I have to apologise for the simply awful dropouts in the audio during the introduction. If you really can't stand it, I promise it does go away. In the meantime, I can assure you it won't happen again. The Synco audio transmitter/receiver system I have is simply awful, and I have now replaced it with a much better system, one that isn't flummoxed by something as simple as a human being in its line of sight.
I have had one for 30 years, and mine is a silver 1981. The same body kit with spoiler, uprated torsion bars, springs, Bilstein and a rebuilt engine. I’m happy.
@andrew thornton the heyday of motoring journalism is no more. The clingers on to the Top Gear legacy are now historical observantionists. A very good thing I like, but the future has a narrowing appeal.
I had an Alfa GTV6 in period (1985 model) and absolutely loved it, in Alfa red which is quite a dark 'bluey' red, I derived great pleasure simply from looking at it from my first floor flat window; I still think it's a classically beautiful design today. I found the 160 bhp it produced to be quick enough, good for 8.5 seconds 0-60, going on to 125 mph or so, which you could quite comfortably do on motorways in those halcyon speed-camera free days. People used to complain about clunky gear linkage, especially second gear, but I never found it to be an issue if you had correctly allowed the car to warm-up properly before setting off. There were some minor rust issues and Italian electrics of the period were never the best, but once the engine was fully warmed-up and singing you could forgive it anything.
Since the mid 1970`s, when at the age of just 15 i convinced my Dad to buy a new Alfasud ti i have always been into Alfa Romeo`s... I love it when you delve into this iconic brand with your ever so infectious enthusiasm of cars... such a shame you could not have driven the GTV6..
Perfect ! Thank you so much. For me - grown in up in several Alfa Romeos my father owned - I'm lost for other " serious " brands. The Busso V6 is the epic masterpiece. Although cars from AR can get you mad because of some issues, I can' t resist. In South Africa,the GTV was available with 3.0 V6 and the 6 carbs. Fine Video again, Ed.
I had use of my friend's '76 Alfetta GT a few times in the early '80's.. It was a most unique driving experience compared to anything else up to that point. It had an uncanny ability to absorb uneven road surfaces and almost never get out of step, even on bends at decent speeds. My friend also had a very nice '75 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, both cars in immaculate shape by his own hands. Then one day I found out he traded both for a new and last year '82 Fiat Strada (Ritmo in other markets), and I was so disappointed when those cars were gone for something like that very ordinary econobox. Such is life. I still miss those two. I have at present a '75 124 Sport Coupe, yellow, '85 944 early N/A gun metal grey, '04 Vibe GT in silver, with 8,200 rpm engine 6 sp. Peace!
That’s a real beauty! The GTV6 was the car that truly got under my skin - I sat in one as a 13 yr old and that was it - I became an Alfisti! I’m on my third Alfa now, and will no doubt have more. I’ll probably never be able to buy anything like like this, but, green paint apart (I like my Alfas to be red), this one is tremendous!
I can fully understand why a mad Alfa lover would pay for this upgraded GTV-6. I’m just glad they weren’t available in Australia at the time. Fortunately I have a 1985 model that I’ve owned since new. Twin Cam if you ever venture this far south you can drive and review mine (along with my other cars in a very eclectic collection 😀)
I can remember back in the seventees as a teenager a rich buisnessman friend of my dad replaced his wife`s silver Lancia Beta Coupe with an Alfa Romeo GTV, in red. Italian cool coupes back in the day, even cooler today!
Alfetta in Italy was not considered "sedate-looking" at all, but rather "our" muscle car. It was actually a police car proverbially used also by robbers due to its handling and power. It featured in many action movies ("poliziottechi") together with the Giulia 105
A classic car and a classic Ed thoroughly researched and presented video, something we fans have come to expect, and very much appreciate for your excellence. But I really am running out of sufficiently hyperbolic adjectives and adverbs! So I leave it as a simple and much felt 'Thank You'! For an old codger like me the name of Alfa Romeo does have a romantic image like no other, mainly because of its former racing reputation, something that the GTV6 and other variants maintained. We who were one time was involved in the industry know that thy were unreliable and rust buckets but I would give my eye teeth to have that badge on the radiator lust at the delicious rasp and burble for the exhaust! The only thing missing this week was your driving as it in order to allow us thereby to enjoy your trademark unique, smiling, bubbly and infectious enthusiasm. But I understand why, and if it allows such quality presentation, so be it! Thanks and for my weekly Twin Cam fix to prevent motoring withrawal symptoms! Rob
Probably the best chassis ever to come out of the Alfa camp, prefer the V6 over the 4 cylinder they optioned. Truth be told, I've owned an Alfetta sedan with the 2 liter injected engine. I remember the Alfetta's nimbleness, and would compare the road feel to that of a Porsche 944 which I've also owned. Considering the two cars differences in tire width, and year in which they were each developed, the Alfa would be a wicked machine with modern tires, and wheels.
In all fairness to you - the brilliance of your technical descriptions of all the cars you feature, is very impressive indeed. You have built an excellent channel - job well done young man.
Had an Alfetta 1.8, back in the day. What a treat. 1978 model. Sold it due to rust. Just restored a 280SL Pagoda, 1968, so short of funds ATM. Am on the lookout for out for a GTV. What is it about Alfa Romeo? Addictive.
