Having your soul licked by angels.

[alanm]

Hi all,

I have just started driving my GTV6 again after leaving it in storage for a few months and I can't get the smile off my face.
What a charismatic car.

Its not one defining feature but a whole lot of things that make the experience.

Giorgetto Giugiaro's design – every line in the right place, especially love the little cut out above the headlights.
Looking out over the bonnet bulge from the driver seat.
The distinctive smell of the car.
The bass sound of the motor at idle.
The 70's super car switches on the dashboard and the Veglia Borletti gauges.
The mechanical feel you get when you select first. You can feel the teeth mesh (in a good way)
The sound of the engine anywhere above 3000rpm – like having your soul licked by angels (thanks Mr Clarkson)
The creamy smooth power (cars with twice the power might not satisfy as much)
Oh, and I have to say the admiring looks the car attracts (people actually crane there neck to look at it)
Yes, its got is faults, but its a great car.

Cheers,
Alan

[alfa duk]

 Alan, most would call you mad, bet they have never driven a gtv6.

[gtvsix86]

Drove mine to work this morning and couldn't agree more

[MD]

If you have seen the movie "City Slickers", you would understand when I say that the GTV6 has that one thing..

[alanm]

Hi Paul,

With an invitation to the Transaxles and Log Fires like that, how can I say no.
I will keep a look out for the 2013 dates.

Oh, and those photos of the 2012 event are excellent. The environment looks inspiring, so was the view under MD's bonnet. That's one tasty 24V conversion!!

Cheers,
Alan

[Cool Jesus]

Looks awesome Alan. Love the sound of these V6 engines... and that bonnet bulge, only Alfa Romeo.
Hey, I've always wondered, not having seen the GTV6 up close as yet. Does the bulge serve any real purpose other than to give an admirer the suspense of pandora's box and wonder what lays beneath?

[shane wescott]

The Gtv6 has to be one of the greatest Alfas for character and driving experience.

I had a few "heathens" in my GTV6 this year and the reaction was pretty universal, a smile on the face, and comments along the lines of - "that was an experience" .

I own two toyotas -great reliable cars - but they are just cars, they don't have a soul.

Anyone who was privileged to be near the Alfetta 159 when it was out here in 2010, would understand that car has a soul.

GTV6 - not quite the same :-). - but still a car with heaps of soul.

Enjoy and thanks for the post.

Catchy a

Shane

[Beatle]

Looks awesome Alan. Love the sound of these V6 engines... and that bonnet bulge, only Alfa Romeo.
Hey, I've always wondered, not having seen the GTV6 up close as yet. Does the bulge serve any real purpose other than to give an admirer the suspense of pandora's box and wonder what lays beneath?

The bulge is an Alfa aberration to the original lines and was the easiest/cheapest way of fitting the V6 into the engine bay...........

[MD]

Bulge or no bulge? I believe Napoleon asked Josephine that question whislt he was getting a trouser fitting at the tailors. I think she offered him a Collingwood football sock as a clue. I could be wrong. Been there before..

The Alfa bulge is a little more perplexing but the answer lies in other choices. Which do you prefer?

The AC;BC; or the CC Fiat coupe?
The original Fiat 500 Bambina or the current one?
The Duetto Spider or the chop tail?

Clearly I have a preference. I am hoping to arm wrestle for Josephine and come out grinning..

[Davidm1600]

MD you have a choice way with words, let alone analogies. As yet I have not had the pleasure of ownership of any Alfa V6, but have driven quite a few, and know exactly what you are all talking about. The one V6 I would put above the Alfa, is the Dino, but they are in a different league, they are pure sex on wheels. However and being slightly biased, re the comparisons, I would always take the AC 124 sport but then again I have had mine for the past 32-33 yrs and know every square inch of it intimately, I would ultimately take the real 500 over the imposter, albeit that it is also a good car, and without hesitation take the duetto. Then again I think I also would happily have an Alfetta gtv6 over the modern version, even if that model is nice to drive and look at. Mind you pretty much any Italian car is preferable to white goods, IMHO. But I have only ever owned Alfas and Fiats, so perhaps my views are biased.

[MD]

Hi David,

Gald to see you appreciate my sense of humour. I would much rarther entertain than to argue..

I have to let you in on little secret (one just between you and me  )

The Dino is my all time favourite car. It is not really a great car nor a particulalry well made one. Nor is it especially reliable. Doesn't matter a dam. It is and remains the trend setter for its time. A landmark in progressive design that has been emulated by good designers the world over. Even the Yanks got into the act !

The Alfetta GTV is a huge variation on theme but nevertheless some of the DNA is there. In its own right, the 116 GTV has spawned a sheitload of copy cat hatch backs and they are growing in numbers as we speak.

So for me, two cars sum up the last part of the 20th century. The Dino Ferrari and the Alfetta GTV6. That's a big call but it's my call.

The likelihood that even one person will agree with that statement would carry the same odds as the Mayan Calendar.

Doesn't change a thing.

[pep105]

MD the bulge may come in handy, especially if you backfire through
the plenum and it pops off, like when Josephine strides on in wearing her
Berlei bra & knickers.......pfooooff 

Hey this is me posting relatively sober, you wouldn't want to know what I'd write
in 2 hrs time...

Anyways my picks

1. BC 1600 factory twin carb (40 IDFs) with the 140mph speedo
and the 9 grand (or is it 10) tacho. Love the front as its just like a Dino !
2. Nouva 500 or D or F (Bambino) but I really want a 500 Giardinera because it's
so dumb it's cool, love it and it's got space for my boys stuff. However I wouldn't
kick a current 500 Abarth Essesse out of bed either......
3. Duetto but wouldn't complain with a coda tronca either

A very Happy New Year guys and back to the Aperol and Prosecco

Cheers
Pep

[Al Campbell]

Went for a drive the other night in my new modern Japanese automatic AWD turbo car, along a hills ride that was one of my favourites in the GTV6.

Lots of lots of hilly turns that were fun in the GTV6 even if stuck behind traffic. Then I would come to a stop sign and hard left, followed by a straight up hill section. Remote enough that I didn't feel guilty winding the six out to the limiter, foot flat to the floor through at least the first 3 gears windows down, sound echoing back off the hills. Always felt absolutely glorious, exciting, spine tingling.

Doing the same in the Subaru?  Bit dull really. No tongues invoked.

Console myself by enjoying the fact that it starts every morning. Oh and the air conditioning.

AL.

[MD]

...Oh and the air conditioning.

I know I have rabbited on before about the Alfetta air con. Well here's my final tip for the GTV.

If you don't use the rears seats (like 90% of owners) then what you should do is reduce the glass house by half. Install a transparent air curtain divider behind the front seats so the the evaporator and the fans only have to chill half the cabin.

Common practice in commercial vans where there is no hard divider between the driver and the cargo hold.

BTW pep. How's the liver salts diet going ? 

[Duk]

Re The Japanese cars have no 'soul':
I'd like to point out that the Japanese are a much more reserved culture than the louder and more flamboyant Italians, and I think that reflects a lot in their cars. I also believe that the Japanese have a passion for engineering design.

Secondly, a car is a series of mechanical systems. Each system is made up of parts and each part can be extensively measured and then duplicated. You can't measure and duplicate a soul.................
A car has no soul. It will have characteristics so you could say it has character. Whether you enjoy the cars character is up too you.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my MR2. It's quirky enough to be exciting and fun and reliable enough to be daily transport. I've punted that little beasty through my favorite bit of road so many times and each time I'm grinning like an idiot  .