1988 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint / Sprint 1.7 review from Australia and New Zealand

Purchased at a good price, as the previous owner was returning to the UK on holiday and had no where to store it. There was some rust to be removed around the bottom of the window screen, the right rear guard, the bottom of the passenger door and inside the doors on the body frame. The clutch also had to be replaced, it was totally toasted.

About 1000kms into my ownership the gearbox expired, and required a total overhaul as there were no reconditioned units avaialble... ouch!

Next on the repair/restore list is the upholstery (the hounds tooth weave wears appallingly), then a re-spray. Mechanically it may need to have the tappets done on the next service.

Once the major mechanical problems were out of the way it's settled in nicely. It's had a few trips away and has handled them really well.

Performance is about par with a new 2lt saloon due to it's light weight, but the lack of power-steering and some tourqe steer hampers it around town, especially in the wet.

Only complaint is the exhaust knock due to the oddball "s" design, it sounds great, but can grate on the motorway occasionally.