1991 Alfa Romeo Other

168 S Sedan

3.0 Liter V6

Manual

ZAREA33E1M6211275

Clear

Gasoline

RARE ALFA ROMEO 168 SPORT HARD TO FIND!!! ONE OWNER!!! NON SMOKER!!! FULL OWNER’S AND REPAIR MANUALS!!! EXCELLENT CONDITION!!! The Alfa Romeo 164 was an executive car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo from 1988 to 1997. The 164 was rebadged as the 168 for the Hong Kong, Malaysian and Indonesian markets, as the number '164' had a very negative connotation (all the way to death), and "168" has quite the opposite ( all the way to prosperity). (88888888 No Reserve!!! 88888888) First unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 164 could be considered the first of the 'New Generation' of Alfa Romeos. It was the last model to be developed while the marque was still independent (although it was launched a few months after the purchase of the company by Fiat), and was most notably the first large front-wheel drive Alfa. The 164 was essential to Fiat's plan to relaunch Alfa Romeo as a prestige car brand after the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 164 was the last Alfa sedan to be sold in the North American market, where only the 3.0 L V6 was offered (12-valve from 1991 to 1993, 24-valve from 1994 to 1995). Nevertheless it was quite successful in Europe in attracting keen drivers who wanted a prestige sporting sedan, but were tired of German offerings such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The 164 was discontinued and replaced by the Alfa Romeo 166 in 1998. The Alfa Romeo 164 was styled by Sergio Pininfarina in 1987, shortly after completing his contract to design the Ferrari Testarossa. The 164 can be seen to share several styling design ideas with the Ferrari expressed as a four-door sedan. In concern for heritage, the design is also the logical extension and successor of the Alfetta sedan, particularly the late-model 'Long Nose, Square Light'. The 164 was the first Alfa to feature extensive use of computer aided design for calculating structural stresses, resulting in a very rigid but still relatively lightweight body. The 164 was the basis of the Type Four chassis, which it shares with Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000. Being the last to reach the market, the 164's bodyshell was the most aerodynamic of the four, and had a markedly sleeker profile and lower coefficient of drag. In order to permit this design variation, an exclusive front suspension was developed. The 164 was the first of the 'New Technology' Alfa Romeos, and is the technological and styling basis of all Alfas to the present day. The 164 also introduced dramatically improved build quality over previous Alfas, featuring galvanised steel frame and various body panels for the first time, ending the most common complaint by Alfa customers about rust problems encountered in older models such as the Alfasud and the GTV. Even though some purists feared of loss of character due to the adoption of front-wheel drive for the first time in an Alfa top-line sedan, the car proved itself as a supremely comfortable and sure-footed car, with a distinctively sporting character, inline with the marque's tradition. In fact, the motorpress of the day found its only fault to be some torque steer, particularly in earlier versions. Equipped with the most complex wiring loom of any Alfa Romeo, the 164 was designed to compete in the executive car segment dominated by the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It offered better value for money in terms of technology (having three onboard computers, one for air conditioning, one for instrumentation, and one for engine management; air conditioning and instrument functions shared a multiple-mode coded Z-80-class microcontroller for dashboard functioning). Air-direction within the ventilation system was controlled by a pair of servomechanisms, which were constructed using notoriously fragile plastic gears and were prone to failure; possible high part costs are alleviated by the commonality of these parts with the 166. At least one aftermarket company has also developed metal replacement gears which eliminates the breakage issue. Also, the car had some very advanced features for its day, such as automatic climate control and electronically controlled dampening suspension (in the top-line Cloverleaf models and 164S). This suspension actively reduced dampening in response to conditions to provide a dynamic compromise between road holding and comfort. The 164 also boasted engines rated among the best in the industry at the time, and the same basic design is still used to this day in current models. The 164's development was by far and away the most demanding of any car manufactured by Alfa Romeo, and set the standard by which other European manufacturers would be measured. Initial testing of the 164's dynamic elements began in 1984, where Guilettas where used as test mules for engines and drivetrain. Initial handling bugs were ironed out on the factory's test track in Arese. In 1985, the first pre-production 164's were put through their paces on the road. Heavily disguised, with many false panels and even a false nose design (borrowing heavily from the then equally undeveloped 155), sporting 4 round headlamps, these vehicle mules served to test the 164 for the gruelling '1 million kilometre' static and road testing demanded of the design. In 1986 and 1987, the first 150 164's were given their pre-production testing. In terms of engineering demands, these exceeded every Alfa before, and by quite a substantial margin. In Morocco, desert testing saw 5 grey 164 Twinsparks and V-6's undergo the equivalent of the Paris-Dakar rally. Road conditions varied from good tarmac to off-road conditions, and accelerometers confirmed the superiority of the 164 in terms of passenger comfort. This data was cross-confirmed in the engineering laboratory with a sophisticated dummy in the driver's seat, with accelerometers