Alfa Romeo 166 Busso – emotions and reason

"Disappointingly anonymous", I thought when I saw the Alfa Romeo 166 for the first time. I had expected more "poundus" - in line with the Audi A6 and BMW 5 series. But that was before I heard the engine.

 

It's the V6 you must have

When the Alfa Romeo 166 appeared as a 1999 model, you could choose Alfa's 2-litre Twin-spark (inline four) and 2,5 V6. Later, from the 2001 model you could also choose the 3,0 V6. The cheapest six then cost NOK 562, while the 000 TS cost NOK 2,0. Car testers at the time believed that the 419-litre gave the car better driving characteristics than the much heavier V000 engine. Common sense spoke for the 2-litre engine, but the emotions V6 said.

The legacy of Giuseppe Busso

The young constructor was only 26 years old when he came to Alfa Romeo to develop racing engines. After the war, he visited Ferrari for a while before returning to Alfa Romeo. Busso developed the engines that laid the foundation for many of the Alfas we know today. One of his masterpieces was the V6 engine that was developed in the 70s. It gave rise to Alfa's large car series - the Alfa 6 - which was launched for the 1979 model year. Over the years, the Alfa 6 was replaced by the 164 - which in turn was followed by the 166. The Alfa Romeo 166 was the last model in the series.

Future classic

I have collected some photos that I recently took of the Alfa Romeo 166. The model is over 20 years old. It is now that prices are at their lowest point. Today there are 312 examples in the vehicle register, but almost half have already been turned into nails. In terms of sales, 1999 was the peak year with 137 cars sold. Later only an insignificant number were sold. The Alfa 166 is about to disappear from the road. Not only here. I read that there are no more than about 400 cars left on British roads.

 

True Alpha genes

It is not only the low number of remaining cars that ensures the Alfa Romeo 166 a classic stamp. In the future, the legacy of Giuseppe Busso will play an important role, and it is then primarily the Busso engines 2,5 and 3,0 V6 that count - and the 3,2 liter that came as an option in 2003. I think probably that the 2-litre inline-four with Twin kick will also be included in future collector cars. As for the Fiat group's popular 5-cylinder diesel option, I have my doubts.

First or second series?

In 2003, the Alfa Romeo 166 received a facelift. Then it got a new engine option – 3,2 liter V6 with 240 HP – still based on Busso's design. Visually, the 166 got a completely new front. In the opinion of many, this is how the model should have been from the very beginning. Walter de Silva's original low and toned-down front marks the wedge shape, but could seem overly anonymous. Today, I prefer the look of the Series 1 cars. I like how the upper outer edges of the headlights curve down towards the wheels. Tough without being aggressive. Moreover, it is less period-typical than the new "smiley front". But of course this is all about taste.

What to watch out for

Everyone has probably heard some story about a poor Alfa owner, for example the one who had to take the engine out to change the fan for the heater, or something like that? There is every reason to be skeptical if you are considering buying a 20-year-old Alfa Romeo with a V6 engine and electronically controlled automatic transmission. Repairs will easily exceed the car's value. The essentials are the following:

• The timing belt should be changed at 60 km - all models regardless of what the service booklet says.
• The V6 engines must use oil. It is suggested that 1 liter per 1500 km is within tolerance.
• Watch out for leakage from the air conditioner. This can cause water to enter the passenger compartment and moisture to enter the control box for the automatic cash register (!) or other electronics.
• For the 2,0 Twin kick, a number of problems with the air flow meter have been reported.

 

Prices

The label "Under 30" fits well on a 000-year-old Alfa Romeo 20. In Norway, the selection is very limited. In Europe, there are cars for sale with a V166 and a mileage of around 6 km for between NOK 100 - 000. There is a lot to be gained from paying a little extra for a maintained "low-mileage" car rather than one that has been completely run down. Cars that are 50 years old or older can be brought in without paying a one-off tax, although there is little to be gained from importing from abroad. The advantage is that the selection is better - not unexpected from Italy.

Over in history

All the V6 engines for the Alfa 166 were produced at the production plant in Arese – where a number of Busso's Alfa models were produced. But it had been in the cards for a long time. From 2000, cars were no longer produced there, only the aforementioned V6 engines. The parent company Fiat had decided to close the factory for good and lay off 500 employees. The last shipment of Busso engines left the factory on December 31, 2005. 3 days later Giuseppe Busso fell asleep - aged 92.

Alfa Romeo 166 - facts

Type 936 (1999-2002)
Type 938 (2003-2007)
Place of manufacture: Turin, Italy
Design: Walter de Silva
Length x width x height: 472 x 181 x 142 cm
Wheelbase: 270 cm

Engines:
2,0 Twin-kick 155 HP (from 2001: 150 HP)
2,5 V6 24V 190 HP (from 2001: 188 HP) *)
3,0 V6 24V 220 HP (from 2001) *)
3,2 V6 24V 250 HP (from 2003) *)
2,4 JTD (5-cyl) 136 HP (from 2001: 140 HP)
2,4 JTD 20V MultiJet 175 HP (from 2003)
*) Busso engine

Automatic gearbox "Sportronic":
1999-2002: 4-step ZF4HP20
2003-2007: 5-speed Aisin AW 50-5ECT-i

2003 Busso 3,0 V6 Sportronic
24V, dual DOHC
0-100: 9,3 sec.
Top speed: 236 km/h
Consumption highway: 0,93 litres/mile
Consumption city: 1,94 litres/mile

Source: Ultimatespecs.com

Pictures of the Alfa Romeo 166

 

 

 

 

---

- Like a Mickey Mouse tie in a stuffy board room - Richard Hammond, Top Gear, about the Alfa Romeo 166.

 

See