Real Road Test: Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint Veloce!

[@nickwills6042]

"The illusion of speed without the expense and inconvenience of having achieved it" gotta love Italian cars!

[@idontcareaboutyou7757]

that tiny engine is around 100 HP little less little more depending on version, not bad on a 1000Kg car

[@RUfromthe40s]

ilusion of speed? where do you see alfas that are slow even the 1.3L is capable of achieving 190km/h my 72 GT2000 is easy to achiveve the 200km/h then even more but fastly 200km/h it´s a large car but low and the top is high as my waist

[@DavidM-mb1vx]

Silly comment from a silly person.

[@jncg2311]

@@DavidM-mb1vx I don't think so. Have you driven one of these cars? HE describes the feedback and sensation they deliver very well.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

I remember when the Sud ti came out. Someone sent a letter to Autocar about it. He had been a satisfied Porsch 911 owner, and decided it was time to buy a new one to replace it. He placed his order, and found a buyer for his old one. While waiting for the new Porsche to arrive, he bought a Sud ti. After a while, he realised that he was enjoying the Sud so much that he cancelled the new Porsche.

[@studiocalder818]

Haha, great!

[@Nikolai-l1i]

I do not blame him.

[@martinclapton2724]

Definitely a dual choke, twin carb model , 95bhp from 1500c c with fantastic throttle response giving vivid acceleration in all years yet decent fuel economy .Very underrated engine, as all praise tends to go on Busso V6 or online twin cam . Had one , a 1983 model known as the Speciale' , loved her wish I still had her .A fabulous motor car.

[@paulkling2193]

I 've owned a 1980 Alfasud ti from new. Absolutely no rust in my Sud. Would have liked a Sprint but my budget wouldn't stretch that far. Single carb versions have a round air filter on top. The Sprint you tested has a dual carb. The Sud still amazes me whenever I drive it, which isn't enough these days. Paul from Australia.

[@gerrymcivor374]

I owned a 1.5 ti., fabulous car to drive but failed its third MOT with severe structural corrosion. The mcPherson strut towers separated from the inner wings and were pushing the bonnet open. I sold it for spares or a rebuild project. The Scottish climate didn't agree with the poor thing.

[@julianevans9548]

Blimey. Well done on that - 41 years.

[@paulkling2193]

@@julianevans9548 Yeap, can't bring myself to part with her. As I like to tell my wife, I love old things.

[@seancooke4127]

@@paulkling2193 The older the fiddle, The sweeter the tune 🎶

[@neilwalsh4058]

Someone really enjoyed that 👍🇮🇹Similar reaction to when you drove the 127 Sport. Don't be so surprised, this is what you get when you drive an Italian car from the 70's and 80's. One of the best looking cars ever made the Sprint Veloce and lovely to see one again.

[@jimdee9801]

Yes the looks and comments I used to get. More than any other car I had

[@neilwalsh4058]

@@jimdee9801 I had a chocolate brown metallic 1.5 Sprint Veloce for a while in 1989. Stunning looking car, but always struggled to get the carbs balanced properly

[@martinfletcher8275]

They are twin carbs, and twin choke which is why they sound sooo good...

[@haydenisaac3030]

Yeah, they sound great!

[@engineered_images]

There is a lesser specification engine with a single carburettor and an amazing cast inlet that goes to both heads. This has two twin-choke carbs, meaning a choke per cylinder, hence they sound superb.

[@adrianday8678]

I had 3 alfasuds 2 sprints and one saloon, the sprints where both special editions. The best was a metallic bronze with full webasto sunroof and cream and brown Interior and wood sterling wheel. That had the best carbs delorttos better than webbers happy days

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@engineered_images a choke per head twin cam shaft in-line one and 4 cylinder the 1.3 L had 95 h.p. in early 70´s i own one sprintveloce and a alfasud not sprint veloce both from the 70´s and more three alfas early 70´s (GT2000, GT junior 1.3L twin-cams both )and a sedan with 2.0L a 76 several names GTV with rp m counter in front of the steering wheel rest of the gages in the midle of the dash, the only i knew and the 80´s and the 90´s one(wich i also have)

[@TheOracle65]

Best video of the year so far Ian. I was in bad mood earlier today, but hearing you giggling with excitement as you ran through the gears, spinning up that dynamite boxer engine made my day!

