166 V6 Ti

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
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
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Why not buy a normal 3.2 and apply the Ti bits? I believe that other than the Ti badging and the gorgeous (but seemingly made of cheese and unobtanium) wheels, the major change was a ride height 10mm drop.
I know of a superb condition black Lusso that’s had a load of work on it, fresh cambelt, Q2 diff etc. Fancied it for myself at some point but I think my ambitions are a little different now, with a bit of saving...
You’d need to source the right Ti wheels (they come in two sizes, 147 and 166), though the 159 Ti wheels on a 166 are quite sexy. Not quite as sexy as the 166 Ti wheels, mind...
The other thing is the suspension drop, but there’s a KW suspension kit that might be useful, and considering V6 Alfas are pretty boneshaking it might improve it or make little difference. For me although I’d love a Ti, this one appealed because it had all the work done and the owner is fairly active in 166 circles so is a known quality.
Miles aren’t too high either. Drop me a message if you’d like me to make the introduction...
 
Last edited:
Messages
1,687
FWIW I think the back story adds to the uniqueness of the car. Rather than detracts.
Its not the case that the car is currently in bits. You can enjoy it, while prepping the original engine for fitting.
At this point, you can sit back, enjoy the car, with no rush to finish the job, while watching values of 3.2 Tis rise.
It might be slightly different, if the 3.2 engine came from another car. However, the fact that the car can be returned
to factory spec or better, with matching numbers must be a big plus. Will there be a big payoff anytime soon? I don't believe that's your goal, which is good. Because I don't have much of a clue what prices 166's are actually achieving.
I've been trawling classifieds since the summer looking for the right spec of 3.0 166, or 9-5 Aero and it looks like the Aero will be arriving this week. I can't recall even seeing a 166. Ever. But on the basis of Jeremy Clarkson's 'love letter' to the 166 and a desire to stay Italian for a while, I was prepared to buy one sight unseen. Yes, the other great joy in my life is Russian roulette ;)

If you can do what makes you happy and make money eventually, isn't this what they call a no-brainer?
 

Twinspark

Member
Messages
460
Imo rather than sourcing a 3.2 and fitting it why not send it to autodelta and have it enlarged to the 3.5 or fit a supercharger kit? The originality is gone so you might as well go the full hog and get the performance gains. I think the costs would be similar though obviously the net for the 3.2 would be less once you sell off the 3.0 engine.
 

Nikko

Junior Member
Messages
78
I’m sure Autulusso will have a spare engine knocking around.
Also re the Lusso the Ti had different clocks.
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Sounds like my kind of car.
Having rebuilt one standard 3.0 Busso engine top end, next time I would be tempted to do the Autodelta upgrade. Would fit the Q2 differential for certain. Even though I have the magnificent QP as a keeper I do still fancy a good 166.
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
Why not buy a normal 3.2 and apply the Ti bits? I believe that other than the Ti badging and the gorgeous (but seemingly made of cheese and unobtanium) wheels, the major change was a ride height 10mm drop.
I know of a superb condition black Lusso that’s had a load of work on it, fresh cambelt, Q2 diff etc. Fancied it for myself at some point but I think my ambitions are a little loftier now, with a bit of saving...
You’d need to source the right Ti wheels (they come in two sizes, 147 and 166), though the 159 Ti wheels on a 166 are quite sexy. Not quite as sexy as the 166 Ti wheels, mind...
The other thing is the suspension drop, but there’s a KW suspension kit that might be useful, and considering V6 Alfas are pretty boneshaking it might improve it or make little difference. For me although I’d love a Ti, this one appealed because it had all the work done and the owner is fairly active in 166 circles so is a known quality.
Miles aren’t too high either. Drop me a message if you’d like me to make the introduction...

Is the Lusso always an automatic gearbox?
 

Motorsport3

Member
Messages
868
Why bother with a FWD alfa when you can get a QPV for similar money? It is rare but is it better in any way?
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,758
Why bother with a FWD alfa when you can get a QPV for similar money? It is rare but is it better in any way?

It's certainly cheaper to run and I might get shot for this but I think it looks better much more subtle than the QP


Imo rather than sourcing a 3.2 and fitting it why not send it to autodelta and have it enlarged to the 3.5 or fit a supercharger kit? The originality is gone so you might as well go the full hog and get the performance gains. I think the costs would be similar though obviously the net for the 3.2 would be less once you sell off the 3.0 engine.

No need to source a new engine the original engine is available it just need the rebuild finishing and fitting then it will be back to being original


You’d need to source the right Ti wheels (they come in two sizes, 147 and 166), though the 159 Ti wheels on a 166 are quite sexy. Not quite as sexy as the 166 Ti wheels, mind...

Didn't know the 159 had the same stud pattern as the 166, I know the 166 is different to the 916 GTV & Spiders

I know of a superb condition black Lusso that’s had a load of work on it, fresh cambelt, Q2 diff etc. Fancied it for myself at some point but I think my ambitions are a little loftier now, with a bit of saving.... this one appealed because it had all the work done and the owner is fairly active in 166 circles so is a known quality.
Miles aren’t too high either. Drop me a message if you’d like me to make the introduction...

Tempting
 

schell70

Member
Messages
313
Is the Lusso always an automatic gearbox?

I don't think so, I had a 166 3.0 Super Lusso and that was a 6 speed manual - it was a great car but ultimately the soon due cost of a DMF & Cambelt change at the same time forced me to move it on. In hindsight of course I should have kept it!! I was doing 20k a year in it and it was fabulous.
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
Why bother with a FWD alfa when you can get a QPV for similar money? It is rare but is it better in any way?
I had this thought. For £8000 you’ll get the best 166 in the country.
For £8000 you will get a QPV that, ahem, most likely won’t be the best in the country.
And as much as I love Maseratis, I have neither the time, inclination or mechanical skills to do it on the cheap.
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
it's all about matching numbers cars, that where it matters and where the value is in classic motors, would be good to to re unite the original lump with the car
 

rs48635

Member
Messages
3,181
It's certainly cheaper to run and I might get shot for this but I think it looks better much more subtle than the QP




No need to source a new engine the original engine is available it just need the rebuild finishing and fitting then it will be back to being original




Didn't know the 159 had the same stud pattern as the 166, I know the 166 is different to the 916 GTV & Spiders



Tempting

Is the 159 Wheel same stud pattern but different offset? Seem to recall looking at 159 wheels for my 166 but never followed up. (could lookout up but too lazy. And I need to go to work!)