I had a 164 when I was 21. Not exactly a boy racers car but it was the 3.0 Lusso and it could shift. Readers outside of the uk may not know about XR3's and XR2#s but my trusty Alfa could whip them all. Until the head gasket went...

David H

: I had a 1981 Spider, from the years 1985 through 1994 (two years
: after arrival of fourth child). Fourth child heads off to
: college next year, so I am wondering whether it might be time to
: return to a Spider? I really miss it, on the pretty days. With a
: good mechanic on call, a rust-free Spider can be an absolute
: pleasure . . . [this sacred relationship between Alfa owner and
: his mechanic being closely akin to the relationship between
: vintage watch collector and the trusted watchmaker].

: Intervening Alfas were (a) highly-tuned, fast, nasty-sounding 3.0
: liter Milano (that -- at full song -- sounded like some
: combination of a small-block Chevy and a Ferrari Dino), and (b)
: a comparatively boring, corporate style 164.

: Jeff

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