great cars, but personally I still have a soft spot for the Milano. I loved my Milano even though my car was less then stellar "it had a rough life" I would go for a lowish mileage Verde.

 

The Milano is a Great car. Would like to build a 24v Milano Track car when I have the money. But for a daily driver and a touring car the 164 has it beat for comfort.

 

I saw that silver 166 last night at Willow Bend. It caught my eye as I passed it, then I turned around to take another look at it. Its beautiful!!!