75 Purchase

[Brad M]

Congratulations, can't wait to see some pictures.

[Evan Bottcher]

Congratulations!  Looking forward to some photos and first impressions of that 3 litre.

We've got 156 16" teledials and I think they look pretty good on the 75.  I'm also a big fan of the Momo Montecarlo, I bought this one new ex-USA for less than $200 shipping inc.  I think it looks great on this era of car, and much nicer than the stock wheel.

Standard disclaimer - just my tastes...  What I'd really like is either 164 Q wheels or Ronal A-1s for the 75.

[Darryl]

The 3L should be a good choice - I've been tempted myself. Like Sheldon says, if you want a box to do snap changes don't buy a taxl alfa. It is all part of the joy of driving one of these things timing the shift just right... Try to learn to drive it "just right" and it will reward you with perfect shifts. If you find that isn't going to happen/it won't shift fast enough to suit you then you are up for a rebuild (but don''t expect, if you haven't learned how to look after the box, that it wall be long before it is back to its bad old ways...). In theory you could just replace the synchro (or swap it around - but someone may already have done that...) but I think most of us would prefer to put up with it until the box really needs a proper rebuild and do it/pay for the work to R&R and strip/reassemble once....

A possibly relevant story...
I had an Alfetta GT in my mis-spent youth - some of it was mis-spent between midnight and dawn on back roads doing "navigation runs". Of course, to win these you need to drive at legal speed and match the time and distance set by the guy who set the course, so no road rules were broken (an I had nothing to do with the hedge damage - that guy was driving a Ford) 
Anyway, part of breaking in a new navigator was getting them used to the way I would slap my left thigh quite hard every time I stuffed up a shift... Frequency inversely proportional to quality of navigator - at least so far as the downshifts go (it isn't too bad double declutching - thought he heel and toe on the brakes can be a bit tricky - but surprises call for immediate action)...
I still do it (slap when I fluff a shift)...

[w47ty]

Hey Evan,

I have seen the 156 Teledials on other 75's and think they look good too.  I also like the momo wheel. It seems to me to strike the right balance of having an orignal look and being a little bit sporty in keeping with the car.

I am picking the car up tonight so I shall get pics up as soon as possible. I purchased the car from an Alfisti family. They had a couple of old 105's under repair and a couple of newer models which made me feel very comfortable about my purchase I must say.

Darryl - I am just going to have to "learn" to drive a manual again after my Auto 105   I imagine if I adopt your method of a slap on the thigh I might look like I was trying to take off!!

I am very excited about giving it a good run and seeing what it is capable of (all legally of course)

cheers
chris

[w47ty]

As promised here are some pics of the 75 after a wash and brush up having just done the drive from Sydney to Brisbane...incident free!!!!  I thumb my nose at all those who mock Alfa's and their ability to go more than 500 yards without some kind of mechanical or electrical problem

What amazed me more was that it only cost $130 in fuel to drive all that way..and in a 3l !!!!

it has all the usual bumps and scrapes you would expect with a car of this age but the sound when you fire up that engine. That V6 burble is a joy to behold (with apologies to all the TS devotees)

now starts the tinkering....the wheels will go I really cant stand them and the steering wheel will be straight after.

anyway enjoy..
cheers
chris

[monoman]

PM sent for wheels.

[shiny_car]

Congrats w47ty. I saw that car on carsales.com.au . It looks pretty good in the desciption and pics, so I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to own.

Can I ask - out of curiosity - if you paid the advertised price, or 'significantly less', for example? No need to be specific if you don't wish to.

I agree about the wheels, but I'd like to know what size they are, and what size tyres (for my future reference). They look like 18" wheels. I'd be keen to know wheel width and offset and whether there's any 'tyre rub'. I think the rego needs to go in sympathy too (which would be a given, cos you're in QLD and not NSW).

I am amidst finalising the purchase of my own 3.0 75, so I really look forward to this new build project.

[w47ty]

thank Shiny. you know overall I really cant complain about the cosmetic side of the car considering its age.

there was a reasonable oil leak so as a result (and a couple of minor issues) I did offer and paid about 1k less than the asking price. I took the car into my new local alfa specialist today for him to give it the once over and apart from the known oil leak he found a significant number of perishable items that need to be replaced. the major one being all of the engine mounts need to be replaced. there are a few other leaks that require new seals and gaskets. it is going to be a significant outlay but i think it will be worth it. The sound of that 3l engine is amazing.  A friend of mine has a 3.2 GT  and that makes a very pleasant noise but this is something else  

If i had the time and the space (and of course the technical nous) the cost would be a lot less due to labour but sadly not.  Thankfully the gearbox appears to be in fine fettle!

The number plate definitely would be going even if i were staying in NSW. I will check the wheel sizes and get back to you but i havent noticed any tyre rub.

good luck with your 75. make sure you put up some pics. feel free if you want to PM me if you want to ask any more

cheers

chris

[johnnyc]

nice car. i am getting my 75 3.0 back from the mechanic very shortly. looking forward to getting it registered and going for a blast. only taken 5 months but well worth the wait.

it needed a lot of work but it sounds like a proper alfa now.

[shiny_car]

Thanks for the reply.

there was a reasonable oil leak so as a result (and a couple of minor issues) I did offer and paid about 1k less than the asking price.

The price was on the high end of what's been on offer recently. Pity it still has the engine mount issues, and I hope they're fixed without too much expense.

It's kinda disappointing that different States/Territories have different rules about selling cars. For example, in VIC, a 'registered' car can only be sold with a current roadworthy certificate. So such things as worn bushings, donuts, engine mounts...would all have to be fixed before the sale can proceed (yes, the car can be sold unregistered and 'as is', and some buyers dismiss the law and are prepared to buy an unroadworthy registered car for a negotiated cheap price). But it does provide some protection for the buyer against nasty, unexpected costs.

When I bought my 155 from SA, there was no requirement for roadworthy certificate. I was not unhappy with the vehicle and price, but I did have to fix a lot of things to make it roadworthy.

With this current purchase of the 75, the car is having its RWC done next week, but did pass RWC only 12 months ago too, so it should be in good order. But I can buy with confidence. Sure, it doesn't mean the engine is sound and has no oil leaks, etc, but it does go some way towards ensuring a standard.

I digress...

I will check the wheel sizes and get back to you but i havent noticed any tyre rub.

good luck with your 75. make sure you put up some pics. feel free if you want to PM me if you want to ask any more

Thanks. I am keen to know tyre size (eg: 215/35/18?) and wheel specs (18x...? offset?), and am considering 18" wheels if the tyres meet load index requirements (which I suspect they won't, btw!).

I might post pics when I pick the car up. But it'll show a car with some patchy paintwork and otherwise factory standard except 156 wheels.  It's really only going to be my 'blank canvas' at that stage, cos plenty of restoration and tuning mods are in order! I have really enjoyed modifying my GT and 155 into very handy street cars, and I have the same intentions with the 75. Emphasis on 'street' car, and not for track; so a balance of improved handling, big wheels, tasteful exterior, and a car people will hopefully look at and go 'that's really nice'.

A transaxle Alfa is a new experience for me, and I have heaps to learn, but it'll be fun, fun, fun! So I hope you have the same enjoyment.

[VeeSix]

Almost a year later Chris, how is the 75 going now and are you still happy with it, any major issues?  

[shiny_car]

http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=7877.0