Happy Friday, Autopians! We made it. It’s time to celebrate by looking at some cars outside of our normal $2500 price cap, and today, I’ve got a couple of cool ones. I can’t wait to tell you all about them, but we need to settle yesterday’s score first:
Well, that’s pretty definitive. Poor old Daeeoo can’t even beat out a car that has likely been thrown up in by a thousand frat boys. Someone suggested stripping out the back seat area of that Malibu; I think that might be for the best.
For your entertainment and edification today, I have a couple of sporty European cars from days gone by. One sedan, one roadster; one six-cylinder, one four; one rear-wheel-drive, one front. They don’t have much in common other than a reputation for costing a lot to keep on the road. But one of them is getting thin on the ground and the other has always been properly rare, and as they age, maybe it’s time to start thinking about them as classics rather than just old weird cars that are difficult to repair. And besides, they’re both a hoot to drive when they are running right. Let’s take a look at them.
1988 Alfa Romeo Milano – $6,800
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter SOHC V6, 5 speed rear-mounted manual, RWD
Location: Port Townsend, WA
Odometer reading: 279,000 miles (!!!)
Runs/drives? Yes, but idles rough
The Alfa Romeo 75, sold in America as the Milano, is one of those cars you either love the styling of, or hate. It’s very much of its era and place: the shape screams “1980s Europe” more loudly than nearly anything else. It was styled in-house at Alfa by Ermanno Cressoni, instead of being farmed out to a design house like so many other Italian cars. Personally, I love it, but I know a lot of people don’t.
What everyone can agree on, however, is its singing talent. The Alfa Romeo “Busso” V6 is possibly one of the best-sounding engines of all time, and if you’ve never heard that wonderful song from inside the car, you’re missing out. In this top-of-the-line Milano Verde, it displaces 3 liters and puts out 183 horsepower, more than enough for a small sporty sedan, especially in the late ’80s.
That wonderful motor sends power to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted 5 speed manual transaxle and a De Dion tube rear suspension equipped with a Watts linkage and inboard-mounted disc brakes. Racy stuff, and the best part is that you can rattle off specs like that to your non-car friends and watch their eyes glaze over. It’s fun!
This Milano has been around the block a few hundred thousand times. The odometer reads 279,000 miles, impressive for any car, but downright miraculous for an Alfa. The seller says it runs and drives, but has a stumble in the idle they suspect is fuel-related. It has a new clutch and rear brakes, and lots of suspension work as well.
Cosmetically, it looks presentable; there’s no rust, and the body is straight. I’m not crazy about the carbon-fiber vinyl, but I guess it’s better than peeling clearcoat? Inside it’s in good shape, with some recent upholstery work on the seats and a new headliner.
I test drove a Milano about twenty years ago, loved it, then chickened out and bought a Ford Escort instead. I’ve regretted it ever since. Would that I had the money for this one…
1991 Lotus Elan with parts car – $12,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6 liter turbocharged DOHC inline 4, 5 speed manual, FWD
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Odometer reading: 38,800 miles
Runs/drives? It does, but it runs “funny”
In the early ’90s, little convertibles were big again. There was the Miata of course, as well as Mercury’s Australian-built, Mazda-based Capri roadster. Buick offered a convertible version of the Reatta if you wanted something a little more luxurious. And Lotus, after years out of the roadster game, came out with a new Elan convertible.
Unlike any Lotus that came before or since, the new Elan was front-wheel-drive. Purists howled in protest, but the reviews were very positive, and if anyone could make a FWD car handle, it’s Lotus. It’s powered by an Isuzu 1.6 liter four, massaged by Lotus to put out 162 horsepower, over 100 horsepower per liter. That’s not too impressive these days, but when the Miata was rocking 116 horses from the same size engine, it was a big deal.
