Tweed Jacket Reviews: 1985 Alfa Romeo 90 2.5 Gold Cloverleaf - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ย. 2020
- In this review, suitably attired, we go for a drive out in the Warwickshire countryside to test a wonderful 1985 Alfa Romeo 90 2.5 Gold Cloverleaf and see how practical it is, what it is like to drive and what it is like to own. Be prepared for more in-jokes for fans of certain long-running spy film franchise (as usual), references to Peter Serafinowicz's seminal spoof science series Look Around You, a very strange gearshift, overhead aeroplane style spotlights, peculiar green interior lights, the best secret mission document storage ever, very comfortable rear seats, a rather interesting dashboard and really very little of any consequence at all. Nothing untoward, then...
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Mr James Coleman, aka The Rubbish Mechanic's, Channel: / leadedstar
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
Facebook: / lloydvehicleconsulting
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Cinematography and Editing by Matt Richardson of furiousdriving
Website: mattrichardson.smugmug.com/
Theme Music "Here" by Laurence Callaghan and The Tin Cans Copyright 2013 Bezalel Records
Download the EP at www.completing.bandcamp.com - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Wow - I like to think that my old Peugeot is quite rare but this is in a different of league altogether. It's no good trotting out the old cliche that you "don't see many of these anymore" because you seldom saw one back in the 80's either. My congratulations to Mr Coleman for preserving such a rare beast - well done Sir!
Yes, your lovely 406 V6 and our 45 V6 are rare cars, but they are nothing compared with this. Mr Coleman indeed has followed his dream and has been rewarded for his perseverance over 20 years later!
Ok, hands up at first you asked the question, " do you care"? Heck no it's a Fiat Chroma or something just as bad.
By the end had you asked the question, the answer would have been YES!
Another super review.
Started with the exhaust note and suddenly everything got better and better.
Never been a Fiat group fan, the MiTo was only exception, lovely looking little car.
A couple of my driving instructor colleagues bought them back in the day but they broke down lots, panel fit and interior quality was woeful.
But Mr Coleman has got it so right with that car!👌 Immaculate, luxurious, gorgeous. And I'm jealous.👍
And yes you did blend in with the tweed! 😂
I don't mind the Fiat Croma, but I would prefer the Lancia Thema or Alfa Romeo 164, personally! This Alfa has very little in common with those cars, though, as you can see.
I don't like the Alfa Romeo MiTo, really, although it looks rather nice. A friend of mine once wanted to buy a diesel one, and I had to say no! This Alfa is lovely, although quite a challenge to drive and own. Mr Coleman does have a job on his hands, but he still loves it.
We aim to blend into the background for essential secret missions...
You seemed very enthusiastic about this one, Mister Lloyd. I can't blame you. It's like the designers were told to cram in as many cool things as they could.
Also, "Thanks James. Thames" gave me a chuckle.
I love it, sir, but it is an incredibly compromised car. That, however, is its charm. The "Look Around You" contraction in this one is actually one of the most common ones in the series, we first used it 18 months ago, and I think this is the sixth time. It never gets old, though!
I had one back in the early 2000 was C REG the brake discs were in the middle of the rear axle as was the gearbox wooden steering wheel as well and the sound
Yes, inboard disc brakes on the transaxle. The sound of the 2.5 litre Busso V6 is absolutely intoxicating, isn't it? Thank you ever so much indeed for watching!
Nice video. i owned one Alfa 90 2.0 1985 model, from 86 to 87. I love that car, brings bak good memories😀
This was really a once in a lifetime opportunity. They are unbelievably rare. Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting!
Enjoyed that! What a barking mad slice of Italian wonderfulness!!!
Yes, it's utterly insane and wonderful at the same time, isn't it? Thank you very much indeed for watching.
It has a great sound to it as well as the looks. It's a strange car but it's awesome because of this. You really seemed to enjoy driving and talking about this one. love the gold badges!
I did enjoy it, sir! We had a fantastic time filming, I was very happy not to have killed anyone or the car having driven it. It certainly does sound as good as it looks.
