Mint Alfa 33!!

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
The sheer beauty of the P4 was the elimination of torque steer. Having many happy memories of booting it when exiting a roundabout and it just gripped! Especially as I had grippy Yokohama tyres on too!
 

lisknik

Member
Messages
5,524
Andy is basically an Alfa Sud underneath, a brilliant but seriously flawed car with very poor build quality made from **** Russian steel but it handles and drives like any true Alfa should.

Is it a classic, well yes, but aggro money pit too hence why prices are low.

Def a money pit, i knows all about that after the welding last winter! :lol2:

In my eyes not a classic yet, but sits nicely in the Retro bracket :)
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
For me, classic or not the 33P4 was the first Alfa that caught my eye but I listened to "it's an Alfa" kickers so bottled it and bought Renaults instead, basically I wasted 5 years of my driving life listening to other people.

I got offered the perfect P4 some 9 months ago but I was full on with the Spider (and still am) plus I was talking about importing a Delorean but bottled it and am now kicking myself as I didn't realise the Back to the Future Renaissance due to the date that has pushed the prices temp. Arrrghhh!

The Delorean is not a great but it is an iconic car. The one I had located for $20k in Canada was painted red but had undergone a full restoration inside and out. The colour was why it was not selling but that didn't bother me as I knew it was an easy but maticulous job to strip it.

To turn up with the 33 would have been selfish, I will be retired in 2 years so decided then is the time.
 
G

Guest 1678

Guest
Right, I see Matt......I suppose the Sud was such a pretty car and I can see why that is a classic.....where as the 33 will never win any beauty contests although I know looks along do not make a classic........Interesting price for the 33.........Think I would prefer a 164 or 166 as loved both of these and liked the looks more.

The problem on both cars is parts availability. In the process of sourcing what I need for a Sud TiX restoration and it is a nightmare. Between them the Sud and 33 had nearly 1.5 units produced and the parts supply is at best extremely patchy.

The image challenge with the 33 is the common theme that is not as good as the Sud, based on the magazine reviews of the time. I am sure owners of the 33 would disagree. The Sud was labeled iconic and therefore seems to have a cachet and price premium. Alfa tried to make the 33 more grown up and substantial and was move it up market to maximize profits.
 

lisknik

Member
Messages
5,524
The problem on both cars is parts availability. In the process of sourcing what I need for a Sud TiX restoration and it is a nightmare. Between them the Sud and 33 had nearly 1.5 units produced and the parts supply is at best extremely patchy.

The image challenge with the 33 is the common theme that is not as good as the Sud, based on the magazine reviews of the time. I am sure owners of the 33 would disagree. The Sud was labeled iconic and therefore seems to have a cachet and price premium. Alfa tried to make the 33 more grown up and substantial and was move it up market to maximize profits.

Need a hand getting parts, i knows the best chap for 33 parts in the country, very rare he ain't got what i need ;)
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,317
The P4 is a lovely model. I had a switchable 4 wheel drive sportwagon which mechanically was great but of course, the rust was shocking sadly
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,945
A P4 Sportwagon would have me dipping my hand in my pocket very quickly.

I loved my 1.7 Sportwagon and in its day there was nothing similar to it, the E30 Touring was too civilised. I know of a good P4 which I nearly bought once and could still be tempted by one if only I had more room.

And as far as parts go, 33 bits are around I know a few suppliers that normally have most bits
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,317
I can't remember the last time I saw a 33 sportwagon, even a FWD - such a rare beast now and I did enjoy it.
I'm the same as you, if only I had more space! I live in an old farmhouse and if the yard next door ever goes on the market, I will be there in a flash - some lovely big barns to store so many cars!
 

lisknik

Member
Messages
5,524
I can't remember the last time I saw a 33 sportwagon, even a FWD - such a rare beast now and I did enjoy it.
I'm the same as you, if only I had more space! I live in an old farmhouse and if the yard next door ever goes on the market, I will be there in a flash - some lovely big barns to store so many cars!

9 SW's left, I think 4 on the road, 2 series 3 and 2 series 2, though may be wrong. My supplier of 33 parts has one -

IMG_5302.jpg
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,793
I've got some Sprint parts if they are of use to anyone

In fact I have a complete car ripe for re-comisioning....

C
 

wink

Junior Member
Messages
85
I had a carburettored 33 in which I did 192,000 mls before the poor thing succumbed to the inevitable rust. Lovely car, terrible build quality. Mine also had Yokahamas for some of its life. They were really grippy but if anything they magnified the epic torque steer. Overtaking was really easy because if you booted it in a low gear, it pulled a metre to the right - hardly any need for the steering wheel :). Great fun.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,038
I discovered the fuse that disabled the rear axle, or should I say the electromagnetic clutch that disabled the drive to the rear axle under heavy braking, which apparently gave safer braking on the limit.
What it did was just highlight how the 4 wheel drive on the P4 taimed the normal front wheel drive torque steer.
 

33bits

New Member
Messages
17
It looks in good shape. I must dig out my old paperwork and check with the DVLA to see if mine is still going. I part ex'ed against my Delta Evo in around '98

Ha. Thanks for the kind comments regarding my 33. I'm touched. Let me have you're reg & I'll tell you if you're ex 33 is still around. We only have 13 sportwagons left, sadly I have to admit I have 3 of them! Ha.
 

StuartW

Member
Messages
9,317
Ha. Thanks for the kind comments regarding my 33. I'm touched. Let me have you're reg & I'll tell you if you're ex 33 is still around. We only have 13 sportwagons left, sadly I have to admit I have 3 of them! Ha.

I can't lay my hands on any paperwork or photos just now sadly but it was silver and was from Kent or London
 

Alfa Muppet

Member
Messages
1,723
Here's my old 33 - sold her in 2008 to fund the Alfa 90 - wish I kept her as I think the guy scrapped her after 1 year as she's not on the DVLA data base since 2010
image.jpgimage.jpg

Regretting selling now for years