This Elan looks pretty good, and it has only 38,000 miles on the clock. Its fiberglass body has a few flaws that need repair, but the paint is shiny, albeit my least-favorite sports car color (red is overdone). The seller doesn’t give us a whole lot of information about its mechanical condition, other than the fact that it appears to have a bad fuel injector causing a stumble. But the good news is that you get a parts car too, and it actually doesn’t look too bad:
Only 559 Elans were imported to the US between 1989 and 1992, so this one sale represents 0.36% of the nationwide total. Depending on how many are left, you could maybe corner the market on Elans with one purchase! And the “parts car” doesn’t necessarily need to stay as such; if it’s complete enough, you could end up with a nice Elan and a beater, or maybe a track-day car.
This is probably the cheapest way to get into a running and driving bona-fide Lotus, and looking at it now, the shape has really aged well. It’s a sharp-looking little car, and certainly would stand out more than Yet Another Miata. If only it weren’t red…
So that’s it for this week. Tune in next week when I’ll do my best to fulfill a request for some captive imports. In the meantime, vote, discuss, trash-talk, and have a good weekend!
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
OMG the Lotus is everything to me. Growing up, obsessively playing Lotus Esprit Turbo Championship on my Amiga 500, the Elan was a definite want. I’m furious about this listing as it is about 30 min from my old residence in Cali, but I’ve temporarily relocated to Indiana and have no way to get back to CA for a short stint at the moment. Otherwise I would all in on the Elan(s), full stop. I wouldn’t ever bother negotiating.
urgggh
Hi! Im the Owner of the Alfa and this post was just forwarded to me!
Thanks to everyone who voted Alfa! They’re my favorite, never really liked the Elan….
A couple comments to anyone whos interested:
1. The Busso V6 is indeed superior to all other engines.
2. They are inordinately reliable, especially if you go into it with the expectation of owning a classic. Temper the expectations you might have of owning a modern car which you can opt to never change the oil on and be okay. This is my third Milano, and second with over 200k miles, the only reason this one has had so much done is it was just pulled out of storage after 4 years, normally its basic love and care.
3. They’re surprisingly easy to work on. Engine is normal. Fuel injection can be a bit of a pain, recommend ditching for an aftermarket. The main annoying part is the driveshaft. Rear brakes are easy if you let the deDion hang with the car on stands.
Love to see this and all the attention, thanks all
How is that Busso V6 to actually live with, reliability-wise? Asking for a Miata-owning friend.
Why do lot of readers keep spelling it as Alpha instead of Alfa? It is really annoying and irritating!
Alfa is abbreviation of “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili”.
Just stop spelling it as Alpha and start using the proper spelling, Alfa!
If you could do a deep dive on that Alpha over the winter, you’d have a fantastic ride for many years to come.
Full rebuild of the gearbox and the Busso (my genitals tingle just typing that name), body refresh, interior refresh and full rebuild of the suspension.
Next year, motoring like it should be.
It is spelled as Alfa, not Alpha. I can’t believe how many people spell it as Alpha despite the obvious fact in the article, which Alfa is mentioned many times.
Alfa is abbreviation of “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili”.
Milanos are solid road warriors and so much more interesting than any of their contemporaries. I’ve owned mine 7 years and it’s never let me down. Is owning a Milano more maintenance intensive than a new Camry? You’re damn right it is, and if you think you’re getting away with deferring a timing belt change, think again. But the tradeoff is that motor is an absolute jewel and the drivetrain is way more exotic than it has a right to be in what was ostensibly an 80s grocery getter. Take it down your favorite B road and I promise that you will be wearing that grin for weeks. So, yeah, that’s a fuck-ton of miles but I still choose the Alfa.
Oh yeah, parts for the Alfa are easy to source. Just about anything you can think of is still available.
I got out of the army in 1983, dazed and confused. Like you I test drove an Alfa 33 which was great fun, chickened out and got a Mazda 3 instead.. like you, regretted it ever since. To be fair to my younger crewcut self, I’d spent a good deal of time and blood to keep my previous jalopy running, and I was really into reliability at that point..
Alfa for me, I’ll drive on Sundays to church, Saturdays to the coffee shop..
“I have an Alfa that doesn’t run right. Care to buy it?” That’s the same as, “I have a weird rash going on down there. Willing to chance it?” Run to Lotus.