[@davidy80]

I'm not sure I've seen any of your road tests where you giggled quite as much. 😁👍

[@LooLooRacer]

Alfas have that effect on people.

[@davidy80]

@@LooLooRacer Or tears...

[@davidmg1925]

@@davidy80 haha

[@KiwiStag74]

One of the most fun cars I have ever owned, Ian. Mine was black and I too fitted a custom exhaust. Although I don't think the little car went any faster, it certainly SOUNDED like it did. The little boxer engine sounded almost Ferrari-like when she got up in the revs and it was like she was spurring me on! The sound was so intoxicating. This was in 1990 / 91 and mine was a '79 model, so identical to the one in your film apart from the colour. They DO handle very well and you will have noticed the 5th gear isn't an overdrive, but just another well spaced cog that fitted at the end of four other perfectly spaced cogs that kept you in the power band after each change at the red line. They could have done with a 6th for open road cruising, but the Sprints were NEVER a cruise mobile, really..... I laughed when you got in the car's boot, because I have a photograph of me in the boot of MY Alfa when I was packing to go away on holiday. I'd said to my sister that I was forgetting something. She asked what and so I got in the boot and said "Me!" So since she already had her camera out to take pictures of the car, she took one of me in there! In all practicality, the rear side window ventilation is more for letting air out than any in for the rear seat passengers, but the leg room in the back is quite surprising, isn't it? Blew me away when I tried it. The pedal layout and switch / stalk location and actions eventually do become second nature when you drive it for a while - even the choke being under the steering column almost seems sensible after a while! The vents on the top of the dash were rather pathetic though and were more like being breathed on by an asthmatic mouse than the blow they threw at your feet (I could never figure out why though), so defogging was better done with a cloth or an open window with the heater on your feet at full noise. When they came out in about 74, they had a 1.3 boxer as per the Sud of the time and when they stopped making them in 1986(ish), they could be had with a 1.7QV engine. I used to drool over one of those at the Alfa Club rallies and funnily enough, he wasn't keen to swap cars with me for a short stint on a drive day....but I think that was more to the fact I was 21 than he thought my car would be substandard! I haven't heard that sound in years and it took me back to the days when I was young and life was less complicated. Many thanks for reminding me what a great little car I had. I almost want to go and find another one, but any that have survived this long will be worth their weight in gold, I'm picking.....

[@kallekas8551]

Oh! That’s where the choke is? Had one in 1990… GREAT car…ergonomic nightmare!🤣

[@danhoppy5517]

The interior is as brown as Ashens' sofa! But she is gorgeous from the outside...

[@ruglund]

such a shame noone makes cars as fun and quirky as this, the pure charm and style of it - fantastic review Ian.

[@johnwh1039]

Had forgotten those rear side windows. In fact totally forgotten despite owning one. The inboard front discs were also (for some inexplicable Alfa reason) used for the handbrake, and near impossible to see let alone work on. Later 1.7 litre cars were, I think, outboard at the front with rear handbrake though possibly that was just the Alfa 33. Useful boot demonstration, possible used in period by Italian gangsters? One of my favourite , if not favourite, car I have owned.

[@tonymartin2151]

Had this exact car and my wife had its twin. We both loved our Sprints. Always reliable, economical and great fun.

[@katywalker8322]

Loved my Sprint. Great car. Some things a pain to work on (inboard front brake disks, with a front handbrake......). Some lovely bits of design. The bonnet catch works well, and no chance it is going to flip up if not latch fully (unlike more cars). If you need to make yourself known, pull it by the ears! Flashes the lights and toots the horn. Switchgear is great when you are used to it. You can swap the spacers around under the front seat (~1" spacer under the rear of the seats, take them out and put them under the front and you get more support under your knees - this was listed in the owners handbook). Heater actually worked pretty well. What it was capable of was providing a small amount of roasting air, which I liked. The pair of twin choke carbs work well. To start from cold, pump the throttle a few times then start, and blip the throttle while cold (taking advantage of the accelerator pumps) rather than bothering with the choke. Exhaust note sometimes called the "eternal fart"! Fun to play tunes with the gearbox. The late Sprint was 86hp in 1.3 form and 105hp in Green Cloverleaf form. Think this one is 95%. Valve adjustment is interesting and easy (rocker covers off, and there is a hole through the cam between the 2 lobes per valve - allen key through the hole and turn the adjuster in the bucket while holding the bucket steady). Cam belts easy enough. Heads are simple (flat, combustion chambers is in the piston crowns). It you find it pulling to one side occasionally, there are bearings half way down the struts (under the lower strut pans). When these fail the steering ceases to return naturally to the straight ahead.

