Alfa 33 Restoration

[hodroyd]

You're not married then yet alfatan..?? There's still a chance there then Mike...!!!!

 

[alfatan]

lol, I am happy with my current Mike thank you Rob on a big plus side Mike is an ex-motortrade Mechanic and has worked on stacks of various italian cars...... so what more could I want. he he

 

[TridentTested]

Seeing this post makes me think I really should get my Y10 turbo back on the road.

I drove one for many years too. I loved that little car, it seemed like there was no limit to how many revs I could pile on it. Mine was E reg, I remember reading that Lancia sold only ten of them that year - even more exclusive than my QP!

 

[mjheathcote]

The Y10 Turbo such a rare car, new over 25 years ago and between us here accounts for 4 of them!
Was a super little car, put mine on a rolling road on a shoot out and it made 99BHP, a little more that the quoted 85BHP.
Was quite advanced really, ok no fuel injection twin choke weber, but was intercooled.
Mine had a nifty glass opening sunroof with blind, electric front windows, electric rear quarter light opening windows, central locking, LED ventilation controls, and loads of LED warning lights! alcantara dash etc...oh and headlight wash wipers too with those lower bumper driving lights.

 

[alfatan]

all this Y10 chat is fab. I must post some piccies of my little beastie. This car is ultra reliable, like all italian beasts...look after them and they will reward you.
I have to say its the most fun car I own, choppy, nippy, fantastic responsive steering, as you sayMike the interior is very plush. Mine has grey alcantara dash and seats. Metallic black paintwork, I had the tailgate painted metallic as well! The Y10's have grown up dash board instruments like oil pressure guages and on board computer. Mine has a autobianchi badge in the steering wheel!!

I remember taking my mum and dad to Leamington Spa to see my Nan, which from Newport in Wales is about a 110 mile drive. Pulling up hills without the need for any gear change from 5th!!!
The little car never missed a beat and you can hear the turbo whistle through the vent in the car. The best thing was NO ONE knew what the car was, except for my next door neighbour who had a stunning thema turbo, [big brother to the y10 lol]

I am 6ft and I sit very comfortable in the car. I call my Y10 Luigi.

 

[hodroyd]

Lungi sounds a lucky boy Alfatan...??

 

[conaero]

Still thinking about a 33P4, it's an ich I never scratched.

Back in the day I considered one but everyone harped on about reliability, and I got suckered into not buying it....bought a Renault instead....boo hoo!

 

[hodroyd]

Dicky,
We all love to see history being remade mate and applaud someone who is trying to do it right.
Cheers
R

 

[zagatoes30]

That bodyshop looks familiar, I have a mate wth a 155 & 116 Giulietta which were both done in a bodyshop very similar even down to some ot the other stuff around - Where is it?

I have another friend currently restoring 2 33 P4, hoping to end up with a good one out of the 2.

 

[conaero]

Talking to Dickyb, he told me it is in Wales somewhere, does that sound about right?

 

[alfatan]

No. The 4x4 was available in both hatch and sportwagon in 2 different forms. The UK only got the very early series 1 cars in Sportwagon only, the latest of these would be likely to be on a D plate. These cars had a selectable 4 wheel drive system. This format was available in Europe for both series 1 and 2 up to 1989 in both Sportwagon and hatchback format.
For series 3 cars, late 1989-late 1994, the 4 wheel drive versions had a permanent 4 wheel drive system which had a seperate ECU for the 4WD system. In normal driving only 5% of power was sent to the rear wheels but as grip is lost, increasing amounts of power can be sent to the rear wheels through the viscous coupling. The UK only got the top of the range "Permanent 4 "hatchback version of the car but in Europe this 4WD system was available on lower spec 1.3/1.4/1.5/1.7ie in both hatchback and Sportwagon, most European versions also got ABS which was never available for RHD markets.

Very interesting read I am trying to dig out piccies of our 33 and Y10! Ransacking the house for them, lol.

 

[zagatoes30]

Talking to Dickyb, he told me it is in Wales somewhere, does that sound about right?

The place I have in mind is not Wales. I will dig some pics out and you can see the similarity

 

[mjheathcote]

Pictures of my 33P4 taken mid 90's. Sold to pay for the deposit on our first house!
The pictures should be better, but limited by the multimedia scanner/conversion to jpeg.
Seeing the pictures of the inside just makes me want to snuggle into the Recaro seats, grip the lovely leather steering wheel, turn the key to fire up the quad cam boxer, and blast up the road listening to the Autodelta stainless steel exhaust (not fitted when these pictures where taken!)

 

[hodroyd]

Mike,
She looks lovely mate, pristine, bet you were sorry to see her drive away without you..??
Cheers
R

 

[conaero]

A nice bit of 80's Alfa wedge, always a great thing!

Check out how small we ran our wheels back then, how things have moved on...what are they, 14's????

 

[alfatan]

wow, thats a very nice example, mint interior as well. I wonder where it is now.

 

[mjheathcote]

Yes I was sorry to see her go, like I said the money went towards our first house, still needed a set of wheels so bought a £400 Fiat Panda from the local motor auction! Actually not all bad, still had my freshly restored Triumph Stag.
Yes the wheels where 14's, which I shod with grippy Yokohama's.
Where is it now? Bake bean tin most likely, not been on the insurance database since you could check on line :-(

 

[alfatan]

Mike...aww ....dont be negative... it could be cwtched away in a barn waiting for someone to love it again. who knows

 

[hodroyd]

Mike,
She still might be somebody's pride and joy, being coseted in a nice warm garage somewhere, maybe even gone to OZ..??
Cheers
R

 

[BennyD]

Mike...aww ....dont be negative... it could be cwtched away in a barn waiting for someone to love it again. who knows

If it is in a barn after all these years then it's more likely to resemble a tea bag than it is a bean tin.