Italian engineering meets British humor. Brilliant!
We aim to please! Ever so glad so hear that you enjoyed it. I have a lot of other Tweed Jacket Reviews episodes on the playlist if you are interested.
Great review, it's an absolutely wonderful car I can understand why Mr Coleman will want to keep that for a very long time.
It's an absolutely brilliant, isn't it? Mr Coleman doesn't ever wish to sell it, I believe, and I completely understand that.
You seem particularly jolly in this car Joseph! Great video.
We aim to please, sir! I think that you would enjoy it even more than me.
I think the driving position would probably suit me as I am 5ft 10 with short legs and long arms. I love some of the strange interior features of this car and those seats do look very comfortable. Good luck to Mr Coleman in the quest to find parts for this car. Great review Joseph of this extremely rare and fine machine.
Yes, I think that this may fit you well, sir! The seats are quite comfortable, although the driving position was a bit weird for me. Mr Coleman is an ideal custodian for this rare and crazy car!
A spy plane car for short legged long armed pilots who dislikes music
I laughed out loud at your review
Many thanks 🙏🏻
Ah yes, we had an enjoyable day filming because of this car's absolutely insane charm! Glad you enjoyed it too.
Looks like the ideal car to be chauffeured around in! Nice bolstering on the outer rear seats, just like a Sierra GL or Ghia.
Oh yes, surprisingly comfortable for a relatively small car. The bolstering was rather nice, I would very much like to film a Sierra Ghia!
It’s an interesting car, Alfa shapes vary so much, sounds great and in good shape too. The fact James has offered us to drive this retro classic too gives us a warm glow inside, be interesting to see how the drive varies to Dorothy.
This certainly is an interesting car! It is going to be exciting when you are able to drive it as well. The driving experience will be quite different from the Mercedes, I think...
Awesome car, so many quirky features. Don't make them like that anyone. Will be watching all of the follow up videos
Thanks ever so much indeed, sir! I am sure that Mr Coleman will appreciate it. It really is quite something, isn't it?
Beautiful car, beautiful interior, fabulous engine, brilliant transaxle engineering.
I predict that someday Alfa Romeo will actually overtake BMW as the best engineered drivers' car in the world. They have always possessed the passion and imagination to build very special, very sporty and extremely memorable cars.
Yes, incredibly unreliable, but glorious. I was really privileged to have actually driven one of these, I may not get the chance again....
Thanks for this Joseph. I have been looking forward to this review. I reckon if the Fiat Regatta had a crazy uncle that its parents warned it about this would be it. Your reaction to the suitcase certainly didn't disappoint either.
Every part of this car is unnecessarily brilliant but I think the handbrake (which Renault must have copied in the big bummed Megane) and the centre cubby with its folding lid are my fave. I actually laughed out loud when you demo'd it. Definitely the most fitting name for a dealership too.
I love Mr Coleman's reaction too
Yes, the Regata shared its headlight assembly with this car, although not the headlight glass itself. The briefcase is utterly pointless and utterly wonderful!
Both Vauxhall and Renault copied this handbrake in the mid 2000s with the Mégane MkII and the Zafira B, absolutely right. The centre console lid is very strange. Mr Coleman indeed have some fantastic things to say!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting oh wow. That is a great bit of trivia
Great you reviewed one of the lesser known Alfa Romeo cars!
It was the only one currently on the road in the country at the time of filming, so it certainly is a lesser known one!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Made it all the more special.
@@alaricbragg7843 , indeed, sir!
Lovely car review. Nice 80s car. Also very nice music at the start and the end. What's the title of the music and who sang it? I really love the way you use the same music on all your car reviews. A good trademark👍
Thanks very much indeed! This was a really special car. The full information about the music is in the video description. It is a piece called "Here" by my friend Laurence Callaghan and his band The Tin Cans. It was released in 2013. We have used the same track for Tweed Jacket Reviews since the start over two years ago, apart from the Christmas Special last year when we used an older version of the song. If you want to download it, or any other tracks on the EP, visit the link towards the end of the description below.