[@martsec9330]

I drove one of those many many years ago. I didn't realise any were still around. Loved that car

[@jfv65]

Can you imagine that they actually used Sud Sprints in 1model celebrity rallyX races in the Netherlands?! Valkenswaard rallyX circuit. It was broadcast on Dutch public TV. These Sprints were special even when new. Most Suds were sedans(saloons) some were wagons(Giardinetta, also rare and collectible these days). No matter what model, not many left these days.

[@petermcilroy1176]

Many years ago when I was at college one of the lecturers had an Alfasud. What caught my attention was the sound of the engine. Quite unique.

[@colinwalker3812]

I had a Cherry Europe which led me into my love for all things alfa

[@rhspek]

Pomigliano d'Arco, that's where they came from. I had three 'Suds ti, a 1.2, a 1.5 and a Cloverleaf/Quadrifoglio Verde. Then a few 33s and now that I've grown up I'm into Citroëns and Peugeots. But the 'Suds were great, no issues with rust on any Sud or 33 I had. PS: the black box under the bonnet is the aircleaner, with at either end a vertical twin choke carburettor over each cilinder bank.

[@jackoshi8227]

One of my first cars. I loved it so much. Light, amazing engine, great sound, great look. I miss it every day.

[@danielpothier9990]

It is always fun to see Ian get excited about a car, as I sit here at work with Hubnut playing in the background the day is a bit brighter.

[@haydenisaac3030]

I had a red RHD Sprint Veloce in NZ when I was at university. It rusted and broke down quite a lot (blown head gaskets) but was awesome to drive. This video brings back a lot of fond memories :)

[@Gazzalinco]

How hard was it to replace the gaskets? Thanks

[@marktrenfield]

One of my dream cars. I’ve been in love with these things since I first found out about them when I was 16.

[@glennfryer1539]

I just loved these cars.. they went well, like the Sud.. the one I nearly bought, the twin choke carbs were bolted directly on the cylinder heads ..

[@808bigisland]

Owned a Sud 1.5, 33 1.7, 75 turbo evo, 146. Drove 6, Sprint, GTV, Giulia, Guliettas. The dual carb Sud was a hoot to drive and reving to 7500. Drove the Arna. Sucked. The 75 evo was the best of the bunch.

[@Stevieboy130664]

Very pretty little car with well thought out mechanicals. Brilliant engineer, Rudolph Hruska. The Lancia Flavia (with the flat four engine) predated the Alfasud by more than ten years and was Italy's first front wheel drive car - also an early adopter of Fuel Injection in the mid sixties. You need a spin in one of them

[@michaelnaughton1393]

That's a little gem. When you can have that much enjoyment and have such an involving drive on normal roads you really question the need for more power. Great video

[@garage6346]

My father used to drive a non-Sprint Alfasud from new. I remember him fixing massive rust issues before the first TÜV (German MOT), so less than 3 years old. I also remember a rainy day on holiday when it decided to let all electrics die multiple times, waiting for contacts to dry.

[@SeanBZA]

You kept 3 cans of spray oil in the rear, just for those kind of issues.

[@Teribus13]

This was a really enjoyable road test to watch. You had so much fun in that little car! These are where the fun is at, a nippy engine, light body, good suspension, and no driver numbing devices. It's a good while since we heard you giggling so much on a road test. Great to see! 👍

[@mpersad]

What an entertaining car, and what a terrific sound at higher revs. I always wanted one.

[@finleyplympton]

not rusty , very nice surprise after a very bad day , thanks Ian and team at HubNut HQ

[@1010abcdefgh]

Has to be one of my favourites, what a sound...

