Alfa Romeo

[Pb2k]

Hello, this is my first entry to this forum.

My name is Micha, I am an Apple Mac-specialist from the Netherlands. I like to travel to Sri Lanka, occasionally for the good cause. Though not rich, I am a fast car enthusiast myself, I have previously owned quite a few of European cars like Peugeot 405 Mi16, Lancia Thema V6 3.0 and Peugeot 205 GTI. My current car is a red classic Alfa Romeo GT Junior Bertone, that I upgraded with a 2000cc twincam Alfetta engine, with double 40mm Weber carburettors.

Though Alfa makes really really nice fast cars, I havent seen any in Sri Lanka yet.

I am happy with the color, but it could use some extra striping, like this one

Edited December 3, 2006 by Pb2k

[ucscsades]

Wow, really nice car! Looks amazing. Good to have an Alfa enthusiast here! as for alfas in sri lanka, there aren't that many...well quite a few of the newer, more common models, but nothing rare that I've seen. I think there are a few other members in here who live in sri lanka and are much more into their alfas, so i'll let them comment on your question!

[Pericles]

U haven't? Lets rectify that...

http://forum.autolanka.com/index.php?s...=Alfa&st=20

I must say, there seems to be quite an interest in these dutch guys in SL. Third one by my count. Maybe coz we used to be a colony

[Pb2k]

thanks This really amazes me, it must be really difficult to get parts for a rare car like this, mine is almost similar to the 1750 Giulia Sprint.

I went for a drive today and recorded the sound , i put it on Youtube It was rainy so I couldn't go from 4th to 5th

[GTAm]

  Pb2k said:

thanks This really amazes me, it must be really difficult to get parts for a rare car like this, mine is almost similar to the 1750 Giulia Sprint.

I went for a drive today and recorded the sound , i put it on Youtube It was rainy so I couldn't go from 4th to 5th

Hi Pb2k,

Great to have someone who speaks my language here at last!. I live in Colombo and have 4 Alfas. Of course I am a big fan. Once you've got used to an Alfa Romeo nothing else will do eh? BMWs used to be my choice before I discovered Alfas. I own a GT junior, Alfetta GTV 2000, SudSprint Veloce and for everyday use I have a 156. I am part of the club in SL.

These are two of my babes. The Other two are still in hospital. The Alfetta is nearly complete, while the Sprint has a long way to go.

[Hola]

Wow, nice pics. Was this meet published in AL earlier?

[ucscsades]

uhm..I don't think that's a meet, its 2 of GTAm's 4 alfas I'm guessing!

[Pb2k]

  GTAm said:

These are two of my babes. The Other two are still in hospital. The Alfetta is nearly complete, while the Sprint has a long way to go.

Thats a nice junior actually mine was a 1300 junior too, but the previous owner made it a 1600, the ignition was timed incorrectly (I bought it in a lousy state, running on 3 cilinders) so the sparkplug burned a hole thru the piston. I replaced the engine with one from an Alfetta 2000.

How do you maintain a car like this? The Dutch climate is quite unfriendly to Alfa Romeo, as classic alfa's will suffer from oxidation sooner or later. But seawind combined with a moist climate, that sounds a lot like Sri Lanka too. Then parts are quite easy to get in the Netherlands, but that's because the Bertone is such a popular classic, most are in fabulous condition. Parts are actually remanufactured and better than the ones they made 30 years ago

[GTAm]

  Pb2k said:

Thats a nice junior actually mine was a 1300 junior too, but the previous owner made it a 1600, the ignition was timed incorrectly (I bought it in a lousy state, running on 3 cilinders) so the sparkplug burned a hole thru the piston. I replaced the engine with one from an Alfetta 2000.

How do you maintain a car like this? The Dutch climate is quite unfriendly to Alfa Romeo, as classic alfa's will suffer from oxidation sooner or later. But seawind combined with a moist climate, that sounds a lot like Sri Lanka too. Then parts are quite easy to get in the Netherlands, but that's because the Bertone is such a popular classic, most are in fabulous condition. Parts are actually remanufactured and better than the ones they made 30 years ago

Well the history of your car sounds very similar to mine. Mine was originally a 1300 and had a "miss" that could never be sorted out. At that time I could not afford a fully blown re-build, so I looked for a used engine.

