FIVE TRIALS
We enjoy the Alfasud 1500Ti and put it fully to the test
1 DAILY DRIVING
You need to enjoy driving in order to develop a bond with an Alfasud. The little engines aren’t massively torquey and like to be revved, the brakes need to be treated firmly and the unassisted steering will keep your biceps busy at parking speeds. It’s not the cheapest small daily driver, either, as fuel economy isn’t brilliant. As for reliability… well, old Alfa Romeos are renowned for rewarding their besotted owners with a seemingly endless sequence of niggling faults, especially electrical gremlins. A proper hatchback wasn’t devised until 1981, either, so earlier models aren’t as practical as later ones, either. But all this misses the point – it’s simply a fabulous car to drive, idolise, and squirrel away until summer arrives.
2 IN THE SERVICE BAY
The boxer engines are easy to work on, because many of the key components – oil filter, distributor, alternator, etc. – are within reach from the top of the engine bay, though the front inboard brakes are a bit awkward to get at. Ongoing tinkering will be required, but major mechanical meltdown is rare; the Alfasud is fundamentally very well engineered. Sourcing parts is getting trickier and you’ll have to look to Italy to find some of the scarcer items, but production numbers were high by Alfa standards (nearly 900,000 were made) so used parts are available. You’re unlikely to find any insurmountable problems, unless they’re rustrelated. Keeping on top of corrosion is key.
3 ON THE SHOW CIRCUIT
Alfasuds elicit jealous gasps from anyone who appreciates clever engineering and Italian style. Show-goers’ calendar highlights include the Italian Car Day, hosted by Auto Italia magazine at Brookland’s museum in May ( brooklandsmuseum.com/whats-on), and Classics at the Villa (classicsatthevilla.com), an up-and-coming celebration of ‘fast cars and slow food’ with a strong Italian theme. The Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club (aroc-uk.com) is well represented throughout the UK; it hosts regular local events and keeps an Alfasud Register to help members share information and history on the model. You won’t be short of meets and shows to attend – not to mention forum members egging you on.
4 THE LONG WEEKEND
Clever packaging means that the Alfasud scores well for interior space. You’ll get a few suitcases in the boot, which is capacious considering the car’s modest overall proportions. It’s basic in the front, but quite sensible, with a few crevices to store odds and ends: a parcel tray, a little glovebox and small storage bin – no door pockets though. Back-seat passengers also have a roomy bench to relax on, but noone will enjoy the ride quite as much as much as the driver. Wind noise is pretty high at motorway speeds – this was never meant to be an Autobahn cruiser, after all. You’ll soon want to ditch the motorway and take the scenic route instead.
5 THE B-ROAD BLAST
The ’Sud skips through corners with an agility that’s rarely associated with a practical runabout. It’s fantastically poised, with every crinkle of the road surface feeling mechanically connected to the driver’s fingertips. Don’t expect it to fly – even this 1500 Ti, the butchest of the ’Suds, doesn’t make 100bhp – but plant the throttle on an open straight and the cab fills with noise and drama as the engine spins into its free-revving happy zone. You might find yourself wishing that the gearlever has a chunkier action to it, but you’ll get over it – whistling through the countryside in a car that’s as balanced and agile as an Alfasud is one of life’s great pleasures.