[@Zadster]

I swear there is more than a bit of this car's DNA in the current 3-cylinder Fiestas! What a perfect day for chucking a slightly under-powered little bundle of fun around the roads. I love the tinkering videos, but I must admit it is great to have the car reviews back!

[@shiftromeo]

@2.34 I had owned an exact this 1982 RH drive model, the "veloce" comes standard in 1.5 engines with Twin Weber carburetor, Twin spark plug per cylinder. While only the 1.2 Alfasud or 1.3 Sprint has single carb with big round air filter atop the carb. The "black box" air filter you pointed has air intake single central entry, eventually splitting both side leading to left and right side for each carburetor. Both carbs are "synchronized action" by a connecting rod of throttle linkage and cable.

[@MrKenny777]

When you indicate to turn right, the blower comes on. I love that!

[@paulbennell3313]

That looked an absolute riot!

[@dougfurniss734]

Looks like your having so much fun being out and about again driving awesome cars, the smile on your face says it all

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

I have very fond memories owning one of those back in the 80's. As I recall the Sprint Veloce had two 40mm DCOE twin-choke Weber carbs, one on each side of the boxer engine meaning a single 40mm choke per cylinder whereas ordinary Sprints shared a single two choke Weber between the four cylinders. That plus slightly different heads with bigger intake ports gave the Veloce 115bhp over 105 bhp in the regular Sprint if memory serves me right. I modded my regular Sprint into the Veloce engine with a set of Veloce Carbs and heads I got from a local breakers yard. It made a lovely noise and had instant throttle response but the Webers needed an expert tune up from time to time. EFI cars have snail-like throttle response in comparison. I credit the first 'hot hatch' to the Alfasud, not the Golf GTI Mk1 as widely accepted. Just my humble opinion

[@richardharibo]

Great to see road tests again!!! You're enjoying yourself Ian, how driving should be!!! Thank you so much for entertaining me for years now. 😊

[@WernerGriesser]

Das war mein erstes Auto in 1982. In Silber genau wie dieser, allerdings mit Sebring Auspuff und Doppel Weber Vergaser. Das beste, das ich je hatte. Es machte sehr viel Spaß. Es war eine schöne Zeit❤

[@marklambert5959]

My first car! Silver 1983 Sprint Green Cloverleaf reg A601WAB. So so unreliable but I loved it deeply. The smoothest sweetest engine you could ever want.

[@stuartsaunders4518]

I liked this video before I even watched it! Brilliant, well done Ian👍

[@tomleader7054]

I drove an Alfa down to the south of France in the early nineties. That really was living the dream.

[@chrischristou6797]

Er no I didn't expect you to jump in the boot but then your off kilter approach is what attracted my interest !

[@turnfordguitars]

Driving an Italian work of art! & it didn't break down or rust while you were driving it!!!! Awesome!!!

[@kevinlillywhite9549]

had an alfasud gold cloverleaf my second ever car in 1985 in rosso red loved it drove aroun with the windows down even in winter just to listen to the exhaust it lived its whole life with me and before me in scotland and never had any rust at all. would embarass many bigger engined cars and handled like a roller skate, wish i had it now:(

[@Canalsman]

I owned a standard Alfasud hatchback in the mid 70s with the 1300 engine. It was huge fun to drive, and the engine was just so sweet. Not a lot of power but I enjoyed the best fast drive of my life in that car. This was on dirt roads in a remote part of South Africa with no traffic cops within a hundred kilometres... I covered a large distance in a ridiculously short time! Great car.

[@kash748]

I had a 1989 sprint veloce with 105 bhp and the zender bodykit in Alfa rec..and it's still my favourite of all the cars I've owned...thanks for this hubnut,you took me back to 1992!!!

[@marknelson5929]

What a stunning and rare survivor it is. Nice to see. They were very popular here in Oz in the day, a mate had a red one who pulled the birds! You never see them these days - survivors know doubt in the hands of dedicated enthusiasts. Thanks for the test.

[@paulmorris67]

My very first car was a orange/brown/rust 1.5 sprint veloce. MLW 823V, I absolutely adored it, fantastic to drive and the boxer engine was amazing. So good to see a review.

