Tyre Rotation, any point?

[securespark]

It's an old 164 (1989 Series 1). Pretty obscure, but I'm fond of it!

Loved that car but was never in a position to get one. It was my favourite out of the Type Four cars: Alfa 164, Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma.

85-86 I had a 'sud that had pedals heavily offset towards the centre of the car.

It took some getting used to. As did the close spacing of the pedals, made for Italians, and the short seat squab. At least the driving position suited my extra long arms!

 

[johnny2007]

Loved that car but was never in a position to get one. It was my favourite out of the Type Four cars: Alfa 164, Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma.

85-86 I had a 'sud that had pedals heavily offset towards the centre of the car.

It took some getting used to. As did the close spacing of the pedals, made for Italians, and the short seat squab. At least the driving position suited my extra long arms!

Lancia Thema was way better than the others.
They even made one with a Ferrari engine, badged 8.32

 

[norseman]

I wonder if these anomalies are due to the cars being designed as LHD & then converted to RHD?

Back in 1986 my ex. bought a new Lada Riva that had an uncomfortable accelerator position due to it being close to the wheel arch, whereas in LHD configuration the pedal would have been on the right of the pedal lay-out.

 

[securespark]

Lancia Thema was way better than the others.
They even made one with a Ferrari engine, badged 8.32

Yeah, even with prancing horses under the bonnet, I still preferred the Alfa.

 

[Avocet]

Loved that car but was never in a position to get one. It was my favourite out of the Type Four cars: Alfa 164, Lancia Thema, Saab 9000, Fiat Croma.

85-86 I had a 'sud that had pedals heavily offset towards the centre of the car.

It took some getting used to. As did the close spacing of the pedals, made for Italians, and the short seat squab. At least the driving position suited my extra long arms!

Mate of mine had a series of Suds when we were students. Absolute dogs, all of them but SO much fun! Those little flat 4 motors were absolute jewels!

 

[Avocet]

Lancia Thema was way better than the others.
They even made one with a Ferrari engine, badged 8.32

Other than the "Ferrari" engine, I thought the Thema was a bit dull. I'm biased, of course, but I think in terms of looks alone, the 164 was head-and-shoulders better than the other three. Dynamically, they were all pretty much like a Fiat Croma with a bodykit, of course. The 164 with the 3 litre V6 (also an absolute jewel of an engine), was a bit nose-heavy, and (as a right hand drive) very heavy on its right hand front corner with just the driver in it. Mine just smokes its left hand front tyre if I hoof it out of a wet junction with just me in it.

 

[Avocet]

I wonder if these anomalies are due to the cars being designed as LHD & then converted to RHD?

Back in 1986 my ex. bought a new Lada Riva that had an uncomfortable accelerator position due to it being close to the wheel arch, whereas in LHD configuration the pedal would have been on the right of the pedal lay-out.

Sometimes, yes. Lots of problems with the 164 as a result of it being a left-hooker by design. Don't talk to me about clutch master cylinders!

 

[securespark]

Mate of mine had a series of Suds when we were students. Absolute dogs, all of them but SO much fun! Those little flat 4 motors were absolute jewels!

Oddly, mine didn't have a rust issue. It had its quirks, like the inboard front discs, while servicing them, the Haynes manual says clockwise with the Allen key (or whatever way it was), but on one side it's one way and on the other it was the other way round. There was idiot me trying to loosen it off and all the while I was actually tightening it up...

Just the same with a Simca sump plug. Got asked to help out at a taxi firm, jumped into the pit, and tried with all my might to undo the plug...

"This damn thing's stuck fast!"
They all burst out laughing.
"It's a left hand thread, isn't it?"
Cue more laughing...

The 'sud belonged to my Grandfather, who bought it in 1978 and lived in Cornwall, of all places!

I have to agree, the engine was an absolute peach and if I ever win big on the lottery (a massive if!), I would buy a disused airfield and hangar and fill it with cars I desire!
Top of the list being 'suds and 164s.

Then I'd spend my days driving round having fun!

I took this photo when I was 12. The Alfa had just been bought, but at that time, I was more interested in my Uncle's TR7!

 

[Avocet]

Oddly, mine didn't have a rust issue. It had its quirks, like the inboard front discs, while servicing them, the Haynes manual says clockwise with the Allen key (or whatever way it was), but on one side it's one way and on the other it was the other way round. There was idiot me trying to loosen it off and all the while I was actually tightening it up...

Just the same with a Simca sump plug. Got asked to help out at a taxi firm, jumped into the pit, and tried with all my might to undo the plug...

"This damn thing's stuck fast!"
They all burst out laughing.
"It's a left hand thread, isn't it?"
Cue more laughing...

The 'sud belonged to my Grandfather, who bought it in 1978 and lived in Cornwall, of all places!

I have to agree, the engine was an absolute peach and if I ever win big on the lottery (a massive if!), I would buy a disused airfield and hangar and fill it with cars I desire!
Top of the list being 'suds and 164s.

Then I'd spend my days driving round having fun!

I took this photo when I was 12. The Alfa had just been bought, but at that time, I was more interested in my Uncle's TR7!

View attachment 411228

Fantastic! This was my mate's, circa 1985-6 I'd guess. Absolute shed! (yes, that was rusty water leaking out of the bottom of the fuel tank...)!

Here it is with the car I had at the time, (and old Citroen DS) on Radlett Aerodrome. An eclectic pair of cars, I'm sure you'll agree!

 

[Stivino]

circa 1985-6

R reg started 1st August 1976

 

[securespark]

Ah, my heart aches!

The DS was way ahead of its time in 1955, as was the 'sud when it was unveiled in '71.

Amazing vehicles, both.

That's another one to add to my hangar!

R reg started 1st August 1976

That R reg Alfa is not in the flush of youth...

 

[Avocet]

R reg started 1st August 1976

Yes, it was nearly 10 years old when the photo was taken. We were students with no money! But it was way more rotten than my DS (which cost me £75 from a dealer, by the way!) and the DS was a 1971 car, I think - and they had quite a reputation for rust too!

 

[Avocet]

Ah, my heart aches!

The DS was way ahead of its time in 1955, as was the 'sud when it was unveiled in '71.

Amazing vehicles, both.

That's another one to add to my hangar!


That R reg Alfa is not in the flush of youth...

Here's what a DS looks like in a drag race with a few fast Fords. Absolutely hilarious - that photo was taken just after someone shouted "go". All the other cars started moving - the DS just lifted its nose in the air and squatted its tail to the ground before going anywhere!

and no, I didn't win...

 

[Avocet]

This was another of his Suds...

 

[securespark]

Cool! Ti, isn't it?