1981 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint / Sprint Veloce from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing, apart from the dreaded rust mite.

I had alway been impressed by the little Alfasud. I remember as a teenager, I had trouble keeping up with a 1.3 Sud in my 1.3 turbo Metro.

In 1997 I started building my own house and decided to buy a small van to cart my tools to and fro. Whilst looking in the classified, I discovered for sale, a 1981 Alfasud Sprint Veloce (Veloce means fast or quick in Italian) for the sum of £450. So I packed up my wife and kids, and drove over to Norwich. I haggled the guy down to £370 (I would have paid the asking price) and drove home with a very broad smile upon my face.

For the next twelve months I enjoyed Alfie's fine handling, sweet revvy engine, faultless gear change and crisp exhaust note. My two sons were so impressed with Daddy's new sports car and even my wife had to admitt that she had fallen in love with my little blue baby Ferrari!

When it came to its first MOT in my care, the prognosis was not at all good. Severe rust in the sills and around the rear suspension turrets. The house was not finished and money was tight and I saw a Capri in a local garage for £120 with 12 mounths MOT. I had no option but to lay up Alfie until I had the funds to resore him. The Capri was pants by the way.

So for the last couple of years Alfie has resided in my newly built 21'x21' garage waiting. I have considered selling him, but I could not part with the cheeky'est member of my family. The kids often talk of using him to build a robot for Robot Wars. But threats of a ban on Pokemon soon quells their plans.

If anyone knows where I can find some cheap Sprint parts, for Alfie's sake let me know.

Don't sell it!!!

There are many places to get cheap parts and stuff. Try Just Suds in Leicester, they have lots of stuff.

It costs money, but the fun is worth it!

Vincenzo.

Lots of parts available. Contact for full list at 0113 281-2980 or johnaddy@onetel.com

Sold my blue "81" Sprint Veloce, in Wiltshire, when it was about 10yrs old. Here I am now still thinking about it! couldn't care less what's happened to other cars I've owned.

Andy.

I agree with the previous comment. I sold my sprint trofeo 3 years ago and wish I hadn't. Ian.

I just loved that report on the Alfasud Sprint Veloce - I have a 1983 1.3 Sud Ti and am about to buy a 1981 Sud Sprint Veloce as well - well I like my Suds - this report just made me smile.

I once owned an Alfasud Sprint Veloce. It was a 1980 model and I loved it. The handling was crisp, the power delivery smooth and progressive. It was surprisingly comfortable for such a sporty car. My girlfriend, at the time, was impressed by the way it seemed to hug the road, especially as speed increased (as it's wont to in a car like that).

If I have any complaints about it, they are things like setting up those inboard front disc brakes (great for unsprung weight, but a real pain to get set-up right). And the heater wasn't real good - after all the car was designed for Italy! And then keeping those twin 40DCOEs in tune and balance, well...

Finally it succumbed to the dreaded Milan Metal Moth (if that's the right expression) and had to go. At least the engine and gearbox went to a racing home.

As a previous contributor suggested, I don't much care about other cars, the Alfasud Sprint Veloce definitely holds special memories, and I'd love to get hold of a good example. Any offers?