[@jasonwhitehead4068]

Great episode, I used to own a later model. That engine had 2 twin choke carbs on it, which helps with the great engine note.

[@JallyTee]

A rusty yellow 81 sprint Veloce was my very first car. I used to thrash it through the windy northland gravel roads here in New Zealand. The handling was superb and had just the right amount of power for a stupid teen-ager. the sound of the twin carbs would make between gears was fantastic and with a great raspy exhaust note. I don't think I will ever have another car with so much character.

[@Rouxenator]

My uncle had an 1981 Alfasud 1.5 that was built right here in South Africa back in the early 80s. Lovely little cars.

[@chipfire]

I had an Alfasud Ti Green Cloverleaf when I was 18, it replaced my beige Hillman Imp. I still smile when I remember putting my foot down that first time of many.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Alfa's and Lancia's from this era are absolutely beautifull.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

That they were - it’s due to this era of Italian loveliness that I have a love of FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo to this day (currently on my 3rd Alfa - which at 10yrs old has just passed it’s MOT with flying colours!)

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

@@simonhodgetts6530 My sister (self proclaimed Queen of Small Cars) just bought a Fiat 500 electric, pretty funky car.

[@SeanBZA]

My father bought the RHD version around 1982 when they were introduced in South Africa. Peppy, and really fast. Top speed was more than enough, equal to the then new GTI, 3 series BMW and Porsche, and it would easily get up to 180kph if you put your foot down. Drawbacks of course the rust coming built in, and a very marked propensity to eat gearbox synchros if you did not let the box get up to temperature before being "more than granny" in driving style. He ate a few 2nd gear synchros, burnt a main bearing (which then enabled a Gulietta 2.0l crank to go in with the conrods as replacement) and tyre life was on average 6 months, or basically every service, as he used the "performance" alignment specs for it. Did upgrade the ignition system to fully electronic, with aftermarket coil, so it would only run well with Lodge plus in it, all others would fail before 1000km, some within 100km. He made 2 special tools to adjust that handbrake, so as to actually have it hold for longer than the first week after service, so every Saturday it was a 5 minute handbrake adjust to take up the wear on those inboard disks. Memorable things, starting at the bottom of a 12km hill in 5th at 80, with a BMW screaming past in 3rd, and topping the hill close to 170, still in 5th gear. BMW was way back, invisible in the rear, and in addition to 2 in the front, he had 6 50kg bags of cement in the rear, taking to his building side. Foot was not flat either. He sold it after he retired, because he knew just how expensive that vehicle was to maintain, even with his neighbour being the Alfa head mechanic for the area.

[@jdtseventyfour]

Amazing little cars that are absolutely bursting with character. Sadly you dont see many around these days. As always a joy to watch you enjoy driving an interesting car.

[@matthewfrankcook]

Yay, someone else now knows the truth about these wonderful cars! I have a 1980 Sprint in red (the only colour for a Alfa), owned since 1987, so know it well. Simple fun car, very reliable (nothing sinister in the electrics really!). Rust not an issue here in NZ. Thanks HubNut.

[@Rob-oi9mf]

Brilliant video mate,at last a bit of cuore sportivo hubnutiness.Ive got the 1.3 version of this engine in my 1990 Alfa 33, 88 bhp and 900 kilos puts a big smile on the face every time.

[@hadtopicausername]

Even better than the car is seeing your joy at driving it and being out and about. Cheerful indeed :)

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Delightful! One of my favourite 70s Alfas........hope you manage to track down an Arna to try!

[@seancooke4127]

The Arna is absolutely not what so many people automatically labelled it. It is a fine car with a practical body endowed with a very fruity thoroughbred engine. It sounded great and went like the wind. Certainly the best Nissan Cherry ever made, if not the greatest Alfa Romeo. I need to see one again.

[@matthewgodwin3050]

Love cars like this. You can have the time of your life driving at eleven tenths without even breaking the speed limit. Absolutely marvellous.

