She's gone, up in smoke

[poohbah]

Very sad. Just one thing , how did the bonnet manage to come off the hinges at the fire wall and become front hinged on the locking mechanism , explosion ??

No explosion - that was the firies' fault. They couldn't open it from the front, so attacked it from the rear. Not sure if that was because they thought the bonnet opened forwards or whether they couldn't get to the latch because of flames.

[Craig_m67]

No point crying about it now - I'm checking out an 81 GTV tomorrow!

I wasn't having a go btw, and yeah shitbadluck!

I noticed a black 156 V6 manual in Melb. On gumtree a few days back, needs a VIV for a parking accident apparently, still.. Would be a cheap entry to manual V6 motoring.

[poohbah]

Cheers Craig - No offence was taken. I thought about getting another V6 156, but I like a bit of variety, so that's one of the reasons I'm going to look at the GTV.

Coincidentally, my desire to get an Alfa was instilled in me as a kid in the early 80s when our family doctor purchased a brand new GTV6.  Took 30 years for me to actually do it, but now I'm hooked. A pristine GTV6 is still my dream Alfa, but this could get me one step closer ...

[poohbah]

Time to sign off this sad and sorry tale on a positive note. I have moved on, taken the plunge, and bought myself a replacement for my incinerated baby.

Probably against all sense, I went ahead and bought the 81 GTV.

She's mechanically sound, with rebuilt motor a couple of years ago, and bodywork very straight. No major rust, the major issues were dealt with a few years ago. Rear hatch is absolutely rock solid. Sills are in great shape. But there are a few spots starting to emerge along the shoulders immediately beneath window trim. Shouldn't be too much drama to sort out.

Interior is ok, but showing its age. The best thing is the noise she makes - she's nowhere near as quick or as growly as my old 156, but what a fantastic bark. Sounds and feels like you are doing 100mph at 25kph!

[DHDamo]

Sad to hear about the 156 but the gtv wont disappoint. This one looks a beauty and if it's the one I think it is I was considering it myself a while back. Nice buy.

[Craig_m67]

That's a good looking thing, and all the better if rust free
Shouldn't it have one of those black plastic bonnet bulges (which model had that?)

So ,any Alfa's, not enough garage space. I should start a club where we hot share cars

[V AR 164]

The V6 GTV (GTV6) had the plastic bonnet thingy, the 4 cylinder did not have it.
I personally like it without it, looks cleaner.

Andrew.

[poohbah]

Cheers guys. I'd have loved to get my hands on a GTV6, but couldn't find one in reasonable nick and at a reasonable price.

She's a good starting point. So far anyway! 

[Evan Bottcher]

A workmate from Perth emailed me today:  "I saw an Alfa 159 on fire the other day (I think it was a 159)".   I sent him this thread and he said "That's it. Poor guy".

Funny, in a not-so-funny way...

[Cool Jesus]

Mmmm poo, no Alfas on west coast! Peace out East Side out 



PS sock GTV, Simmons and all. Very jelly

[poohbah]

Funny, in a not-so-funny way...

Even I was laughing about it by the time the tow truck arrived. Wasn't anything else I could do - and laughing is better than crying!

[VeeSix]

 

[poohbah]

Cherish every drive.

And Drive 'em like you stole 'em!

[carlo rossi]

well its for the better! now you have an alfa's alfa
and there is no better trade than a rightoff
reminds of my favorite joke
les is walking down the beach on the gold coast and sees Con
walks up to to con and says "what are you doing here"
con says" my fish and chip shop she burn down ,I'm too old to start again so insurance give me $1m and I look at the girls here!
Con says Les what you do here "ah my friut shop she flood!water everywhere ,I'm too old to start again so insurance give me $1m and I also look at the girls here.
CON leans over to Les and whispers"How you start a flood"
Now Im not saying Poobah started the fire but good things can come from it ie a GTV
cheers and welcome
Ps No greeks were hurt in making of this joke!

[poohbah]

Cheers Carlo, but how did you know I was Greek?

I'm already loving the GTV, by the way. Completely different driving experience to the last of the Busso V6s that I had previously, and the gearbox takes some learning to get the changes smooth, but she is a magnificent thing.

Takes me back to my high school days in the mid 80s when most of the Yr 12 "mediterranean" boys had souped up Sprints, Suds, or 124s. Well those that didn't have fake SLR 5000s or 350 GTS' anyway!