Fascinating!! I liked watching this....I wasnt upset about the audio...it was fine and not distracting. You put so much work in to these and I enjoy seeing the cars. TY for sharing :)
The Busso is a fabulous engine, possibly my favorite V6 of the day. The unsung hero for me though is the 3L Maserati V6 they made for the Citroen SM and Merak. It’s a little known fact that the Maserati V6 was made into a race engine for the Ligier JS2 making 300bhp in 1973. Also used in the Citroen SM Michelin prototype where it set the speed record of the day for 3L going 177mph. Then a 4 valve version making some 400hp for Lemans in 1974 where it cleaned everyone’s clock in class and punching above its weight, including Ferrari Daytona’s and Porsche RSRs. The racing variants are absurdly rare as only a few were made and sadly none are running even in historic racing now. That engine was then the basis for the legendary 6r4 engine
I had a red Alfetta 2000 GTV in the mid 1980s, what a great car. I love the one you tested and I want one. I agree on the style though, the bonnet lump looks very Zagato and the clunky wheels spoil it a bit. Another great video, thanks Ed.
I always thought this suspension layout was one of the best of all time, you could have also mentioned the Watts parallel linkage accompanying the DeDion at the back , further aiding better location and keeping rear wheels at 90 degrees to the tarmac whatever the road surface conditions , wet or dry. In actual fact there were several specialist houses that did modified GTV / 6 applications. In the UK a there was the Bell and Covill dealership turbo conversion , based on the original 2 litre twin cam ( also designed by Busso ) , the GTV still having its original chrome bumpers in mk 1 guise at the time. In South Africa they had a 3 litre GTV6 as standard and then there was the twin turbo Galloway GTV6 . I always preferred the original series GTV with the original chrome bumpers and the twin chrome flashes in the grill, either way , looks being in the eye of the beholder and all that, thought it was one of the best looking coupes of all time, certainly the very best in the 1970s. As usual very detailed video from yourself, just pity you didn’t get chance to drive it, like David Cironi did in his you tube vid.
The 3.0 GTV6 sold here was a homologation special for Group One racing at the time. 207 was made in total, depending on who you talk to, some suggest only 170 or so, others suggest 212. But there are probably now more 3.0 GTV6's in the UK, New Zeeland and Australia, than in South Africa, all gone. I agree that the original stainless steel bumper variants are arguably the prettiest.
South African 3.0s had a fibre glass bonnet with a power bulge - this was needed as it turned out 2.5 air box was very restrictive. Also went back to carburetors, faster and easier to tune than Fuel injection in those days. Alfa workshop I used in the UK in the eighties had and original SA "TJ" car he used to race - synchro's replaced every couple of races. The South African 3.0s is a different configuration to the later 3.0 Alfa sixes. Car went on to beat BMW 745, Sierra XR8 (mustang V8 homologated - turbo's not allowed in SA).
I just love the GTV6, but this body kit ruins the Giugiaro lines a bit for me. Interesting car though, love the engine upgrades. I must say these are not as unreliable as their reputation suggests - I own both a 116 Giulietta 2.0 and Alfetta GTV 2.0. They have proven to be very reliable over decades of ownership. In my experience reliability issues are caused by both owners and workshops who do not understand these machines. Never, ever rev a cold engine high, always, always have proper anti-freeze in the engines, torque the cylinder heads periodically as per schedule, do regular oil changes and don't skimp on quality. These are really high quality machinery. And as I live in South Africa, rust is not as much a problem as in the UK.
@@TwinCam I haven't been without a classic Alfa Romeo for one day in 32 years. Although I am not using them as daily drivers anymore. But each time I take one for a drive it is a special occasion. I recently took a 64 year old friend out for a drive in the Alfetta GTV, who hasn't been in an Alfa Romeo since the late eighties. He now finds himself totally in love with these Italian characters, wanting to buy one desperately. He owns some pretty nice modern machinery, but considers them sterile in comparison. Which brings me to a quote from a John Tipler Alfa Romeo book..... "to drive one today, is to rediscover forgotten pleasures", or something resembling that at least.
Great video, Ed. 👍🏻 Never hear of this company before. I learn something new every day. 🤓 Giuseppe Busso is also the man behind the Nord-engine, as you showed in the Alfetta. I have a 1750 GTV-engine in my 1969 1300 Gt-junior. A great little engine. Busso startet with aircraft engines. That can clearly be showed on the Nord, that take 6,6 liters of oil. Partly for cooling. As a AR-geek i saw that this car is rebadged. The «Milano» in the logo disapperd in 1971, when the Alfasud came.
@Hilary I have never heard of a 3.5 GTV6 I am pretty sure no such thing exists. The 3.0L GTV6 South Africa model, yes. This model was brought out to compete against the BMW535i at the time , which had a 3,5l motor. The wiki article quotes this….are you getting confused with the BMW? The article wording is misleading , if you are quoting from that. Just saying. Please provide information if I’m wrong.
Great car and great mods! The badge on the rear is a pre 1972 one, still reading Milano, which was dropped in 1971 when production of the Sud began near Naples.
The GTV6 is a beautiful car, but I think Alfa got the proportioning so much better with the Alfa Sprint. In fact, even though the Sprint it is shorter than the GTV6 in overall length, the Sprint actually has a longer wheelbase almost identical to that of the Lamborghini Countach.
I certainly loved my GTV at the time but it was a rot monster. I used to tell people that Italian cars were biodegradable long before it was trendy. I bought all the worst ones (I even had a Beta) but it was fantastic hooning around in an Alfa or a Lancia in the back roads of Kent and East Sussex.