[@timgosling6189]

I had a '79 Sprint Veloce. It was beautiful, and beautiful to drive when it was going right, but it died of terminal rust in 84. By terminal I mean it didn't just need a repaint it needed all the welds to be undone to get the rust out of the seams, which would have cost twice what it was worth. The boxer engine is short but it still hangs out completely in front of the front axle, a bit like a backwards 911, so there was some understeer. You can see the suspension towers in the rear section of the under-bonnet area. The dampers on mine were duff from new, and so were the replacements. Until replaced by non-OEM units the handling was worryingly unpredictable. It actually has 2 twin downdraught Webers as are visible in your video. Despite proper running in, mine blew both head gaskets at 15000 miles. So the build issues weren't just to do with the body. The inboard front brakes were a nightmare as they didn't auto-adjust for pad wear and had to be set up about once a month by lockable hex screw on top of each caliper. This needed a series of socket extensions and arms and hands like ET. Even when adjusted the brakes were a bit rubbish. Still on the brakes, the bias was set quite far forward so less enthusiastic drivers could find the rear pistons had actually seized through lack of use. As with the suspension, surviving cars have often been fitted with better brakes, usually from the later Alfa 33. The lovely door handles feature on several italian cars, including the Dino 308gt4 I bought about ten years later. The interior was really stylish but incredible cheap. I have only size 7 shoes but I still had to bend the pedals so I didn't continually press the brake as well as the accelerator. By cavernous, you mean the boot is about the same as a modern Mini. The switch gear was, um, eccentric! The quoted figures for the car were 95 BHP and 0-60 mph in about 11 seconds. You did it in about 13 which is reasonable without grenading the clutch as road-testers used to do! It felt torquey because it was so low-geared! The non-Veloce, basic, single-carb 1500 Sprint had 85 BHP. Despite all the problems I still look back very fondly on my Sprint. And the shape looks so pretty still today!

[@marklawton5753]

The second car I ever owned was a 1982 Alfasud 1.5SC. Uncomfortable driving position YES! Rust YES! Electrics that did their own thing YES! BUT what a fantastic car and the best car I have ever owned, followed only by my ALFA 75 3.0 V6. These cars were massively ahead of the game at their launch just think what was available at the same time. Everyone should drive one of these at some point. But they are as rare as hens teeth now. The Sud was the drug that got me hooked on Alfa romeo, 38 years ago and I have owned ALFAs ever since. Im a driving instructor and I even use a Alfa MITO now to teach pupils to drive.

[@tbrasc0]

The perfect example of what Alfas are about for me; sporty, fun progress without the constant risk of losing your licence. Lovely car.

[@portnaluinge]

Man, I came so close to buying one of those in the late ‘80s. I only chickened out due to the insurance (I was in my late teens at the time). Always one that got away though.

[@DealerD8vE]

Ditto. Got a 127 Sport instead. Great little car but the Sprint....

[@johnp8150]

We had 2 sprints, including one just like this. Fondest memories of many grins. Such characters.

[@johnwh1039]

Apart from the carb gaff (you can see them!) a great video. I had a very similar car in about 1990 and earlier than that an Alfetta GT. Both lovely but styling wise preferred the Sud - to me, although similar, the Alfetta always looked arse heavy. The Sud was just perfect. The Sud also gave me one of my most exciting motoring moment. The throttle stop on the floor was a large bolt, best part of an inch across the flats. The throttle pedal was a pressed tin item with the edges rolled under. First day of ownership I planted the loud pedal hard down on Maypole Lane Birmingham (Hubnut would know where). The inevitable happened, the throttle stayed fully open and I very narrowly averted a stationary bus - I had to pull into a side road and wait until my heartrate subside to sub 250.

[@Jay-B1750]

I LOVE the sud sprint, gorgeous cars!!

[@antonycharnock2993]

Cloverleaf fuel cap (sorry vents!)... I wrote an essay on Giugiaro for my Art & Design college course way back in 1989. Had a picture of the Fiat Uno on the front cover.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Fantastic! Giugiaro was (and still is) a hero of mine - when I was at Art college, and later when I did a Product design degree - I always had pictures the Lancia Delta and the Pininfarina designed Lancia Gamma coupe on my wall by my work bench.

[@CarlJones14]

This is a very pretty car. When I was a kiddy, everyone raved about the handling, something about it being on rails...