both in its seat, and in its ears to mimic that of the semi-circular canals of the ear. The Twinspark and the V-6 underwent handling trials at Arese. The Twinspark displayed very mature driving manners at the limit, with minimal skid. The V-6 displayed a 25% increase in at-the-limit skid, a natural consequence of its greater nose weight. ABS testing confirmed that the Twinspark has superior braking to the V-6. Brake linings of the 164's were run at maximum braking until they literally glowed with heat, and displayed no deviation in form. The 164 was the first Alfa to feature slotted double-walled disc brakes. At no point were the discs drilled to release excess heat, the original design being demonstrated to be excellent. Acceleration testing confirmed the V-6 is the superior performer in terms of speed. In line with Alfa Romeo's remarkable ability to get all cars to achieve their speedometer maximum point, 164's were tested to their design maximum - 240km/h. All achieved them, though the Twispark displayes reluctance to exceed 205km/h, and achieved 240 very slowly. The V-6 achieved it easily, and maintained it, thus demonstrating Alfa's legendary performance. Sound production was tested in an anechoic chamber, the car being subjected to stress and road noise testing, with instruments and with live subjects at the wheel, on a specially designed rig. Electromagnetic staility of the complex electronic system was also tested, in an anechoic chamber equipped with EM emitters (radar). The 164 engines were run to destruction, the Twinspark proving to be the most robust, and with the longest possible engine life. The V-6 displayed only 10% shorter overall engine life. The 164 possesses the unique distinction of being almost completely manufactured without the aid of human hands. Only 4 processes during the manufacture of the overall body require human intervention - the removal of doors for painting, the insertion of door rubber seals, and the fitment of the dashboard and other interior trim. Manufacture - from sheet metal through to engine fitment is done by Robots almost completely. Welding is amazingly precise, and alignment of parts is achieved by Laser ranging. Touchingly, the engines of the 164 were still assembled by talented engineers, a testament to Alfa's reputation for producing cars with a definite 'soul' to them. Pininfarina's last design effort prior to the 164 was the Ferrari Testarossa. The design ideas present in the Testarossa were developed in the 164 within the brief of a four-door saloon. Examples of this include the wedge-profile which is reminiscent of the Testarossa, and the three grooved cheat lines running down the side of the 164's false door-panels and bumpers recall the air intake strakes, and the processed lip of these panels also recall the stylistic separation of elements of the Ferrari. The wedged notch running down the length of the vehicle is a unique and striking design feature, which helped earn the 164 a unique place in automotive styling annals. It is often described as the most important and greatest example of styling for the year of its introduction, 1987. The 164 has also been described as a more significant, though no less important departure for Alfa as the well known 'Monstro', the Alfa Romeo SZ of 1988. Styled by Pininfarina, the 164's exterior bore a more than a passing resemblance to the Peugeot 605, launched a year later, and also styled by Pininfarina. This is particularly apparent in the wedge-shaped body and in the longitudinal groove along the side of both cars. However, individual stylistic treatment given by features such as the integration of the traditional Alfa triangular grille, elongated in the hood, and the full-width rear light cluster distinguished the 164 from its French counterpart. The 164's styling cues have been carried over to contemporary late-series 33s, and to the 155, and the aerodynamic wedge shape introduced in the 164 remains a visible design feature in all subsequent Alfa Romeos into the present day. The base 164 engine was the 2.0 L Twin Spark I4 engine with two spark plugs per cylinder. Apart from that, this engine was also notable for having a two-stage valve timing system (before Honda's famous VTEC), and an induction valve blade-type system, aimed at improving low-end torque. The block of the Twin Spark was the same 2.0 L that had been a part of Alfa's road and race car history since the 1930s. This was intended to give buyers a strong sense of heritage, as well as a significant advantage in terms of reliability. New to the engine was the introduction of fuel injection, controlled by a Bosch Motronic system. A very sophisticated engine, with a traditional Alfa chain-driven DOHC cylinder head, a single cooling fan and generator belt, drastically improved reliability and reduced parasitic friction. The battery of all 164s is placed in the trunk to achieve a close 50:50 weight distribution. Next was a turbocharged 2.0 L 8-valve engine, derived from the Lancia Thema i.e Turbo, and including an overboost feature (this was later replaced by a turbocharged V6 in some markets). The top-line engine was the 3.0 L "Arese" V6 designed by Giuseppe Busso originally for the Alfa 6. Initially it was of the older 12v design but was later revised to 24 valves for the QV model. The 3.0 L 24 valve V6 was also used to power the four-wheel drive Q4 variant. For some markets, a turbocharged 2.0 L V6 was developed, based from the 3.0 L engine with reduced displacement and a very sophisticated engine management system from Bosch. Finally, there was also a turbodiesel version with an engine sourced from the Italian engine maker VM Motori. Rated at 125 PS (92 kW), even this weakest version was capable to propel the 164 past the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark. 168 means "the more you go the wealthier you'll be." We believe that a picture is worth a thousand words, so we have included nearly 200-PICTURES so you can judge for yourself the condition of this RARE 1991 Alfa Romeo 168 Sport is in. About Payment: I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion. I would like a $1000 deposit (PayPal) within 24 Hs from the end of this auction. Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 3 calendar days of auction end. All funds must clear in my account for me to release the car. The car will be securely garaged in Redondo Beach, CA until pickup.Free storage up to 2 weeks. About this auction: This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid. Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid. Basically, please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car. This vehicle is sold AS-IS with no warranty. This is not a new vehicle, it is used. A used vehicle will have normal wear and tear congruent to its age and/or mileage. This vehicle may have dings, scratches or other indications of use because it has been used. Terms such as “perfection, flawless or mint” may not be subjective but all other descriptions are. Sales tax, smog and title/registration fees may be applicable to California residents. A document fee of $195.00 will be added to the closing auction price. An optional one way drive permit is available for $25.00Ebay buyer agrees to pay a $200 item re-listing fee if backing out of a purchase bid carelessly. By bidding you agree to these terms. About me: Please check my feedback , I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed, bonded and insured dealer in the State of California. You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 310-686-2157 between the hours of 9-5 Monday-Friday Post Auction details: The transport cost is the responsibility of the winning bidder, although I can certainly help with logistics. I have a wholesale account with a transport booking service and can help you find a reasonable shipping rate. Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote: Schumacher Cargo Horizon Auto Services California ShippingNotice: You or anybody may buy this vehicle now/early thru EBAY without prior notice. If you have interest in my vehicles please call/send me your best contact phone numbers with your message so that I can get in contact with you quickly. I do have my direct phone number listed in this ad and I will be available to speak with you 7 days a week. You may certainly use the ask seller a question feature of this listing & I will normally respond as quickly as possible. Feel free to email me with any questions: mail: sylrya@yahoo.com The photos you see......... These are actual current photos of the vehicle that you are bidding on. They accurately show the condition of the car inside and out. Who says, there isn't an "Alfa Romeo 168"? Naturally there is a "168", as the Alfa Romeo advertisement on this page shows. And that is not a misprint. The story is very simple - for chinese people. Their life is influenced by numbers, by "good" ones like 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 9 and "bad" ones like 4, 5 and 0. In cantonese speaking regions like Hong Kong, Singapore, Guangzhou and also in Malaysia the number 4 ("sei") is the most unlucky number - because it means "death" or "die". Naturally so it wasn't able to sell carsof the type 164 ("yat low sei" = always die) in this area and the few buyers immediately removed the plate "164" from their cars. When Alfa Romeo heared about this, the company changed the designation for the market of South East Asia and our normal Alfa Romeo 164 was officially named as "168" - with an 8 at the end. Now everyone was happy - because the 8 is pronounced in the cantonese language as "faht" which is similar to the word "prosperity". Together with the 1 ("yat" = always) and the 6 ("low" = long life and healthy) nothing can go wrong. Buy a "yat low faht" and be lucky - that sounds not only for chinese people very much better. Alfa advertisement in the "New Straits Times" Malaysia Also other car producers have luck with the Eight. For example the Porsche 928 ("kow yee faht" = long easy prosperity), the Ferrari 328 ("samm yee faht" = life of easy prosperity) and the Ferrari 348 (samm sei faht" = life of prosperity till you die). Not only Alfa had problems with the unlucky Four - the Porsche 924 is a "kow yee sai" (enough easy death) and the 944 a "kow sei sei" (enough double death) - so both cars are naturally extremely rare in places like Hong Kong. Also the 944 turbo of Chris Royn in California is actually a "951" - so no bad luck there. Very rich people pay as much as they pay for their Rolls Royce to get a car plate with "good" numbers. But too much of a good is dangerous, as the sample of one of the richest men in Malaysia shows. His Jaguar has the plate "BBB 888" and when he had to go bust, people said that there were to many Eights on his car - because "BBB" is also looking like "888". Also outside of China the 168-plate is demanded - because of orders from abroad these plates are out of stock by chinese Alfa dealers. Some years ago two soviet-made TU aircrafts bearing the type number "514" crashed on separate occasions in China. People associated this bad luck with the bad number, which means "I'll die" or "it wants me to die". No people in China want to ride in this type of airplanes now. And goods are widely priced as $ 1.88 instead of ending with 9 as in our countries. I just found an article, which is published by my friend Peter Dyrelund in the magazin of the danish Alfaclub. You can see pictures of a 168, taken by V.Korsgaard in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The plate of this car carries the number 1434 and Charles, who is living in Malaysia, told me that this means "sure die, alive die". That can only be the car of a stranger. Well, friends of the 164 - do you have problems with your car? Send me an email, maybe I find a 168-plate for you one day. I wish you "yat low yee faht". Ciao. Ty.