Miguel Sánchez
In one way or another, there are many cars that, even in the current classic market, have lived under the shadow of models that are as similar as they are much more striking. Something well exemplified by the Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti, in which the gaze of the fans only seems to rest after having widely enjoyed the colorful versions Sprint with bodywork by Giugiaro.
However, this small sports car manufactured between 1973 and 1983 at the Pomigliano d'Arco factory has compelling reasons to become the perfect option if you are looking for a classic compact with a sporty touch and, of course, a differentiating mechanism; capable of delighting anyone who sees this for what it is: a collection vehicle and not a current utility vehicle with a sense of the times as its flag.
This being the case, it is well worth claiming the Alfa Romeo Alfasud ti beyond the circles.”alfistas" where the virtues of its lightness - together with the joy of laps in its boxer engines - has already been celebrated despite the shadow that, even today, certain segments of the historic motorsports fan insist on continuing to cast on the brand's most popular models Italian.
Those that, despite somewhat demanding maintenance - especially with regard to carburetion-fed units - are capable of mixing practicality and a sporty touch as long as they are a unit in good condition and, of course, you are willing to dedicate the necessary time searching for spare parts; something complex in the case of the Alfasud ti although, to tell the truth, it has the advantage of adding some mechanical elements interchangeable with those of the more accessible 33.
ALFA ROMEO IS OPEN UP OVER THE YEARS
Few automotive brands have a history as long and prolific as that of Alfa Romeo. Because of this, entering your studio can be a complex issue if we do not provide ourselves with some reference points. Reference points that, in relation to the commercial expansion of the brand, could be the years 1950 and 1972.
And, not in vain, while during the first the 1900 saloon was presented - responsible for introducing Alfa Romeo to mass production thanks to its family character combined with advances such as the monocoque chassis– The second contemplated the appearance of Alfasud.
Assembled in a facility created “ex professo” on the outskirts of Naples, this was a fundamental milestone in the expansion of the Alfa Romeo range through its access area by putting in the dealerships a compact and economical vehicle with which the rear propulsion was left behind to be, on the asphalt, one of the front-wheel drive most interesting of its time.
In short, the appearance of the Alfasud must be seen not only as a historical milestone for Alfa Romeo but for the entire world. european motorsport Well, in the end, this model condensed a good part of what would define the successful C-segment models in the immediate future.
THE COURTEOUS DOES NOT REMOVE THE BRAVE, THE VERSIONS OF IT
With all this openness towards mass manufacturing one might think that Alfa Romeo had neglected sportiness. And you would be wrong. You would be wrong because a few months after the 1900 saloon appeared, its version did so. "international tourism"; first of the famous tis with which the brand presented boosted variants in order to satisfy the desires of impetuous drivers or participants in national and European touring championships.
From here an interesting saga was generated, of which also Giulia participated and the Giulietta, arriving in 1973 with the ti version of the alfasud with more features than those presented by the rest of the range, certain equipment details with sporty flavor and even specific alloy wheels presented as an option on the order form.
All of this, of course, with the four-cylinder boxer engine serving as the main reason, well, let's not fool ourselves, when we talk about the Alfa Romeo Alfasud ti we are essentially talking about its engine; something very defining about the character of this car: mechanics as peculiar as they are excellent together with a light character to enjoy impetuous and unfiltered driving on mountain roads.
ALFASUD TI, ITS MECHANICAL EVOLUTION
If at this point you are already tempted by the option of purchasing an Alfa Romeo Alfasud, you should know how you can do it in up to seven engines different; so let's put some order in them.
To begin with, when the model went on the market in the fall of 1973, it did so with the 1.186 cc block fed by a double carburetor capable of delivering up to 68 HP at 6.000 rpm. From here on, the news did not arrive until four years later, when the increase in displacement to 1.286 cc generated the first of the ti 1.3 versions, already jumping to 76 HP at 6.000 rpm.
However, in 1978 the ti 1.3 were updated reaching 1.351 cc with a version powered by a double carburetor -79 HP at 6.000 rpm- and another equipped with two double carburetors -86 HP at 5.800 rpm-.
Meanwhile, in 1979 the first of the three versions with a 1.490 cc engine had already been presented - the so-called ti 1.5 - which, as in the case of the 1.3, had two options differentiated from each other by the type of carburetion, being the most powerful the one provided with two double carburetors thanks to its 95 HP at 5.800.
Likewise, the third of the 1.5 - first with the nickname of Quadrifoglio Verde at the same time as the end of the saga due to its presentation in 1982 - was the most performance version in the entire history of the Alfasud ti. Such a "End of party" Equipped with a more sporty appearance, both its exterior and interior, capable of climbing up to 105 hp at 6.000 rpm thanks to a new camshaft as well as changes to the intake and exhaust.
ADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS
As we have indicated previously, if the Alfasud ti has an attraction above all others, it is its boxer engine. Cheerful in turns while endowed with a characteristic sound, this one has excellent reliability only clouded by the difficulty of finding someone capable of properly adjust the carburetion.
In fact, a good part of the bad - and unfair - fame attached to these vehicles - normally cultivated by those who do not know their reality - comes from the lack of expertise demonstrated in workshops where even without precise knowledge on carburetion they ventured to touch it causing more problems than repairs.
This is especially visible in units with two double carburetors; So find yourself a good mechanic before even starting the search for a unit in acceptable condition. Likewise, the bodywork deserves a separate chapter due to its ease of corrosion. And the monohulls used to spend a night waiting outdoors under the floodwaters of the Neapolitan bay before being permanently painted, a disastrous action as it caused the Alfasud to begin to corrode before even leaving the factory.
AN APPEALING PURCHASE OPTION
Anyway, if you want perfect mass production, choose a Japanese model; that's how it is. Finally, and as we have already indicated, the question of Parts It can be complex depending on what parts are needed. But if what you want is magnificent after-sales service even after decades, choose a Mercedes-Benz; this is also so.
If, on the other hand, your sights are on the Alfa Romeo Alfasud, what you are going to have in your hands is one of the first compact sports cars in history, equipped with a boxer mechanics, a source of constant joy on the road and, without a doubt, performance. most addictive as soon as the curves arrive.