I finally found a 1600 in Canada through the club there. And it just slotted in and I have been running it ever since but there has always been a "miss" developing at high temperature. My gearbox was crunching since day one and recently it went bang and I'm awaiting a used box from Australia.

I usually buy spares from the UK ok the US and its not cheap when you consider how poor our currency is. Anyway I have now decided to take it apart and do the body rot that has set it, which means a complete resto. Yeah they do rot but this is the first time I'm doing it since I bought it.

I have raced her at our local race track twice and taken part in a hill climb once through the Classic car club of Ceylon. The first time it was totally out classed as it was running only on 3 cylinders. The second time I was leading my event by a big margin when the clutch decided to let go. Won the hill climb though. Apart from those, it's been very reliable. Never ever breaking down in everyday use.

Btw mine is a LHD and was brought here specifically for competition I am told. There were 5 Bertones in Sri Lanka. But now only 3 are known to survive. The other is a step front junior.

[Pb2k]

Maybe you can have the gearbox restored instead of having a replacement sent in? I still have the 1300 gearbox connected to my 2000cc engine, the seller gave me a spare 2000cc gearbox that I keep till I need it, I think prices for parts will rise anytime soon as they are too easely spent during races, however of course, this engine was Alfa's workhorse for so many models. The 1300 gearbox with a 2000cc engine is a very common combination in racing.

Italy is quite a hot country too, the radiator should be able to handle it, it doesn't quite explain your overheating. My temperature is steady at about 70 degrees Centigrade. what kind of carburettors are you using?

And how's driving an extremely rare Bertone such as yours in Sri Lanka? It must be an awesome experience anyway, other Dutch Alfa owners respond extremely positive to these pictures

& Where can I find higher resolution pictures of the Sri Lankan Bertones !

Edited December 7, 2006 by Pb2k

[GTAm]

  Pb2k said:

Maybe you can have the gearbox restored instead of having a replacement sent in? I still have the 1300 gearbox connected to my 2000cc engine, the seller gave me a spare 2000cc gearbox that I keep till I need it, I think prices for parts will rise anytime soon as they are too easely spent during races, however of course, this engine was Alfa's workhorse for so many models. The 1300 gearbox with a 2000cc engine is a very common combination in racing.

Italy is quite a hot country too, the radiator should be able to handle it, it doesn't quite explain your overheating. My temperature is steady at about 70 degrees Centigrade. what kind of carburettors are you using?

And how's driving an extremely rare Bertone such as yours in Sri Lanka? It must be an awesome experience anyway, other Dutch Alfa owners respond extremely positive to these pictures

& Where can I find higher resolution pictures of the Sri Lankan Bertones !

Hi Dude,

Great to hear from you.

My greabox internals were shredded at high speed one early morning when I was blasting of to Kandy a city close to Colombo but with winding roads. Something broke inside. I had been neglecting the worn sychro noises for years. There is no hope of rebuilding that as the gear wheels are mangled .

Yeah mine is the 1300 box and I thing it needs another ratio as even on 5th its accelerating .

My engine does not overheat it just develops a miss at highish temps which makes it sound not so tasty as it is when cool.

Driving it even in the traffic on our poor roads can be frustrating but I do it anyway. I used to use the car about 3 days a week going for a jog or place tennis or squash in the evenings. It's a real joy to drive as you will agree. Being LHD overtaking is hard for me as this is a RHD country. But I've got used to it. And the acceleration is super. I constantly outsprint many newer cars on the road, usually baffling the other drivers who must be wondering what the hell this car is!! Really miss it being out of order.

I will get you more pics. On the 17th I will get new ones. Send me your email and I will send them to you.

Btw about some of the cars you owned......The Lancia Thema.....I did not know it came with a V6?? Wasn't it the 2.0 Turbo i e. and the 8.32 Ferrari V8? Did they use the Arese V6?

[Pb2k]

  GTAm said:

Btw about some of the cars you owned......The Lancia Thema.....I did not know it came with a V6?? Wasn't it the 2.0 Turbo i e. and the 8.32 Ferrari V8? Did they use the Arese V6?

