BUYING TIPS

1 UNDER THE BONNET

Check for leaks and signs of cylinder head gasket failure (being a boxer, it has two). The engines are generally quite hardy and easy to look after, though twin-carb models will require careful tuning. The front brakes are visible at the back of the engine bay but awkward to reach and often skipped by home-mechanics, so scrutinise their condition carefully.

2 HOW’S THE BODY?

Rust-proofing was improved on later models, but all Alfasuds suffer terribly and any survivors are likely to have been welded. Inner wings, front panel, door bottoms, sills, chassis arms and floors are all known problem areas. Inspect repairs carefully; dodgy workmanship can cause poor panel gaps. The front doors can sag with age, especially on the three-doors.

3 CHECK THE INTERIOR

Interior trim build quality is typically unremarkable, so a few rattles are to be expected and electrical gremlins are commonplace. Check that everything works, including the hot air blower, which never had a brilliant reputation for efficiency even when new. Replacement interiors can be found, though rarely in this country.

4 TRANSMISSION ISSUES

The Ti models have five gears, but most regular models make do with four. Synchromesh can wear out, especially on second gear, so watch out for crunches. Listen for whining sounds, too – they can get noisy with age. Gear lever action wasn’t too crisp when the car was new, but be wary of too much slop. Replacing the clutch is an expensive engine-out job, so budget accordingly.