WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

1 2 3 FIT IT WITH AN LSD

Front-wheel drive Alfas, especially V6 models, always benefit from a limited-slip differential and a Quaife ATB unit does just the job perfectly. They are made to order, though, so they aren’t exactly cheap. If that’s beyond the realms of possibility, then consider investing in some top-drawer tyres – they can make a considerable difference to a car that’s previously been wearing even an average set.

GIVE IT MORE POWER

Thanks to its use in the later GTV, the 24-valve V6s are well served for engine improvements. The world is your oyster here, with boring out to 3.5-litres, hotter camshafts and a gas-flowed cylinder head all options well worth considering. Altogether it can add up to 270bhp, but will cost as much as a half-decent 164 is to buy.

SHARPEN IT UP

While traction on the front axle is the main dynamic problem of the 164, some feel the need to firm it up a bit, and chassis braces and lowering springs are available.

Polybushes are just starting to become available for the car, too, though not yet for every bush on the car. Carnoisseur also produces a 1mm thicker anti-roll-bar, at a cost of £234.

4 5 CHANGE ITS BRAKES

You’ll have to go aftermarket if you’re looking to invest in brake upgrades, unless you have a Twin Spark and are willing to wait for months, if not years, to buy the setup off of a V6. Tarox offers upgrade kits that range in price from £13501625. As brakes can wear relatively quickly on 164s, it’s probably worth waiting until yours are in need of replacement anyway.

QV INTAKE RUNNERS

You’ll find used Alfa V6s, particularly high-spec ones, to be pricey, because of their popularity in kit cars. However, if you can find just the intake runners from a 24v Quadrifoglio, these can be fitted to a standard 24v V6 to up the power by around 10bhp. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for the 12v V6, which has smaller intake ports.