The Lockdown series continues with me and my 2 driving buddies, Alfred & David, also sharing our experiences, comments and reflections of the different cars we have owned.
David’s fourth car was a step up and moved him into the Italian thoroughbred classic. A RWD Alfa that was leaving its rust heritage behind but still working on its interior and electrics reputation. However, Alfa’s were all about building the car for drivers, quirks and all. So, if you owned one you needed to get onboard with the philosophy and the maintenance responsibilities. For those that did, it rewarded you greatly. The cars became an extension of your physical self and your personality.
If this reminds you of a special car you have owned please share your experience or just name it or just “like” ours.
David (4th) car:
1989 Alfa Romeo 75 Twin Spark
2 litre twin cam. 5 speed manual.
106kW 182Nm
0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds
The first car I bought for myself with my own money. Last of the classic Alfa rear wheel drive saloons with front engine and rear transaxle gearbox. This design went all the way back to the original 1972 Alfetta and gave a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
Old school Alfa Romeo in more ways than one, it left me stranded several times. The main reason was an intermittent fault cutting the power to the fuel pump. For a few months I had to drive it with a wire running from the fuel pump in the rear petrol tank, outside the car and in through the driver’s door to a fuse box in the dashboard. But looking back now all is forgiven when I remember the beautiful sounding, rorty twin cam engine. At the time I was working in Warrnambool and driving back and forth it would overtake cars travelling at 100km/h with ease. Maybe that’s why I accumulated 12 demerits in 6 months! With such a long linkage to the rear transaxle the gear change was a little vague but the steering was precise. The ride was subtle and comfortable and although it rolled a bit in corners it always felt secure and had heaps of grip.
For once I had a practical 4 door with a big boot. This was not to last as you will see in the next instalment.
Richard (comment):
Wow! We are moving up and finally cracking the 100kw mark and torque is reaching for the illustrious 200nm. Another admired car by yours truly. Saw a few on travels along the Eastern freeway in my younger days. Sophisticated executive express I thought. This guy can afford this car and he knows a bit about driving and the pleasures it can bring in this car.
Also, he is a gambler too. Throwing a dice occasionally as to whether the A to B proposition is going to suddenly or intermittently be interrupted. I think it would have been well worth the risk and your clever ingenuity obviously worked around the problem. The seeds were truly planted for you of what a driver can experience from a car when he establishes the driving connection.