It was a 1991 Lancia Thema 3.0 V6. Lancia, Fiat and Alfa produced nearly similar cars those years. I think you could compare it to the Alfa 164 V6 and the Fiat Croma V6. I wouldn't be surprised if they used a peugeot engine for it.

I can understand Sri Lankans are surprised to see and hear such a rare car as your Bertone In the Netherlands I also experience lots of positive attention. People actually stopped their car and told me they loved it I guess it's part of the car's character, it makes sure you keep maintaining it. Mine is developing some blisters in the paint, so after the winter it might have a paintjob.

I showed some of the pictures of the Italian Club race on a dutch alfa-forum. You now have many dutch fans

[Marco]

  Pericles said:

I must say, there seems to be quite an interest in these dutch guys in SL. Third one by my count. Maybe coz we used to be a colony

I'm number 2, but who's the third guy?

[GTAm]

  Pb2k said:

It was a 1991 Lancia Thema 3.0 V6. Lancia, Fiat and Alfa produced nearly similar cars those years. I think you could compare it to the Alfa 164 V6 and the Fiat Croma V6. I wouldn't be surprised if they used a peugeot engine for it.

I can understand Sri Lankans are surprised to see and hear such a rare car as your Bertone In the Netherlands I also experience lots of positive attention. People actually stopped their car and told me they loved it I guess it's part of the car's character, it makes sure you keep maintaining it. Mine is developing some blisters in the paint, so after the winter it might have a paintjob.

I showed some of the pictures of the Italian Club race on a dutch alfa-forum. You now have many dutch fans

Hey great to have Dutch Alfisti over here. Please do come for our events! We can share knowledge and have a good chat about Italian machines.

I have read that the Dutch clubs are very active. But that's not surprising since Alfa Romeo and especially the Giulias were such a dominant force on your tracks in the 60s and 70s. Zandvoot isn't it?

Maybe you can help our club. We are looking for videos of old races or even the new historic ones to show our members. Do you know where we can find such dvds? I was thinking about old ETCC events, but did they film them at that time?

I had completely forgotten that the Alfa 164 and Lancia Thema shared the same Type 4 platform along with the Chroma and Saab 9000. So of course there must have been the Arese Alfa V6. Can't be the Dourvin V6 that Peugoet, Renault and Volvo used.

Btw my junior runs on two twin choke Weber 40 DCOEs.

I saw my GTJ for the 1st time in 1995. And can you beleive that it was the first time I had ever seen a Giulia coupe? I had only lusted after Sud Sprints and Alfetta GTVs before that.

When I saw the two massive Webers, twin cam aluminium engine, discs all round and a 5 speed box on a 60s car, I knew I this is my kind of car . But I was very afraid to buy it, knowing nothing about the brand or the car. (I was running a VW Jetta diesel at that time.)

I had already bought a Triumph 2000 blindly lured by the stright 6 engine. It was no drivers car and getting it restored was a nightmare as the guy who undertook it cheated me .

Anyway 5 years later the junior was advertised in the Motor Mag and had been there for years. I went to see it again; it was red now from black earlier. It was looking awesome and I just wanted it. The seller agreed to relieve me off the Triumph and we did the deal.

It's been an amazing time since then with the Alfa. And since then of course I've hunted down a Sprint Veloce and GTV 2000 as well. I drove the Sprint before taking it apart and it's such a blast. Can't wait to have all 3 parked next to each other !

[GTAm]

More Pics of Alfas - Another of my Junior, Friend's Sud L (Guilia in front) and my Sprint being restored.

Sorry for the large size guys. Not sure how to make them smaller now

[Devinda_Z]

would anyone happen to know if there are any Alfa SPRIN ZAGATO's in Sri Lanka??

...i know given the limited production run n that they're all LHD the odd's of one being here r minute...but

i though i saw those distinctive 3pod head lamps on what seemed like a black RZ! passing Barista's on Horton Place (....but pls do note it was a few yrs back late evening..)

was i dreaming...or is it possible that i mistook it for the Black GTV spyder ?

  GTAm said:

More Pics of Alfas - Another of my Junior, Friend's Sud L (Guilia in front) and my Sprint being restored.