[@petetube99]

Always wanted an Alfasud since I was a child in the 70s. Particularly the earliest non hatchback with the square headlights. I'd love to see you test drive one of them. There is something simultaneously workaday and exotic about them.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

One used to buzz, pop and fart down my road every day when I was a kid - that and the GTV6 I sat in when I was 11 or 12 started my lifelong love of Alfa Romeos

[@iansteel1447]

I had one in the 80s, it was black, great car happy times.

[@seanonel]

My first two cars were Alfa Suds (the Ti and the Veloce; both from ‘82). To this day, I think that Alfa make *_the_* most beautiful cars with the most incredible engine sounds!

[@phil955i]

I had a 1983 facelift Alfasud 1350 in the late 80s. Charismatic is the word to describe them. I'd forgotten about the stalk operating the heater fan lol. But I do remember the choke knob being under the steering column.

[@jncg2311]

Superb. I love this, and have to say the giggling is infectious. The twin carb 1.5, like this had twin choke Dellortos or Webers under the alloy elbows either side of the air filter housing so one carb throat per cylinder and that glorious snappy throttle response and induction noise you get with that arrangement. Depending on the market and year it had either 95 or 105bhp at about 6000rpm, peak torque at 4000rpm. Little rippers, those engines, and they continued to be in the Alfa 33 that used a development of the same engine too.

[@808bigisland]

The throttle shafts would get notched and you get digital on off response on the Dellortos and your co-driverswhiplash at every gearchange :-) The cars frontend frame tends to soften and the suspension would stop working...giving a harsh ride. The non catalytic engines sound just great. The brakes were though but would fade. Better than most cars though.

[@itsallinthenumbers7883]

Great Video Just wanted to say thanks for the fast delivery of my Hubnut stickers and the free "Beer Matt" :D

[@Koulis_]

Love these little cars, I remember them well! Looks like a miniature GTV with all the magnificent engineering of the Alfasud. Oh, and the Lancia Gammas had flat fours as well despite their size.

[@danieleregoli812]

Absolutely love a good old Sprint!!! Fast, happy, rewarding cars.

[@richardhalliday6469]

Marvellous - probably mentioned in other comments that the Italian cars were always streets ahead in spirit, it was just the chemical reaction of the metal work when introduced to inclement weather and saline solution that let them down here in the UK, another information loaded presentation Ian.

[@SeanBZA]

Just Russian hot rolled steel, where the rust in the rolling got compressed into the metal. No amount of surface preparation, short of stripping to bare metal, etching and then a generous coating of electochemically deposited zinc, would help there. Even then you would need to have at least 4coats of etch primer, 4 of undercoat, 3 paint layers plus a sealing coat to have any chance, plus fill every cavity with wax after painting to try to keep water out. My father took his brand new one for corrosion treatment, and it already, 3 months out the factory, had rust that they had to treat, before the underbody and cavities were filled with wax. It still rusted at all sort of places.

[@johnchurch4705]

The Japanese had the same problem with building cars out of rusty metal . The other thing was that the Sud was built by Italian farmers who would strike 🪧 and go sick leaving a lot of the bare shells outside with no protection.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

They did get a lot better after SAAB taught Lancia about rust protection, then FIAT group adopted galvanised body shells. The Italian cars I’ve had have all been fine for corrosion - my current one is 10yrs old, and has just sailed through an MOT.

[@johnchurch4705]

@@simonhodgetts6530 got a Lancia Dedra and Beta Saloon, both rescued from garages, both rust free.

[@tomscotland]

My late dad bought a Sprint veloce brand new. Fond memories, thank you.

[@matthewfleming6975]

My dad had exactly the same car in black with tan seats. Brings back so many memories of my childhood. It made my dad drive like a boy racer and my mum absolutely hated it cos, it was too loud and uncomfortable.

[@bluecornerboxing6091]

My dad had an Alfasud 1.3 super and I loved that car like I’ve loved no other, it gives me goosebumps whenever I think of being in it now!!...p.s. my mum was the same!!!..😆😆

[@tonysargent1699]

When a car sounds as nice as that Ian, the soundtrack is so much better than any radio station!

[@M3au]

That was the pinup car I had on my bedroom wall in the 70s ... alas, I’ll never drive one. Love the crackles on the overrun with this specimen.

[@idontcareaboutyou7757]

the first and only Alfa boxer but most of all the first and only front wheels drive car Alfa has ever made before Fiat kicked in. thanks for this beautiful video. sounds funny noise uh? now you're hooked ;D

[@mofo1739]

Liking this a lot too . Always loved the Sud and Sprint and all things Alfa and Lancia and the odd Fiat too . Great to watch after a rubbish day at work . My spirits are lifted 👍👍👍

[@nikojenner4838]

loved the alpine and now the alfasud, what a collection you have jumped into!

[@gregculverwell]

I had a 70s 1200ti. Best handling fwd I have driven. Very playful - you could flick into a drift and hold it there with the throttle. Very revvy it had a rev limiter which would cut in @8000. Used to bounce it off the limiter all the time, especially while drifting it. Did 100 000 miles like that - engine seemed to thrive on being thrashed. But after about 3 years it started decaying into alfa particles, then a friend wrote it off trying to emulate my drifting style.

[@renorti1]

I had an 83 veloce 1.5 , just like this back in 1988, was a really good little sports car.

[@thejudgegiles]

I love and miss my Sprint Green Cloverleaf... had a '85 white one in about '91. They are so hard to find now, a nice one is getting up at 10k in the UK... I'm looking!!!

[@jurivlk5433]

Quattrofoglio!

[@brianjthomson17]

I'd never get bored of hearing that engine it sounds amazing

[@jjmac3561]

They have 2 twin choke carbs each side, 2 x Weber40 IDF carbs. Or 2 x Dellorto DRLA 40 carbs.

[@glennfryer1539]

Yep !!! straight down it chuff, they sound the business.. 🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

1 each side surely....

[@glennfryer1539]

@@johnmoruzzi7236 I would say his left ball would be more fitting.. to go with the lefty attitude..

[@stuarthall2180]

I had an Alfa 33 1.5 in the late 90s. Remember I paid a fortune for it ( £75 ) ! Pretty sure it had two twin choke carbs ? Was great fun and yes used to pop and bang all the time. Someone before me had spent a fortune on an engine rebuild, it was done less than 500 miles before I bought it as I remember taking it back to have the heads re tightened FOC. Appalling electrics and rusted away more every day. I put a suitcase in the boot one day and it fell through onto the road ! Still got £65 for it spares or repairs lol 😯

[@HubNut]

Yes, twin carbs. My error.

[@bentullett6068]

Beautiful designed cars. Absolutely fantastic sound as well

[@glensainsbury428]

You just could not resist climbing into the boot! True Italian style 👌. We have just witnessed a man fall in love 😍.

[@steved3702]

But can it fit a 44-gallon drum like the P76? :-)

[@nakoma5]

I was nervous he would fall right through, but thankfully this one had no rust lol

[@gryfandjane]

Before I bought my Fiesta ST in 2015, I watched a bunch of reviews on KZbin. One of the reasons I settled on the ST was that almost every road test video included lots of giggling. Having watched this, I strongly suspect that I’d love an Alfasud as well.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Italian cars...so much sharper than the competition back then.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Sadly lost the plot (almost) entirely now.......😔

[@Ian-Steele]

Ah the memories. I had two Alfasuds from new. Not the Sprint version as here, but mechanically just the same. I loved their raspy, willing boxer engines and so wish I could have afforded to buy one to preserve in mint condition and only bring out on special days.

[@robc5955]

What a beauty, glad it lives in Spain, struggle to survive here!

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

This is rare, would rather have this than an Alfa sud any day! Stunning compact & sweet engine! Love it!

[@martinneumann7783]

Wonderful! I do know that awsome boxer sound; a buddy of mine owns an Alfasud 5M (cinque marce/five speed) in coral red from 1979. All original, no welding, barely no corrosion. Why? Because the very first owner flooded the whole car with cavity sealing. He did already know about the «oxydation» issues... 1300 ccm and 63 HP are enough to have much fun. [my elder brother did have a later version with hatchback and rip off A-pillars - what a desaster... foam in hollow spaces of the car!]