Sorry but the Alfasud is also an engineering thoroughbred, inboard discs, a low slung flat four and a brilliant suspension setup making it one of the greatest handling cars ever made.
Calloway built Alfa-sponsored twin turbo GTV6, one just sold on BringATrailer for…$62,000! Getting a 2.5L to make 210hp on L-jet without extensive modifications is not easy.
I had a 2.5 one, but really hated the driveshaft rotational inertia causing uncool gear changes. Over the years I've thought that modifying the driveshaft using lighter materials such as carbon-epoxy, and reducing its overall diameter, might really improve matters. I know the gear boxes suffer from synchro wear, and that's not surprising. What else would I change? Probably stiffen up the suspension, not in terms of ride but more top of engine bracing, and work on that engine, because here is an engine that would love to be tweaked
Indeed. Mike Kenyon who Started Chaparral was my father in law. There are only 3 cars left in existence as far as im aware. I have one of them, there is this one which i have a pic of taken in around 1990 with Mike in it and one other which i believe is now in Ireland having been restored by Alex Jupe motorsport. The original unit at Westbury is now Rainbow paints (i go there quite regularly) lol
I like the wheels! Maybe my eyesight is worse that I thought. Oh well. . . Would I have bought one new? Probably not. Do I want this one now? Oh hell YES. What a bit of kit. You are getting to be as much of a problem as Jonny Smith, Ed. Please stop spending my (provisional) lottery winnings. Thank you.
The Princess is wedge shaped as well but thats where it stopped. The Princess could have looked a lot better if they had the stance right, and a lot of details. The basic shape isnt too bad though. But still they look sedated and dull imo where the gtv looks agressive and exiting.
I disagree about the wheels. To me they're perfect for the car. I don't often like it when bodykits are added. I feel the purity of the original Pantera was slightly ruined by the GTS, likewise the Lambo Uracco vs the Jalpa (ok, so it's a targa but still very similar). The Alfa gtv 6 carries it off well though and really looks the part.
Alfa 6 was a bit of an oddity. Front engine and gearbox (unlike the Alfetta). Think the Alfa 6 engine was sometimes sought out for people wanting to put a V6 into a 105 series cars (as easier to fit directly to the transmission compared to an engine from a rear gearbox car). The first series Alfa 6 used 6 carbs rather than fuel injection, but later ones had fuel injection
Had to listen to a “ it’s Thrilling” Nissan commercial first. Yea right. THIS is thrilling, I’ve had 3. Not crazy about the hood and add ons but a lovely car nonetheless
This is the 'Gran Prix' or 'America' kit made by Zender. Nothing new. But I do believe the bonnet as it is on this car doesn't belong to this kit. The two part rims are overdone.
Torsion bars are very unusual on modern cars? Skoda fabia, Toyota yaris, aygo, iQ, hyundai i20, vw polo,. suzuki swift, kia picanto and evem the honda civic type r gen 8, all of them are using torsion bars for their rear suspension.
Interesting video, but you missed out that the torsion bars at the front saved on unsprung weight also. You also missed that the example presented has an English designed intrument layout, with all instruments in one binnacle. Furthmore the v6 at the front was much less balanced (heavier v6 cams high up) compared to the lighter four cylinder cars which handled better, but the saloon with a longer wheelbase handled still better on the road. Like you said the body styling is pretty ugly today in my opinion, and the original GTV6 bodywork and wheels are far superior.
I didn’t ‘miss’ anything. If I went into great detail about everything we’d be here all day. My videos are long enough as they are with a description of the general benefits of torsion bars. However, the part about an ‘English designed binnacle’ isn’t true. Depending on the model year, they had that from factory. A quick Google search confirms that. However, this car is too old for that binnacle to have been original, so it will have been fitted presumably during restoration. But it is an original Alfa dashboard.
@@TwinCam Just saw your reply about the binnacle which is untrue! That is a non factory designed, Alfa GB commisioned Ogle dashboard so look up british designed ogle alfetta dashboard on google and read thread on alfaforums where is stated this dashboard was only fitted on the 1982 model year as an interim dashboard on a small batch of uk cars. I am an Alfisti and know the Alfetta intimately and still have an early alfetta. The Alfetta GT was launched with a split binnacle with the rev counter directly in front and all the other gauges in the centre binnacle. Alfa Romeo UK modified the original dashboard for uk imported RHD cars by swapping the original speedometer directly in front of the driver and the rev counter around with the other gauges remaining as before. Despite this Alfa GB got so much criticism about this earlier split dashboard from customers that before the RHD GTV6s came to the UK they commissioned a british company called "Ogle" to design the dash you see in the GTV6 you are showing, only produced for 1982, with all the gauges in a central gauge, as an interim dashboard which the uk importers fitted during predelivery until they got the later factory designed dashboard launched earlier in european GTV6s and for RHD UK GTV6s starting 1983, and which was the only other new factory designed dashboard on any Alfetta GTV or GTV6 with the speedometer, clock and rev counter in large binnacles in front of the driver and ancillary dials in three smaller binnacles in the centre of the dashboard. Lastly on your original video you also omitted to mention the dedion axle saves unsprung weight also compared to a live axle and the rear watts linkage pivot mounted on the dedion is absolutely fundamental to the pure handling of the alfetta layout that you describe. The alfetta also introduced rack and pinion steering (still used today in modern cars) but free of the weight of front mounted springs. Compared to the previious generation Alfa Romeo Giulia of the 1960s the Alfetta had less unsprung weight front and rear allied to better 50/50 weght distribution and better steering, way ahead of BMW at the time or any other mainstream auto sports car maker, which takes little time to say!
