Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Alfa Romeo 164L
Normally I don't post unless I can get good front and rear 3/4 shots, but for a 164 I will make an exception. I rarely see them around any more outside of Italian car shows, and also I bought one new, in 1991 from Bellevue Alfa Romeo over on NE 8th. The dealership was torn down years ago and it's now a Lamps Plus.
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A wonderfully stunning sedan. I miss mine too, terribly. Maybe not enough to go find one, though. Did you notice if this one still had the original stereo and retractable rear window shade? In the past few years, these things seem to be disappearing out of the ones I stumble across...which is not so often, as you pointed out. Fewer and fewer.
ReplyDeleteI did not think to look for the Chrysler special or the rear shades. It doesn't seem to be here in the garage today.
ReplyDeleteI think you aren't going to get a reply to your query regarding the radio's origin on DT. Bummer. Curiosity will have nothing to do with that cat.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I didn't have much expectation that anyone would answer. Do you think Chrysler/ARDONA's influence on the 164 went beyond the radio? Some have said that it also influenced the suspension tuning for US 164's a la VW. I'm not sure if I believe that, given Alfa's attitude toward non-Italian markets. I've never been motivated enough to look for any USA parts supplements to see if part #'s are different.
DeleteI don't honestly know. I always thought Chrysler was only involved on a distribution level for the 164. The only connection that I'm aware of was the American Infinity radio with Japanese Shinwa or Alpine bits. Those stereos were clearly the exact same thing with the stickers switched, which anybody could see. It's always surprised me when I've come across an aftermarket stereo that somebody has thrown into their 164 when they could have easily and cheaply fit a different Infinity/Chrysler model. They weren't bad, not bad at all.
DeleteIt's possible there were other bits, as you pondered. Wouldn't surprise me if things like the seat motors and things like that were Chrysler parts. But still, I'm guessing they weren't. Clearly, the servomechanisms were Bosch parts, though...(ducks object thrown at head).
Too bad we never got the Q4.
But shades of things to come, hmm? Now look at where we're at with our beloved Alfa Romeo. It's like a bloody yo-yo.
Well, shiver me timbers. I was wrong; William Robinson answered the question. Who knew anybody was even paying attention? Will wonders never cease.
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