More than enough but too late
By Pete Vack
Photos by Steve Patchin
The 164 featured Sedate styling by Pininfarina, but much more effective than the startling lines of the Milano.
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On a cold, windswept afternoon in 1996, I stood with Howard Moon, both of us looking at what had once been a thriving Alfa Romeo dealership in Falls Church, Virginia. I noted that the familiar round Alfa Romeo signs no longer proudly hung near the front of the building, which was now busy with a much more lucrative SAAB market. "A sign of the times, perhaps?" said Moon.
Alfa Romeo, once the affordable Ferrari, the unique, elegant, well designed series of cars from Portello, was now gone from the United States, probably for good. The loss was both irrevocable and disheartening. We had both owned and enjoyed many Alfas over the years. First Lancia, then Fiat, now Alfa. There was only Ferrari and Lamborghini now, both unattractively priced for most enthusiasts.
Look Ma, no rust!
Alfa made sure the tinworm was dead before introducing the 164.
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The end, the last Alfa, the final model to be sold in the American market was the 164. Since the end of WWII, Alfa had failed to come to grips with producing a really fine large sedan; the 1900 was ponderous and few made it to America, the 2000-2600 series, highly stylized in the Detroit mode, never made an impact, and the idea was dropped entirely until the new V-6 made possible the ill fated flagship called the Alfa 6 in 1979. The new Milanos, aka 75s, were still small sedans, despite the use of the new V-6. The 164, introduced in 1987 (1990 Stateside), promised more and in fact delivered much.
Designed to compete with German bahncruisers, the 164 was a luxury item rather than a spartan sports sedan.
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A total of 6909 164 sedans were sold in the US from their inception in 1990 to the end, in 1995. How many are left is pure speculation. Perhaps half that number. Of all the Alfas imported to the US, the 164 is perhaps the least well known. So, what's it like?
It was indeed a big Alfa, with a wheelbase of 104.7 inches, and an overall length of 179.5 inches, the width 63.9 inches. Comparatively, the Alfetta based Sport Sedan had a 94.5 wheelbase, the Milano grew to 98.8 inches, while the 164 was roughly nine inches longer than the older models; the 164 was four inches wider. Weight increased, the 164 was up to almost 3400 lbs compared to 3100 of the Milano and 2790 lbs of the Sport Sedan.
All that was left of Alfa styling motifs was the small triangular grill.
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The big change for Alfa was the switch from a rear drive de Dion transaxle layout to front wheel drive. Although FWD had been used in the Alfasud since 1971, it was a novel inception for the larger Alfas. McPherson struts did the job up front, while the rear sported coil struts and an optional self leveling system.
Turned 90 degrees around, the now traditional Alfa V-6 was suitably modified to support such expanse; the 2959 cc's getting out 183 hp for the L version and 200 for the more common S. The S version benefited from improved compression ration, a better induction system and timing. Performance was excellent; most models could top 140 mph, while accelerating from 0-60 took only 7.6 seconds.
Our bet is that the Alfa V-6 will go down as one of the greatest Alfa engines ever.
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In an acorn nut, the 164 was the biggest, most powerful and luxurious Alfa built since the days of the 6C2500. Notably, it was the first Alfa fully designed and built after the Fiat takeover. That, however, no doubt made for a better, more developed Alfa.
Our subject car has been owned since new by Steve Patchin of Virginia Beach, VA, purchased in Feb 1991, from Greenbrier Olds/GMC/Sterling/VW/Alfa Chesapeake, VA. The white 164 now has over 177,000 miles on it and still wins awards. Steve is dedicated Alfa enthusiast, having owned a 1981 Spider, two GTV6s, a 1987 Milano Gold, and his son had a 79 Alfetta GTV which Steve helped to bring back to life.
Plenty of room, high quality materials, a thoughtful layout.
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Steve says his new 5 speed 164 was a base model; the only option it had was headlight washers. "I have added engine oil cooler off salvaged L, then S wheels and S rear muffler. My car has the standard fabric seats and they are a poor man's Recaros with good bolster and long lasting fabric."
In addition to many Alfas, Steve had a number of experiences with Fiats, so his comments about the 164 come from one who knows his way around Italian cars. "Compared to the Milano Gold, which is way underpowered with a 2.5L vs the 164 3.0L, the 164 far better car for open road. The Milano Verde had the power but a scary ABS system, and Milano styling is not Pininfarina is it?"
But is the 164 a real Alfa, with the feel and noise and handling Alfisti love? Steve thinks so. "It is an Alfa, has that Alfa whine, it is sporty, fast and comfortable and has been real reliable. Best keep secret for a nice sport sedan. Nicest Italian car I ever owned."
Lacking those aforementioned Alfa dealers, Steve does all the work on the 164 himself. "I do it all, but I've got many spare parts and factory tools, and parted out a 91L in 93 with only 6,000 miles so I still have a relatively new engine in my stash."
Remarkably, the 164 has been extremely reliable—another break from tradition! On a 14 year-old car used for a daily driver, the problems have been few and minor. "I never had a real breakdown. Blew out a Japanese Sanden A/C compressor in 1992, three years later the stepper motors for heat and air were replaced. In 1998 a cracked fuel hose inside tank caused hard starting due to low fuel pressure, and the input shaft ball bearing went out in the transmission in 2000. I replaced it with overload roller version and changed chattering clutch at the same time. But it lasted 130,000 miles."
Patchin's 164 has the standard cloth seats, which are probably preferable to the leather.
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Of all the Alfas Steve has owned, he thinks Alfa saved the best for last. "The 164 was the best one to come out of the joint venture that produced the Fiat Croma, Saab 9000, Lancia Thema and finally the beautiful 164. It has the style, size and comfort and performance to be that one car that does it all well enough for me."
There are two very interesting websites for Alfa 164s:
www.padina666.com/alfa/vital.html
www.digest.net/alfa/FAQ/164/