Beautiful. I agree that the rear looks very cool. I thought it looked good at launch but at the time no journalists were interested in anything but knocking Alfa Romeo saloons. The Alfa 6 also looked good but is even rarer. I think that the Giulietta was one of the first cars with front and rear spoilers integrated into the bodywork.
Next time leave Coleman behind and enjoy the car on your own.
The journalists sort of ignored this one, I think! The Alfa 6 is more common internationally, but in this country the 90 is marginally more common, in that there is one actually on the road... Yes, you are probably right about the integrated spoilers. I don't trust myself driving this car on my own yet, I was grateful not to have actually broken it after I drove it.
A great review Joseph!! Such a great car, I have never seen one in person before. I love the interior. The aircraft styled interior really is something I really love! Was it the rival to the E28 5 series?
Yes sir! I don't think that I have ever seen one before either. The interior is completely ridiculous, and only Alfa Romeo could have pulled it off. It's hard to know exactly what it was competing against, but the E28 5 Series would probably be my choice for one of its rivals.
Love Alfa's but problems were rife. My mate had a 90 in London, he bought it Thursday and friday morning it had disappeared, all that was left was a pile of rust.
My brother-in-law had an Alfa Sud (beautiful car) you stood next to it to admire it and you could actually see it rust before your very eyes. My cousin had a Fiat 132 colour was rust, into which it turned. My mate Peter bought a Fiat Mirafiori (now that is a car that needs to be reviewed) after 18 months from brand new the passenger door disappeared. Oh, but all lovely cars, as were Lancia, loved the Beta.
I would very much like to cover a Fiat 131 Mirafiori, as there is one used in a chase sequence in the 1981 French film "Le Professionnel", which I have actually covered on the channel. They aren't exactly common, though! Yes, all those stories were rife in the 1980s, weren't they? The Beta's problems pretty much killed the Lancia marque in this country. sadly. The rustiest car I have ever seen is a 1980 Alfa 6, which pretty much crumbled to nothing in the New Forest. There was literally no rear end left at all.
i think you are in love with this car
I quite like it, but I think Mr Coleman is the one who loves it!
What an absolutely stunning, glorious vehicle ! Uniquely Alfa.
I must say that the interior must have been designed by an architect, the door cards, the roof console, the lighting, everything is so unique it appears to be baffling. I believe once you own this all controls become second nature, because IT IS AN ALFA ROMEO.
I do hope this is lovingly restored, it is such a unique, valuable vehicle.
I see the resemblance to the Milano, which, if I remember correctly, came in a Gold version, as well as two others.
Was Alfa Roméo owned by FIAT at this period of time? And I do like the Alfa 164.
Brilliant review Joseph!
Thanks ever so much indeed! It is a Bertone design, but it was actually Marcello Gandini who was the head stylist. Mr Coleman is gradually getting his head round all the crazy controls.
The restoration will eventually happen, at least the interior is 99% perfect anyway. Yes, very similar to the 75/Milano in many ways, which I think did have a Gold Cloverleaf version as well as the other trims. Fiat did not own Alfa Romeo at the time of the launch, but did by the end of production in 1987.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I wasn't sure when Fiat took over Alfa, but the 90 is very Alfa Roméo.
I did watch the initial video on this quirky, unique vehicle and somehow have grown to really like it! Of course, your review and this channel made it compelling, so thank you very much Joseph for showcasing this Alda Romeo!
@@frothe42 , my pleasure, sir! Glad you have been enjoying both videos. they are certainly unique vehicles.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Well, another channel, who was mentioned but will not be named to protect their innocence, reviewed said vehicle, to which I now cannot get enough of! As soon as I went onto TH-cam, the other channel came up with its review on this vehicle. It is simply delicious! But I must say you featured this first, so well done Joseph! And yes, I do like Italian, and really reading up on Alfa Roméo.
