Happy Birthday

[colcol]

05-11-1984 to 05-11-2014, just thought i would let you know that today, my 33TI turns 30, couldn't let the moment pass without a mention, compliance plate says built October 84, but after emailing the museum, the build date was 5th November, still fully registed and a daily driver doing 72 klms to work and back everyday, has 304,000 klms indicated on speedo, but because the speedo is French and doesn't work sometimes, most likely 340,000, happy birthday 'red rocket', Colin.

[aggie57]

 

[Alfapride]

Happy birthday 33! May you enjoy many more years of fun driving! What about some photos of the old girl?

[colcol]

Sorry, don't know how to put pictures on the internet, but will be going to Spectacolo along with a big turnout of 900 series cars, Colin.

[Victor Lee]

Well done 33 and Col! 

I recall the most memorable item on your 33 when I first saw it were the speakers built into the front seats' headrests.  Are they still there?

[colcol]

Hello Victor, i am so old i remember when you had a 33!, speakers in the headrest are still there, had the seat retrimmed for Spectacolo, trimmer guy commented that he had never seen speakers in the headrest before.
The seats are older than the car, purchased in 1979 from Recaro Australia, remember thinking that these Recaro's are about 4 weeks of my measly wages, 35 years later, i think i got my money's worth, Colin.

[Garibaldi]

Col, congratulations to you and your beloved 33. Who would have thought all of those years ago when you purchased it would still be going strong now. I can't wait to see it at Spettacolo with its retrimmed seat. I hope you both have many more years of motoring enjoyment.
PS: Did you buy it a Birthday cake?

[colcol]

Did i buy it a birthday cake?, what sort of stupid question is that......we have a tradition at work, that when you have a birthday, you bring in a cake or donuts or something, so i took in 24 little cakes for the blokes to eat and confuse the paymaster who checked the birthdays and couldn't workout who it was.
Told them it was for my much maligned car whose reputation is shocking as they are always breaking down and don't last that long, hardy hardy har, Colin.

[Sportscar Nut]

A big happy birthday Col and look forward to seeing you at Spetacollo. Long live another 30 years of happy boxer motoring.

Paul

[colcol]

According to a club member, there is only 26 series one and series two 33 still registed running around Australia.
Most likely more unregisted in sheds and under trees, i haven't seen a 33 running around Melbourne for about 2 years.
The series one ran from 1983 to 1986, that ran leaded petrol, the series two, 'whitetales' ran from 1986 to 1990, which introduced unleaded petrol versions with the 1.7 and injected motors.
The 1990 to 1992 16 valve was still produced at the Alfa Romeo plant at Pomigliano De Arco, but by this stage Alfa Romeo had been thankfully taken over by Fiat instead of Ford, Colin.

[DAMO1A]

I wonder how many of the few 33s remaining on the road are one owner? A very happy birthday to you both.  I wish you happy and reliable flat four motoring for many years to come.  Damian

[colcol]

My 33 has had 2 owners, made 05-11-84, delivered by Alfa City, Peel Street North Melbourne in February 1985, sold by Talbot Motors in Collingwood in April 1986 to current owner Colin Thomas.
Despite what some would say, not much happened in the first few years of ownership, after about 5 years the hatch started to rust and the speedo would stop working.
To this day, every 5 years the hatch rusts out and the speedo will stop working every now and then, Colin.