You could chose the Lotus and have the perfect answer to the best sports car question: Track or safari? BOTH!
Any engine fix in the Isuzu power plant of the Lotuses will be relatively cheap, and probably not very difficult at all. With this few miles, I doubt there are any deep issues to address. Fiberglass work is intimidating the first time, but actually pretty easy.
I’ve always liked the styling of this Alfa. One part Volvo, one part Renault Fuego, and a sharp pencil to blend the two. Because of the engine and the very restrained shield in the grille, this Alfa is one of a few Alfas I’ve ever truly lusted for.
If the body checks out straight and mostly rust-free, this is the one to choose. The engine is the biggest scare, but with enough money it can be fixed. There are dozens of minor mechanical issues that will also conspire to keep you busy and broke, but what a nice car to wrench on!
Two Lotuses for that money is a great investment. They should be pretty easy to own. The Alfa might break me, but wins my vote in a close contest.
The Alfa
1) rwd
2) if the glorious sound of that motor doesn’t give you the Fizzies, you need to consult your doctor
Having owned an European one new and filled with great memories I voted for the Alfa. Greater and even better memories I have from the Turbo version, what a ride! Expensive, but damn.
When I got out of the Service with absolutely no idea what to do with the rest of my life, I came VERY close to deciding that, what ever it was, the rest of my life would start with a new Elan. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of FWD, though (still can’t. I can’t figure out what to do when weight transfers forward or back).
Wish I had, because Lotus. And because pop-ups.
I’ll make the owner of that Alfa an offer he can’t refuse.
Lay it on me!
Every car enthusiast should own an Alpha at least once in their life. The fact that this one made it to 280k is both miraculous and shows that it’s been loved. I’m in on the Milano
“Personally, I love it, but I know a lot of people don’t.”
Apparently you know a lot of dumb people. You should start a pyramid scheme.
As much as I’d like to have a Milano named “Alyssa,” that mileage is insane for this car. For an Alfa, that mileage would be insane even if it were in Km.
So give me the Lotae and I’ll name the running one “Benatar.”
Don’t forget that the Lotus/Isuzu partnership went both ways. The Elan had a badge that said “Powered by Isuzu” thanks to that engine, and the Isuzu I-Mark RS had a “Handling by Lotus” badge thanks to some suspension tweaks conceived by Lotus. (The I-Mark had a solid rear axle, so one wonders exactly how much the Lotus engineers were able to do with it.)
Having said all that, I would take the Milano. I’ve always liked that car, it’s so unique (I would accept “odd”) and period-specific. But mainly, if an Alfa has made it well over 200K, then there must be something right with it. It is a unicorn that must be protected.
Some markets also got the mid-90s Isuzu Bighorn (known in the US as a Trooper) with a “Handling by Lotus” badge
Definitely the Alfa. The concept of a FWD Lotus is deeply disturbing to me, plus the design of the Alfa (you didn’t show the truly oddball picnic basket e-brake handle – for shame).
ALFA
It makes no sense whatsoever, but I’d still take the Alfa.
I believe the above phrase is the mating call of the Alfisti. And I come running every time.
I would go with the Lotus. That engine was known to be reliable and I dig the styling of the little sports car. It has a fun lever in middle of the console and since this would not be a daily driver for me I would enjoy it. I can’t daily a stick because of nerve problems in my left foot, but when it is not flared, a stick would be nice to carve some country roads with. I dig the styling over the Miata of the era.
I am also not afraid of red. At least it is not one of the 4 shades of white or 7 shades of silver.grey or 5 shades of black some models only offer as an option. Too many monochromatic cars these days.
Lotus! Fix and sell the clean one to subsidize the k swap in the parts car.
the lotus is likely just a case of bad gas, probably just needs an Italian tune up
I have to take the Alpha. Nobody is gonna believe that mileage. Think of what I can get for it on Bring A Trailer!
ALFA
The Alpha is way more appealing, to me at least.
I see it as an opportunity to work on Italian engine internals on a stand in the corner of my garage.