Alfa 6 2.5 turbodiesel 5

[<JHertzman@xxxxxxx>]

In AD7-012 Don Suiter relayed a plaintive query from a Swiss friend (who I am
answering off-digest) who is restoring "an Alfa 6, 6 cylinders, Sedan (not
GTV6, not Alfetta SI!) - - The particularity of the car is the USA version and
here in Europe nobody, even Alfa Romeo Arese, can help us". He went on to say
that only 10 or 20 of these cars were made - -

That doesn't really match anything; assuming he is not talking about any of
the truly vintage 6Cs the most logical candidate is the 1979-1987 tipo 119A
and 119AA which was (after, at least in the USA, a "name the car" contest)
named the "Alfa 6" in recognition of its new six cylinder engine. While three
examples of the Alfa Six were brought here for certification and, after
certification, went into general circulation, the car was not marketed here.

Looking for information for the Swiss friend I dug out the Stefano d'Amico -
Maurizio Tabucchi "Alfa Romeo Production Cars" and found yet another of those
grand surprises which Alfa occasionally sprung. In addition to the V-6 powered
Alfa 6 there was a tipo 119A2, described in d'Amico-Tabucchi as the "Alfa 6
2.5 Turbodiesel 5", powered by a five-cylinder VM turbodiesel entirely
distinct from the turbodiesels used in Alfettas, Alfa 90s, Nuova Giuliettas,
75s, 164s, 145s and 146s which were all fours, as well as from the
turbodiesels used in 33s, which were threes. (The 156 has both four and five
cylinder turbodiesels, but I would guess that there is little connection
between this five and the 6's five).

Production numbers show 2,977 6 TD5s, a very modest number compared to the
figures for other Alfa diesels- 201,225 for the Alfetta, 17,141 Nuova
Giuliettas, 21,278 33s, 15,392 90s, 47,962 75s (five times as many as there
were V6s), and, through June of '96, 45,602 164s, 28,292 155s, 18,118 145s,
and 12,465 146s. 410,452 diesels in all, with just seven-tenths of one percent
in Alfa's largest and heaviest flagship luxury car.

There is something slightly poignant, to me, about a 3500 pound Alfa 6
(substantially heavier than the gas versions) being lugged around by a 105 hp
five; but d'Amico-Tabucchi says "The fairly high power output provided the car
with suitable performance for its category." For comparison the 6C 2500 Sport
"Freccia d'oro" of 1947-52 was slightly larger, almost as heavy, and had
fifteen fewer horses, with a top speed 15Km/h lower, so the "6"TD5 may have
been more reasonable than it looks from here and now. At the same time
d'Amico-Tabucchi says that the 6 with the two-liter version of the V6,
producing 135 hp, "proved to be underpowered" and "was not a great success",
so their characterization of the diesel's performance must be given credit for
tact.

John

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