ItalDesign RIPOFF: Alfa 164LS
 

Hey guys... I saw a car today that I'd never noticed or seen before... an Alfa Romeo 164LS. The reason I noticed it? I was stopped behind it at a stoplight.... and the back end looks a TON like an SVX. So much so, that when I got home I researched it on italdesign and came up with...SQUAT. Nope, it isn't an italdesign production vehicle, which is STRANGE, because hte back end of this car looks so much like an SVX it's just creepy. Here's a pic:

http://www.mchang.org/albums/AdamAlf...C00006_JPG.htm

Check that out! Isn't that crazy????

- Rob

PS: A very cool car... I think I might look for one in the future... a sedan with a nice refined quality, good performance, and it's CHEAP! :D

There is no such thing as a 164LS in the US. It's either a 164L or a 164S. :) They were designed by pininfarina. I want one! :)

Mike

Yeah, I noticed the pinifarina thing. They're pretty cool. I'm going to keep my eye out for these...they seem to be kinda like an SVX: Reliable, exclusive, high quality, but parts are annoying. >shrug< Weird cars just 'do it' for me.

- Rob

I saw one of those yesterday when I was driving around. I've actually seen lots of them. They're a nice looking car in my opinion, but I've read a few owner reviews that suggest these models are questionable when it comes to reliability and quality. Having never owned one, I can't say whether that's true or not.

http://www.carsurvey.org/review_11573.html

looks sort of like a late-90's saab rear end... that long bar of lights?

-a

That rear is very reminiscent of an SVX. Funny - I don't think I've seen one since I bought my SVX so I hadn't noticed. :)

Well, the one I was behind said "164 LS" in metal script.... >shrug<

- Rob

According to KBB, the LS was available in 1995. :)

- Rob

Nice car
 

I think the Alfa Romeo 164 Quadrifoglio looks really nice (see attachment). If I remember correctly, that thing has 230hp. I can't ever recall seeing one though (especially for sale).

Re: Nice car
 

My old boss used to have one (he still may have it). That car was his baby. Sort of like most of us with our SVXs :D

Doug

Incidently, the Alfa 164 shared platforms with the Fiat Croma, Lancia Thema and Saab 9000, so the passing resemblence is a little more than skin deep 8)

There's an Alfa shop a couple of blocks away from me...some sweet 164s, GTV6's, and Milanoes down there. Drool...

I think there was but not literally, Alfa stopped importing to the US in I think 92 however, the car was still imported unoffically by an importer from Canada until 95 as it met all standards until then. I remember a friend looking at buying a 95 that was an LS if my memory serves me right so it is entirely possible that Rob is right about the LS.

As a side note having driven one the engine is great. The interior isn't.:(

I definitely saw an LS. I wrote the model # down because it looked so SVXish from the back, and on kbb.com, they even list the LS as a 1995 model.

- Rob

Whatever the last year they were imported was my dad worked at a Subie dealership, someone he knew ran the alfa dealership in roch. ny. I remember him telling me that in their last year something like only 500-800 united were sold nationwide. The seats and interior look pretty cool, as does the chromed (or polished?) intake runners on the engine.

-Alex