Wrong wheels, wrong color, and the body kit does nothing for it. Most offensive: painting the rear plastic triangle green. Also, black-painted cam covers were certainly not standard, my 1981 had plain metal covers. Wonderful car. Had to give mine away. Heartbreaking.
Utter rubbish. Chaparral wasn’t a made up name - it was named after a bird. Plus, Jim Hall’s Chaparral existed for what? Five years? Chaparral the boat manufacturer has been around for over fifty years.
@@TwinCam You don’t know your history. Hall and Chaparral were around from the early 60s through the late 70s and were the first to use the name. The bird by the way is geococcyx californius, the road runner. Hall also is the father of modern race car aerodynamics. Hall’s use outdates the the boat builder and the motorcycle dealer.
@@TwinCam You don’t know your history. Check out the history of Jim Hall and Chaparral cars. I am referring to automotive use of the name. The car name was used before the boat company or motorcycle dealer.
![โอ้เธอช่าง... - บี้เดอะสกา ft. ต๋อง เทวัญ (Prod. by ป๋าเพชร) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zbWhiLFmVL0/mqdefault.jpg)
I have to apologise for the simply awful dropouts in the audio during the introduction. If you really can't stand it, I promise it does go away.
In the meantime, I can assure you it won't happen again. The Synco audio transmitter/receiver system I have is simply awful, and I have now replaced it with a much better system, one that isn't flummoxed by something as simple as a human being in its line of sight.
No need to apologise.
Use of the word 'flummoxed' more than made up for the audio dropouts.
Thanks mate, thought was my phone’s speakers gone wonky
😎
It does sound very much like that 🤣
It’s the wireless transmitter losing its connection with the receiver. Serves me right for buying crap.
As an Alfisti. You said everything correctly, maybe not as much as others I'm only on my 17th Alfa Romeo. But love the Alfetta platform.
I have had one for 30 years, and mine is a silver 1981. The same body kit with spoiler, uprated torsion bars, springs, Bilstein and a rebuilt engine. I’m happy.
Said it before this guy has a great future .
Thanks Paul 🙂
On TH-cam!
@andrew thornton the heyday of motoring journalism is no more.
The clingers on to the Top Gear legacy are now historical observantionists.
A very good thing I like, but the future has a narrowing appeal.
Tempting fate with comments like this 😈
I had an Alfa GTV6 in period (1985 model) and absolutely loved it, in Alfa red which is quite a dark 'bluey' red, I derived great pleasure simply from looking at it from my first floor flat window; I still think it's a classically beautiful design today.
I found the 160 bhp it produced to be quick enough, good for 8.5 seconds 0-60, going on to 125 mph or so, which you could quite comfortably do on motorways in those halcyon speed-camera free days.
People used to complain about clunky gear linkage, especially second gear, but I never found it to be an issue if you had correctly allowed the car to warm-up properly before setting off.
There were some minor rust issues and Italian electrics of the period were never the best, but once the engine was fully warmed-up and singing you could forgive it anything.
My mom had one when I was little. I thought that car was so cool
I had one of the early ones back in the day and it was without doubt the best coupe I ever owned. It was just lovely to drive.
Since the mid 1970`s, when at the age of just 15 i convinced my Dad to buy a new Alfasud ti i have always been into Alfa Romeo`s... I love it when you delve into this iconic brand with your ever so infectious enthusiasm of cars... such a shame you could not have driven the GTV6..
Someday, I hopefully will!
Perfect ! Thank you so much. For me - grown in up in several Alfa Romeos my father owned - I'm lost for other " serious " brands.
The Busso V6 is the epic masterpiece. Although cars from AR can get you mad because of some issues, I can' t resist.
In South Africa,the GTV was available with 3.0 V6 and the 6 carbs.
Fine Video again, Ed.
Thanks Patrick 🙂
I have owned three Alfa's, nothing drives like an Alfa. And nothing will drive more crazy than an Alfa.
This is the car Chanel we have been waiting for. Thank you!
Thanks again 🙂
There was a South Africa only model of the GTV6 with a 3.0 Buso....
I had use of my friend's '76 Alfetta GT a few times in the early '80's.. It was a most unique driving experience compared to anything else up to that point. It had an uncanny ability to absorb uneven road surfaces and almost never get out of step, even on bends at decent speeds. My friend also had a very nice '75 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, both cars in immaculate shape by his own hands. Then one day I found out he traded both for a new and last year '82 Fiat Strada (Ritmo in other markets), and I was so disappointed when those cars were gone for something like that very ordinary econobox. Such is life. I still miss those two. I have at present a '75 124 Sport Coupe, yellow, '85 944 early N/A gun metal grey, '04 Vibe GT in silver, with 8,200 rpm engine 6 sp. Peace!
I had an 85 GTV6 for a few years. It was wonderful. One of my favorite cars. It went wrong a bit, but on a good day, it was wonderful.
That’s a real beauty! The GTV6 was the car that truly got under my skin - I sat in one as a 13 yr old and that was it - I became an Alfisti! I’m on my third Alfa now, and will no doubt have more. I’ll probably never be able to buy anything like like this, but, green paint apart (I like my Alfas to be red), this one is tremendous!
I can fully understand why a mad Alfa lover would pay for this upgraded GTV-6. I’m just glad they weren’t available in Australia at the time. Fortunately I have a 1985 model that I’ve owned since new. Twin Cam if you ever venture this far south you can drive and review mine (along with my other cars in a very eclectic collection 😀)
That’s very kind of you Huw!
@@TwinCam Not a problem. A comparison of my 1949 MM lowlight and a 2023 Tesla might be fun 😀
In all fairness, in Australia you get to have the Giocattolo! My favorite Alfa of the 80s
You are a very interesting presenter with compelling facts and history. All this is winnowed into a cogent and easily accepted short. Good job.
I can remember back in the seventees as a teenager a rich buisnessman friend of my dad replaced his wife`s silver Lancia Beta Coupe with an Alfa Romeo GTV, in red. Italian cool coupes back in the day, even cooler today!
I owned an Alfa Romeo 75 which had the same suspension set up, a fantastic handling vehicle
Alfetta in Italy was not considered "sedate-looking" at all, but rather "our" muscle car. It was actually a police car proverbially used also by robbers due to its handling and power. It featured in many action movies ("poliziottechi") together with the Giulia 105
th-cam.com/video/zQmxTPndxqA/w-d-xo.html 😎😎
I like the colour, magnificent!
Your reviews are truly epic! I'm a simple man, I see a a new TwinCam episode I stop what im doing, click like and enjoy!
Thanks James, very kind of you to say 🙂
A classic car and a classic Ed thoroughly researched and presented video, something we fans have come to expect, and very much appreciate for your excellence. But I really am running out of sufficiently hyperbolic adjectives and adverbs! So I leave it as a simple and much felt 'Thank You'!
For an old codger like me the name of Alfa Romeo does have a romantic image like no other, mainly because of its former racing reputation, something that the GTV6 and other variants maintained.
We who were one time was involved in the industry know that thy were unreliable and rust buckets but I would give my eye teeth to have that badge on the radiator lust at the delicious rasp and burble for the exhaust!
The only thing missing this week was your driving as it in order to allow us thereby to enjoy your trademark unique, smiling, bubbly and infectious enthusiasm. But I understand why, and if it allows such quality presentation, so be it!
Thanks and for my weekly Twin Cam fix to prevent motoring withrawal symptoms!
Rob
Thanks as always Rob 😎
I had an Alfetta GT 2.0. I added stiffer sway bars and springs/torsion bars, the car would corner with the best. But rust, so much rust.
Probably the best chassis ever to come out of the Alfa camp, prefer the V6 over the 4 cylinder they optioned. Truth be told, I've owned an Alfetta sedan with the 2 liter injected engine. I remember the Alfetta's nimbleness, and would compare the road feel to that of a Porsche 944 which I've also owned. Considering the two cars differences in tire width, and year in which they were each developed, the Alfa would be a wicked machine with modern tires, and wheels.
I would buy, I had a 2.0l GTV and my brother had a V6, wonderful cars.
In all fairness to you - the brilliance of your technical descriptions of all the cars you feature, is very impressive indeed. You have built an excellent channel - job well done young man.
Thanks Andy, that's very kind of you to say :)
His voice and delivery is spot on . In fact it's kind of iconic, within the car telly world -alongside Clarkson and jayemm. Well done young man.
Beautiful car my late father had a 1977 GTV 2.0 in black and it was gorgeous and reliable! This car still looks fabulous. Great review as always.
Thanks Seve 🙂
Had an Alfetta 1.8, back in the day. What a treat. 1978 model. Sold it due to rust. Just restored a 280SL Pagoda, 1968, so short of funds ATM. Am on the lookout for out for a GTV. What is it about Alfa Romeo? Addictive.
The GTV6 is an outstanding classic car. The most buttery smooth engine I’ve ever experienced.
Fascinating!! I liked watching this....I wasnt upset about the audio...it was fine and not distracting. You put so much work in to these and I enjoy seeing the cars. TY for sharing :)
Thanks Tricia 🙂
The Busso is a fabulous engine, possibly my favorite V6 of the day. The unsung hero for me though is the 3L Maserati V6 they made for the Citroen SM and Merak. It’s a little known fact that the Maserati V6 was made into a race engine for the Ligier JS2 making 300bhp in 1973. Also used in the Citroen SM Michelin prototype where it set the speed record of the day for 3L going 177mph. Then a 4 valve version making some 400hp for Lemans in 1974 where it cleaned everyone’s clock in class and punching above its weight, including Ferrari Daytona’s and Porsche RSRs. The racing variants are absurdly rare as only a few were made and sadly none are running even in historic racing now. That engine was then the basis for the legendary 6r4 engine
This looks nice and the body kit suits it the same as for the later lambos
I think the body kit is tasteful in the same way that late production XJSes were. However, I think this one should have been painted red.
A terrific video Ed. It's really great to watch your full on enthusiasm for these landmark cars.
Thanks mate 🙂
I had a red Alfetta 2000 GTV in the mid 1980s, what a great car. I love the one you tested and I want one. I agree on the style though, the bonnet lump looks very Zagato and the clunky wheels spoil it a bit. Another great video, thanks Ed.
Thanks as always David 🙂
I love the rims. It’s an amazing car 😊
What a machine! Absolutely love it!
I always thought this suspension layout was one of the best of all time, you could have also mentioned the Watts parallel linkage accompanying the DeDion at the back , further aiding better location and keeping rear wheels at 90 degrees to the tarmac whatever the road surface conditions , wet or dry. In actual fact there were several specialist houses that did modified GTV / 6 applications. In the UK a there was the Bell and Covill dealership turbo conversion , based on the original 2 litre twin cam ( also designed by Busso ) , the GTV still having its original chrome bumpers in mk 1 guise at the time. In South Africa they had a 3 litre GTV6 as standard and then there was the twin turbo Galloway GTV6 . I always preferred the original series GTV with the original chrome bumpers and the twin chrome flashes in the grill, either way , looks being in the eye of the beholder and all that, thought it was one of the best looking coupes of all time, certainly the very best in the 1970s. As usual very detailed video from yourself, just pity you didn’t get chance to drive it, like David Cironi did in his you tube vid.
Yes! I probably should have done. Only reason I left it out is because it’s necessary to locate the tube because the car’s coil sprung.
The 3.0 GTV6 sold here was a homologation special for Group One racing at the time. 207 was made in total, depending on who you talk to, some suggest only 170 or so, others suggest 212. But there are probably now more 3.0 GTV6's in the UK, New Zeeland and Australia, than in South Africa, all gone. I agree that the original stainless steel bumper variants are arguably the prettiest.
South African 3.0s had a fibre glass bonnet with a power bulge - this was needed as it turned out 2.5 air box was very restrictive. Also went back to carburetors, faster and easier to tune than Fuel injection in those days. Alfa workshop I used in the UK in the eighties had and original SA "TJ" car he used to race - synchro's replaced every couple of races. The South African 3.0s is a different configuration to the later 3.0 Alfa sixes. Car went on to beat BMW 745, Sierra XR8 (mustang V8 homologated - turbo's not allowed in SA).
Yeah great review.. no BS just calm car enthusiast Subscribed
Thanks Graham 🙂
I just love the GTV6, but this body kit ruins the Giugiaro lines a bit for me. Interesting car though, love the engine upgrades. I must say these are not as unreliable as their reputation suggests - I own both a 116 Giulietta 2.0 and Alfetta GTV 2.0. They have proven to be very reliable over decades of ownership. In my experience reliability issues are caused by both owners and workshops who do not understand these machines. Never, ever rev a cold engine high, always, always have proper anti-freeze in the engines, torque the cylinder heads periodically as per schedule, do regular oil changes and don't skimp on quality. These are really high quality machinery. And as I live in South Africa, rust is not as much a problem as in the UK.
I blow hot and cold on it. Depends on the day! I really need an Alfa in my life.
@@TwinCam I haven't been without a classic Alfa Romeo for one day in 32 years. Although I am not using them as daily drivers anymore. But each time I take one for a drive it is a special occasion. I recently took a 64 year old friend out for a drive in the Alfetta GTV, who hasn't been in an Alfa Romeo since the late eighties. He now finds himself totally in love with these Italian characters, wanting to buy one desperately. He owns some pretty nice modern machinery, but considers them sterile in comparison. Which brings me to a quote from a John Tipler Alfa Romeo book..... "to drive one today, is to rediscover forgotten pleasures", or something resembling that at least.
Great video, Ed. 👍🏻
Never hear of this company before. I learn something new every day. 🤓
Giuseppe Busso is also the man behind the Nord-engine, as you showed in the Alfetta.
I have a 1750 GTV-engine in my 1969 1300 Gt-junior. A great little engine.
Busso startet with aircraft engines. That can clearly be showed on the Nord, that take 6,6 liters of oil. Partly for cooling.
As a AR-geek i saw that this car is rebadged. The «Milano» in the logo disapperd in 1971, when the Alfasud came.
Thanks Øyvind 🙂
The South African build GTV 6 also came in group1 and a special 3.0 and 3.5 liter monster
@Hilary I have never heard of a 3.5 GTV6
I am pretty sure no such thing exists.
The 3.0L GTV6 South Africa model, yes.
This model was brought out to compete against the BMW535i at the time , which had a 3,5l motor.
The wiki article quotes this….are you getting confused with the BMW? The article wording is misleading , if you are quoting from that. Just saying.
Please provide information if I’m wrong.
Really informative. Well done.
Fantastic review of an amazing car. Learned a lot that I didn’t know.
Thanks as always Philip 🙂
Great car and great mods! The badge on the rear is a pre 1972 one, still reading Milano, which was dropped in 1971 when production of the Sud began near Naples.
Nice video
Beautifull restomod
The GTV6 is a beautiful car, but I think Alfa got the proportioning so much better with the Alfa Sprint. In fact, even though the Sprint it is shorter than the GTV6 in overall length, the Sprint actually has a longer wheelbase almost identical to that of the Lamborghini Countach.
I tend to agree. Ideally, the 116 sedan's longer wheelbase should have been used to effectively shorten the rear overhang.
Nice car! Alfa's are absent from the streets in my childhood memories, I remember these though, or at least the base versions
I certainly loved my GTV at the time but it was a rot monster. I used to tell people that Italian cars were biodegradable long before it was trendy. I bought all the worst ones (I even had a Beta) but it was fantastic hooning around in an Alfa or a Lancia in the back roads of Kent and East Sussex.
A good eco friendly Alfa 🍀🤣
In South Africa we had a 3.0 V6 because we special like that😎
Best looking special GTV6 is the Grand Prix version in black/yellow leather with SZ wheels on it.
Oh my.. now that is one nice beefy looking beauty.
An excellent video thanks
Thanks Mark :)
Sorry but the Alfasud is also an engineering thoroughbred, inboard discs, a low slung flat four and a brilliant suspension setup making it one of the greatest handling cars ever made.
And here’s my video on it - complete with driving impressions!
The Alfasud is One of the All-Time Greats
th-cam.com/video/mw5_LGSxjSU/w-d-xo.html
Calloway built Alfa-sponsored twin turbo GTV6, one just sold on BringATrailer for…$62,000! Getting a 2.5L to make 210hp on L-jet without extensive modifications is not easy.
I had a 2.5 one, but really hated the driveshaft rotational inertia causing uncool gear changes. Over the years I've thought that modifying the driveshaft using lighter materials such as carbon-epoxy, and reducing its overall diameter, might really improve matters. I know the gear boxes suffer from synchro wear, and that's not surprising. What else would I change? Probably stiffen up the suspension, not in terms of ride but more top of engine bracing, and work on that engine, because here is an engine that would love to be tweaked
Alfa Romeo GTV6 had success in Australia
Count me as mental, as when I heard that price and immediately thought where do I sign up haha
I love interior
I remember these being built in Westbury trading estate, just around the corner from BenAlfa and EB Spares
Indeed. Mike Kenyon who Started Chaparral was my father in law. There are only 3 cars left in existence as far as im aware. I have one of them, there is this one which i have a pic of taken in around 1990 with Mike in it and one other which i believe is now in Ireland having been restored by Alex Jupe motorsport. The original unit at Westbury is now Rainbow paints (i go there quite regularly) lol
@@thedubshed3480Ah of course, I go there for paint as well 😄
I like the wheels! Maybe my eyesight is worse that I thought. Oh well. . .
Would I have bought one new? Probably not. Do I want this one now? Oh hell YES. What a bit of kit. You are getting to be as much of a problem as Jonny Smith, Ed. Please stop spending my (provisional) lottery winnings. Thank you.
I like the wheels, just not on a GTV6 😅
Just noticed it really has a strong look of the Austin princess to it on the basic models.
Take a look 5:14 and 5:19 see what you think
The Princess is wedge shaped as well but thats where it stopped. The Princess could have looked a lot better if they had the stance right, and a lot of details. The basic shape isnt too bad though. But still they look sedated and dull imo where the gtv looks agressive and exiting.
Very cool
Good show young man! I really like what you do. 😎👍 Can you make a review on the Jensen CV8 MKll?
Thanks mate!
I’d love to, but I need to be offered one first.
@@TwinCam I'm sure if you put out the word to car clubs, they will flag one for you.
Great job apart from dodgy mic. Hope you can get out in it again to get some engine note fly-bys.
Love the colour - British racing green?
I disagree about the wheels. To me they're perfect for the car. I don't often like it when bodykits are added. I feel the purity of the original Pantera was slightly ruined by the GTS, likewise the Lambo Uracco vs the Jalpa (ok, so it's a targa but still very similar). The Alfa gtv 6 carries it off well though and really looks the part.
Absolutely. They look great
Alfa 6 was a bit of an oddity. Front engine and gearbox (unlike the Alfetta). Think the Alfa 6 engine was sometimes sought out for people wanting to put a V6 into a 105 series cars (as easier to fit directly to the transmission compared to an engine from a rear gearbox car). The first series Alfa 6 used 6 carbs rather than fuel injection, but later ones had fuel injection
Blyme! Quid! Cool car!
I'd love to see you present a Fiat 124 Spider, but I suppose most of those came over to the States
They do exist, though in small numbers. I’d love to do a video on one someday.
So, in your research did you read up on the twin-turbo version cobbled up by Reeves Callaway?
Not particularly. I didn’t have the time, so I just mentioned it because I knew it existed.
Had to listen to a “ it’s Thrilling” Nissan commercial first. Yea right. THIS is thrilling, I’ve had 3. Not crazy about the hood and add ons but a lovely car nonetheless
This is the 'Gran Prix' or 'America' kit made by Zender. Nothing new. But I do believe the bonnet as it is on this car doesn't belong to this kit.
The two part rims are overdone.
Fantastic display of swirls in the paintwork
What’re you expecting? It’s been sat since 2000. I assume you noticed the rust? 🥴
lovely car but shouldn’t you have driven it or at least started it so we can hear the engine? Other than that great video!
Please rewatch the video and listen to what I say.
Jeremy clarkson has one 🎉
ZAR in the vin means it was built in RSA
Torsion bars are very unusual on modern cars? Skoda fabia, Toyota yaris, aygo, iQ, hyundai i20, vw polo,. suzuki swift, kia picanto and evem the honda civic type r gen 8, all of them are using torsion bars for their rear suspension.
Those cars all use torsion beams in conjunction with coil springs. Torsion bars are a different technology and don’t require additional coil springs.
Twin-Cam the VW Beetle,Type 3& Karmann Ghia all have the Torsion Bar so it's very easy to lower the cars.
Yes, the traditional VWs have torsion bars, as does the Morris Minor.
@@Pmjs I think lowering them ruins them. The Type 3 especially has a great ride and good handing at standard height.
@David Summers I remember watching Ant on Wheeler Dealers USA, and he raised the height of the Type 3 Fastback as it was too low.
Disappointing not hear the engine sound 😢 ! But thank you ..
Interesting video, but you missed out that the torsion bars at the front saved on unsprung weight also. You also missed that the example presented has an English designed intrument layout, with all instruments in one binnacle. Furthmore the v6 at the front was much less balanced (heavier v6 cams high up) compared to the lighter four cylinder cars which handled better, but the saloon with a longer wheelbase handled still better on the road. Like you said the body styling is pretty ugly today in my opinion, and the original GTV6 bodywork and wheels are far superior.
I didn’t ‘miss’ anything. If I went into great detail about everything we’d be here all day. My videos are long enough as they are with a description of the general benefits of torsion bars. However, the part about an ‘English designed binnacle’ isn’t true. Depending on the model year, they had that from factory. A quick Google search confirms that. However, this car is too old for that binnacle to have been original, so it will have been fitted presumably during restoration. But it is an original Alfa dashboard.
@@TwinCam Just saw your reply about the binnacle which is untrue! That is a non factory designed, Alfa GB commisioned Ogle dashboard so look up british designed ogle alfetta dashboard on google and read thread on alfaforums where is stated this dashboard was only fitted on the 1982 model year as an interim dashboard on a small batch of uk cars. I am an Alfisti and know the Alfetta intimately and still have an early alfetta. The Alfetta GT was launched with a split binnacle with the rev counter directly in front and all the other gauges in the centre binnacle. Alfa Romeo UK modified the original dashboard for uk imported RHD cars by swapping the original speedometer directly in front of the driver and the rev counter around with the other gauges remaining as before. Despite this Alfa GB got so much criticism about this earlier split dashboard from customers that before the RHD GTV6s came to the UK they commissioned a british company called "Ogle" to design the dash you see in the GTV6 you are showing, only produced for 1982, with all the gauges in a central gauge, as an interim dashboard which the uk importers fitted during predelivery until they got the later factory designed dashboard launched earlier in european GTV6s and for RHD UK GTV6s starting 1983, and which was the only other new factory designed dashboard on any Alfetta GTV or GTV6 with the speedometer, clock and rev counter in large binnacles in front of the driver and ancillary dials in three smaller binnacles in the centre of the dashboard. Lastly on your original video you also omitted to mention the dedion axle saves unsprung weight also compared to a live axle and the rear watts linkage pivot mounted on the dedion is absolutely fundamental to the pure handling of the alfetta layout that you describe. The alfetta also introduced rack and pinion steering (still used today in modern cars) but free of the weight of front mounted springs. Compared to the previious generation Alfa Romeo Giulia of the 1960s the Alfetta had less unsprung weight front and rear allied to better 50/50 weght distribution and better steering, way ahead of BMW at the time or any other mainstream auto sports car maker, which takes little time to say!
I think the alfa sud sprint a better balanced design, Aestheticly but they only went up to 1.7 litres.
It’s certainly simpler, but I like them both. They’re very similar, I feel, but I’d have to go GT just for the V6.
Now this engine remain at 2.5 L or 3.0 L modified
not one engine sound! The most frustrating video I have seen in a long time!
So you didn’t listen to what I said then?
❤ Toyota Corolla GR❤
Please Drive the Car and let hear us the sound
I’d wager you’d be unable to hear the sound, as you clearly didn’t listen to the video.
Extremely disappointed you couldn’t even start the thing! Like a blind person trying to enjoy the Mona Lisa…
Beggars can’t be choosers, as much as I’d love to.
@@TwinCam What kind of person lets you have the keys to a car like that, with a sound like has, and doesn’t allow you to start it?! 😂😂😂
Did you even watch the video? Or are you just thick?
Wrong wheels, wrong color, and the body kit does nothing for it. Most offensive: painting the rear plastic triangle green. Also, black-painted cam covers were certainly not standard, my 1981 had plain metal covers. Wonderful car. Had to give mine away. Heartbreaking.
Did you even listen to the video? 😬🤣
@@TwinCam Yes, did you? Is no one allowed an opinion, especially someone who owns a GTV-6 or is your rather young level of experience the last word?
Alfa Romeo a "silly litle company from Milan"?
You appear to take yourself far too seriously.
Audio
See the pinned comment.
Beautiful car .... wheels no
Warum so viel Gelaber noch nicht mal Fahreindrücke oder irgendein Motor Sound von der schönen Alfa Romeo V6 Maschine😢😢😢😢
Please try to listen before commenting.
Mr. Giugiaro will not be pleased with the styling; cosmetic surgery a la 90's. :(
Not bad, not as cool as an aussie built mid engine V8 conversion.
V8? Are you serious?
@@TwinCam Giocatolo...😉
@@TwinCam you're welcome
You lost me at ALFA!
Eh?
Italian cars were far superior to others and they all copied eventually
And u didnt started it..........
You didn’t listen to the video, did you?
Still, should have....
Well that’s just been confirmed undoubtedly.
210 hp. meh...
Bogus use of the name Chaparral. Jim Hall had nothing to do with this.
Utter rubbish. Chaparral wasn’t a made up name - it was named after a bird. Plus, Jim Hall’s Chaparral existed for what? Five years? Chaparral the boat manufacturer has been around for over fifty years.
@@TwinCam You don’t know your history. Hall and Chaparral were around from the early 60s through the late 70s and were the first to use the name. The bird by the way is geococcyx californius, the road runner. Hall also is the father of modern race car aerodynamics. Hall’s use outdates the the boat builder and the motorcycle dealer.
@@TwinCam You don’t know your history. Check out the history of Jim Hall and Chaparral cars. I am referring to automotive use of the name. The car name was used before the boat company or motorcycle dealer.