Sorry for the large size guys. Not sure how to make them smaller now

isn't this the car that was langiushing at the garage on Duplication Rd just passed Visaka V. ???

[GTAm]

SZ in SL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????

Yeah they were all LHD but there is one South African convert to RHD known to exist in the UK. Very unlikely and must be the black GTV, although I wish I was wrong !

  Devinda_Z said:

isn't this the car that was langiushing at the garage on Duplication Rd just passed Visaka V. ???

No Devinda that car is still languishing at that garage. What a waste! This one I found in Warakapola in a car sale about 2 years ago.

It was in very rough condition but it screamed and flew and one drive made me want it !

[Pb2k]

  GTAm said:

SZ in SL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????

Yeah they were all LHD but there is one South African convert to RHD known to exist in the UK. Very unlikely and must be the black GTV, although I wish I was wrong !

No Devinda that car is still languishing at that garage. What a waste! This one I found in Warakapola in a car sale about 2 years ago.

It was in very rough condition but it screamed and flew and one drive made me want it !

AWESOME PICTURES

makes me wish to unload my alfa at Bandaranaike airport someday someone just discovered an Alfetta "Valentino" in a garden shed over here.

Edited December 13, 2006 by Pb2k

[GTAm]

  Pb2k said:

AWESOME PICTURES

makes me wish to unload my alfa at Bandaranaike airport someday someone just discovered an Alfetta "Valentino" in a garden shed over here.

What's a Valentino? Special edition?

[FastCar]

Hi All (GTAm),

Who are the agents for the Alfa's in Sri Lanka. And are there spares for the later models available over here. I heard otherwise.

[GTAm]

  FastCar said:

Hi All (GTAm),

Who are the agents for the Alfa's in Sri Lanka. And are there spares for the later models available over here. I heard otherwise.

Hi FastCar

There are no agents right now. But Euro Motors which is part of Wheels Lanka have got the Fiat Agency and have already brought down 30 cars (Fiats). I went and saw them last week.

They also claim that they are launching Alfa next month. There is a possibility that this might be true (Fiat owns Alfa) although I doubt it will be as soon as next month.

As for parts and maintainence for later models like the 33, 146, 155, 156 and 166, it's not a problem. There is a very good specialist called Indika who takes care of it.

He imports and stocks spares and is the guy who handled the work shop at the previous agents.

I use a 156 as my daily drive and he is the guy who maitains the car. Excellent service I must say. If something is out of stock, it come from Singapore in two days.

There one or two other suppliers who have some spares as well. But not the full stock.

[FastCar]

  GTAm said:

Hi FastCar

There are no agents right now. But Euro Motors which is part of Wheels Lanka have got the Fiat Agency and have already brought down 30 cars (Fiats). I went and saw them last week.

They also claim that they are launching Alfa next month. There is a possibility that this might be true (Fiat owns Alfa) although I doubt it will be as soon as next month.

As for parts and maintainence for later models like the 33, 146, 155, 156 and 166, it's not a problem. There is a very good specialist called Indika who takes care of it.

He imports and stocks spares and is the guy who handled the work shop at the previous agents.

I use a 156 as my daily drive and he is the guy who maitains the car. Excellent service I must say. If something is out of stock, it come from Singapore in two days.

There one or two other suppliers who have some spares as well. But not the full stock.

Hi GTAm,

Many thanks for the information. Do you have any contact details for Indika.

[Devinda_Z]

  FastCar said:

Hi GTAm,

Many thanks for the information. Do you have any contact details for Indika.

Indika : 0773175935

[FastCar]

  Devinda_Z said:

Indika : 0773175935

Thanks Devida.

[Pb2k]

Hello fellow Alfa enthusiasts, thank you so much for your invitation to the next "AutoLanka get together" !!!!

But I'm afraid I can't make it I just arrived from a beautiful holiday in Thailand this week, and I'm only supposed to go to Sri Lanka this March, to help setup the VAT academy in Galle.

I hope I don't break any hearts

You know, I actually made the decision to sell my alfa in thailand, because she costs me too damn much, she's not practical at all, et cetera..then I come home, look at her..I make the mistake to drive her again

Selling this car?? What the hell am I thinking : I NEED A CAR LIKE THIS