At $7,350, Might This 1997 Alfa Romeo 155 Fulfill Your Goals?

Having by no means been formally imported, immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Alfa 155 is a uncommon hen within the U.S. In line with the vendor, it has all its papers and, being an Alfa, just a few issues. Let’s see if one of many latter is its worth.

I used to be slightly shocked on the response to yesterday’s 1973 De Tomaso Pantera. Admittedly, it was introduced in serviceable however scrappy situation, and per the vendor that was represented in its $89,000 asking. In immediately’s market, that’s on the excessive low finish for a driver. Few of you felt that drive, although, and the Pantera plummeted to a 67 p.c No Cube loss.

Nicely, seeing as you didn’t like the worth on Thursday’s quite dear Italian, let’s see what you consider an uber-rare however noticeably cheaper one.

This 1997 Alfa Romeo 155 was the corporate’s mid-sizer for many of the ’90s. Constructed on Fiat’s Kind Three platform that additionally underpinned the Lancia Dedra and Fiat Tempra, the 155 was the alternative for the 75, which had been bought within the U.S. because the Milano. The 155 was by no means formally bought within the State. That’s as a result of, at the time of its launch, Alfa had already pulled up stakes and left the market totally. As everyone knows, it was a long time earlier than the corporate, led by dad or mum Fiat, made a semi-triumphant return to our shores.

A lot as with the 75 that preceded it, Alfa took the 155 racing. In contrast to the 75, which used a front-engine/rear transaxle chassis derived from the Alfetta, the 155 was normal for the time transverse-engine/FWD or, with a system co-developed with Lancia, AWD. Matched with a 2.5-liter V6, that latter structure carried Alfa Corse driver Nicola Larini to a report 11 wins and the collection title within the 1993 DTM collection, edging out a workforce fronted by AMG-Mercedes.

Sadly, this privately-imported 155 lacks each the candy V6 and the AWD chassis, providing a Twin Spark DOHC 4 and FWD as an alternative. The vendor doesn’t say whether or not that engine is the 138 horsepower 1.8-liter or the 148 horse 2.0, however does observe a current timing belt change regardless. The underhood sticker for that service signifies it was completed at 87,400 kilometers, which if my math is right, equates to about 55,000 miles. In line with the advert, the automotive now has 68,000 miles on the clock.

Surprisingly for an older Italian automotive, there’s no rust to be seen, and the automotive general presents in a reasonably clear trend with affordable paint and decent-looking Speedline alloys. Maybe unsurprisingly for an Alfa, the vendor does observe quite a lot of points, together with some topcoat popping, a free nook on a door card, a nasty glovebox latch, and a recalcitrant window motor. Different “points” identified within the advert: there’s no headliner, the boot lid has holes drilled into it for an aftermarket spoiler, the entrance flip indicators aren’t linked, and the entrance lip is cracked and scraped. Phew!

On the plus facet, the vendor claims the automotive to have been legally imported and says it will include all its papers. It’s additionally claimed to run and drive nice and affords working A/C. The inside is serviceable, though it does present some tearing within the upholstery on each the again bench and the driving force’s bucket. These might be simply repaired by a reliable upholsterer. The shifter and steering wheel are each rouge components and neither does the inside any favors. Based mostly on these and the overseas license plate proven within the pics, the 155 might have been imported from Japan.

The vendor has posted the Alfa on the Los Angeles Craigslist, and the images in that advert do appear to point it being someplace across the Metropolis of Angels, nevertheless, that’s a little bit of a ruse. The reality is, the automotive can’t be registered in California in its current state. What could be required to take action could be an expensive replace bringing the engine into smog compliance after which an official BAR certificates noting that achievement. That’s loopy costly, so Californians ought to take into account simply sitting on their fingers for this one.

For the remainder of you, it’s time to start out enthusiastic about what this super-rare-in-the-U.S. automotive is perhaps value. The vendor asks $7,350 for its sale, and claims that the “PRICE IS FIRM.” Is that firm like Captain America’s buttocks, or agency like Dealer Joe’s Tofu? There’s a distinction, you recognize.

Regardless, let’s hear what it’s a must to say. Is that this Alfa 155 definitely worth the $7,360 asking, as introduced within the advert? Or, does that worth flip any DTM dream right into a wallet-emptying nightmare?

You resolve!

Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.

H/T to RevUnlimiter for the hookup!

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