I had 2 Alfa 90 fabulous car best sound v6
They do sound amazing! It was such a privilege to drive this incredibly rare car.
I Love this car
It's just come back into the owners' hands after two years away due to a broken engine. He is looking forward to using it again soon. Thank you very much indeed for watching and commenting!
An amazingly rare Alfa Romeo. I have never seen one here in South Africa. I did notice one small detail, visible at about 01:44 into the video - there is a front view shot of the car, and it appears that at some point that the windscreen may have been replaced, as the wiper arms have been accidentally transposed - the driver's side arm (which is slightly longer and has an upward tilt to the attached wiper blade) should actually be fitted on the passenger side, and the slightly shorter wiper arm (with a more downward & horizontal tilt to the wiper blade) should be fitted on the driver's side. ;)
That's very interesting, I don't think I had ever heard about the wiper arms before. It is quite possible that it has had a windscreen at some point over the last 36 years... Yes, Alfa Romeo had a plant in South Africa, didn't they?
Yes, Alfa Romeo SA produced the GTV6 3.0, which was unique to the SA market.
About 220 units were produced for homologation in Group One production car circuit racing in the early 1980's.
Here are links to 2 articles detailing the restoration of two of them:
1. Cars.co.za's own GTV6 3.0:
www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/our-alfa-romeo-gtv6-30---the-restoration/48443/
2. Hannes Pienaar's GTV6 3.0:
www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/alfa-romeo-gtv6-30-sentimetal-ep9/46142/
@@ivan747100 , thank you! I never knew there was a 3.0 version of the GTV6. Always interesting to find out more about these local variants of European cars.
Just got round to this. A credit to you Joseph this was a fantastic review. It seems that for every slightly impractical feature there was an even more innovative one to compensate. How much of this do you think will have made it onto the Argenta?
The headlamp assemblies (glass excepted) are actually identical to a Fiat Regata, for example. The likelihood is that a number of electrical components may be shared with an Argenta, as they were in production at around the same time at the start of the 90's life. Certainly that government money would have gone into all those eccentric touches! Glad you enjoyed it, sir.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Thanks for the information Joseph
@@MattysCars , that is my pleasure, sir!
rare, hardly saw any growing up as a child in the 80s. Well at least alpha dared to be different! (the craziest features/ergonomics i've ever seen in a car). I presume this would be in the compact executive class in the 80s, i wonder what its rivals would be, other that the 190e mercedes, can you think of any?
Yes, rivals would have been the Mercedes-Benz 190E, the Audi 80/90 and the BMW 3/5-Series. The ergonomics are charming, but baffling.
Excellent lovely car?😎👍
Yes, it is a lovely car, and a true privilege to review it!
Nice review of a quite odd car. Some corrections to the history tho. The alfa 90 replaced, as you said, the Alfetta and was supposed to be the more upscale and comfy car in the lineup. It was supposed to be the car for the 90-ies, hence the name. Almost simultaneously, Alfa came out with the 75. Which replaced the Giulietta as the "sporty" model. The alfa 6 was a different beast altogether which existed between 79 and 86 and was more in the size of an Mercedes s-class. The gearbox is not 10k in one of those, any alfetta, 75, gtv etc gearbox fits. I suspect anyway that the driveline shunt are rotten gearbox mounts, they always go.
I used to own a 90 about 15 years ago, with the 2l four. Wonderful, and rubbish, car. :)
Thank you very much indeed for watching! The mid 1980s is a very complicated period in Alfa Romeo history, and trying to establish the 90's place in the market is a little bit difficult (especially when you are trying to remember lots of facts whilst driving and not crash or break the gearbox), but I am sure that you are absolutely right. The driveline shunt is partially due to my own incompetence, as I also have problems when driving Mr Coleman's Granada (there is a full review of that on the channel too), but the gearbox is now a bit worn, and he is intending to make some improvements to it, which he actually released a video about on his channel yesterday. Thanks again!
Yes, I've owned one
Goodness me, you must be amongst a very select few! Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting.