166 V6 Ti

gb-gta

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1,130
I had a facelift 166 3.2. Mine was a lusso without the TI pack. I think the estimate of 36 3.2 manuals is about right but that includes all of them, lusso and TI. Therefore I would suggest an original TI is much more rare than you think. Probably less than 10. I can’t remember the last time I saw one for sale, but you do see the odd 3.2 lusso.

As you say the changes are minor, wheels, lower suspension, TI kickplates (all easily done to a lusso) but I believe the instrument backlighting is red, rather than green, on the TI.
I think they are great cars, very underrated and second in styling only to the QP V for a saloon car. Q2 is required to save the gearbox, plus a better drive too.
Sounds like a good project, would be a shame for another one to get broken up.
 

LDM 3200

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655
I agree the story adds to the interesting history!
Always liked the 166 despite reminding me of a anteater, still have my 164 tucked away, probably never be worth a graet deal but was a x-over car and a lovely recaro interior, a nice place to be and fun to drive!
 

rs48635

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3,181
The facelift looks too nose heavy and the ti wheels are a bit Halfords. You can’t beat a pre facelift Super Lusso with the 5 hole wheels.
Have to agree about the facelift. The original took some getting used to, but new one looks too much like the modern trend for facial surgery.
 

gb-gta

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1,130
Holy grail has appeared on autotrader. A metallic black 166 3.2 TI. Doesn’t look perfect by any means but as the saying goes, ‘find another!’
 

Nayf

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2,734
Holy grail has appeared on autotrader. A metallic black 166 3.2 TI. Doesn’t look perfect by any means but as the saying goes, ‘find another!’
I've spent most of the day admiring it. Perfect spec for me.
That or the 164 24v at Justin Banks, though? Tricky one, that...
 

schell70

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Messages
313
I hope someone on here buys it before I get too tempted, the Mrs would kill me......again!

Looking at Justin Banks stocklist doesn't help either, thanks for that :rolleyes:
 

Kincath

Member
Messages
358
I just sold a one owner 3.2 manual Lusso within the last 2 months. I have to say it didn’t age well. I also much prefer the phase one 166. Struggled to sell it as well and it was cheap cheap.
 

Nayf

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2,734
I hope someone on here buys it before I get too tempted, the Mrs would kill me......again!

Looking at Justin Banks stocklist doesn't help either, thanks for that :rolleyes:
The orange S123 has my restomod dreams tingling.
E63 6.3-litre V8 would be rather good…
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
I have been looking for the rarest of 16 models for sometime , the 166 V6 Ti was had the very last 3.2 24V V6 Busso engine, mated to a 6 speed gearbox and IMO is one of the best performance executive saloons, there were reported to only been 36 imports into the UK so finding one is like finding hens teeth or rocking horse droppings. I do know of a low mileage one in the UK and have first dibs on it but I know the owner has no plans to sell and if he does he would want top end money plus being a UK car I would have the joys of VRT to deal with.

However I have heard of one over here which apparently has chequered history, which I have been tracking down and piecing together. Originally it is a genuine 166 3.2 Ti registered in the UK in 2004, it covered quite a few miles over there, 120k before being imported into Ireland with all VRT duties paid and now wears a Irish registration. So far all good but now the story starts to unfold, the 3.2 engine snapped a cambelt and damaged the engine, the Irish owner decided to commission one of the best Alfa specialists to fit a 2.0 16V engine to the 166 as this was a Ti option from Alfa and over here 2.0 road tax is a 3rd of that for the 3.2. The owner had all the correct engineers reports and got the car reregistered as a 2.0 all well and good, by this time the car had about 150K on it. Now the story takes a turn for the worst, 12 mths after having the 2.0 fitted that failed, not quite sure why that detail seems to have been lost although an Alfa owner I know here knows the cars owner at the time and has contacted him for the exact details of this failure.

Needless the owner had had enough and sold the car to its current owner who decide to get the car back to as near original spec as possible, he rebuilt all the suspension, upgrading where necessary, refurbished the wheels, and even repainted the whole car in its original Stomboli Grey as after 150k miles there were quite a few signs of road wear and tear, he fitted new tyres, refurbished the headlights and fitted new badges - still all good. However he couldn't find a 3.2 V6 so he had a 72k (no proven history) 3.0 24V recommissioned and fitted, this had all the normal belts, tensioner, water pump etc done before being fitted and was detailed to match the external look of the car. The completed car would not run smoothly and the issue was tracked to the ECU which was replaced with an upgrade version from over in there Netherlands and then the car ran perfectly, current owner has put about 5k on it with no issues. The current owner has not updated the paperwork to match the current engine but will do as part of the sale

The car is up for sale at €7k which is significantly cheaper than it would be in the UK but it has the wrong engine, however the current owner has purchased the original 3.2 fro the garage that fitted the 2.0, he has has the heads and bottom end all rebuilt but it still needs its belts done and needs some cosmetic TLC as it has sat around a workshop for a while. The owner will sell the 3.2 at a cheap price and I suspect a deal to buy both could be had for about the current asking price. As it currently stands the car is not a 3.2 Ti but with a bit of money the original engine could be completed and refitted and if that was the plan there is little point getting the paperwork aligned to its current 3.0 engine spec. to only have to complicate the history further when changing for a 3rd time.

So potentially a 166 3.2 Ti with quite a few miles on the clock with a chequered history but in wonderful condition, a bit more money to get the original engine back in would get everything aligned and probably could be completed for under the current market value and without having any import issues. A chance to get a super rare car for OK money or a potential nightmare - decisions decisions
Have it! My 166 had rebuilt 3.0 V6 after belt snapped and ran faultlessly after heads rebuilt.
Just clocked the date and hope you did buy it. Only the M139 sitting outside my window has stopped my own search for a Ti
 

rs48635

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3,181
oops Justin banks has trumped the 166 going back one model !

img_4614.jpg
 

rs48635

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Messages
3,181
Holy grail has appeared on autotrader. A metallic black 166 3.2 TI. Doesn’t look perfect by any means but as the saying goes, ‘find another!’
Nice looker. MOT history nothing to be scared of, but describes careless owner with same advisories across several years.
 

drellis

Member
Messages
795
Had a look on Justin Banks, I'd have a w124 as a daily if it had isofix for the youngest, loved my old one, had magic carpet ride and the accountants had hot no where near the car . Wonderfully built, and simple to fix
 

drellis

Member
Messages
795
Had a look on Justin Banks, I'd have a w124 as a daily if it had isofix for the youngest, loved my old one, had magic carpet ride and the accountants had hot no where near the car . Wonderfully built, and simple to fix