The "Mille Miglia Special Edition" Alfetta cosmetics package

[JHertzman@xxxxxxx]

In AD7-416 Terry and Sharon Akins ask about the 1979 Alfetta they bought: 

>>>surmising (hoping) that this is a special edition Alfa, but am not sure of
what type. I know about Nikki Lauda Spiders,the Grand Prix GTV6 and the like,
but am not sure about the Alfetta special editions. The fender flares are on
the rear wheels only,and look like a factory part.(Makes this thing look
pretty aggressive,too.)It has a sunroof, again a factory job but the shape and
size is different from my GTV6..The bumpers of this car are black,thin looking
compared to the GTV6 and don't look like 5 mph bumpers.  The vents behind the
rear windows have air scoops (??) on them,each inlaid with a silver
quadrifoglio on a gold (Anodized?)metal circle.All of the spoilers and scoops
on the car look like factory parts.There is no front air dam. I'm hoping
someone might know if this is a hack job or a limited edition car.I was not
able to talk to PO;he had passed away I was told.  The car has fender flares
on the rear wheels only,a spoiler on the top of the hatchback much like the
spoiler on '83-85 Toyota Supras,rectangular driving lights on the front of the
car with metal guards around them,and a fiberglass spoiler on the rear deck
that appears to attach using 2 brackets made of aluminum fastened to the
spoiler with 3holes drilled in them. I am wondering what this car is, I am
(happily) perplexed<<<

What they have is the $13,795 Mile Miglia special edition, with some possible
additions and losses. "Fewer than 500" would be made, said ARI, which means
that they would build as many as they could sell at the tag-end of the model
run. The Mille Miglia had 6 x 14 Ronal A1 wheels, sun roof, rear window
washer/wiper, Blaupunkt radio w/four speakers & electronic antenna, AC,
rectangular fog lamps, a big rear deck spoiler carried on aluminum brackets,
digital quartz clock, outside mirrors both sides, rear quarter vents with
Quadrifoglio badges, a dashboard plaque and three special exterior plaques
including a spare for the owner to place to suit his taste, or lack thereof. 

The car got a full back page coverage in the November 1979 Alfa Owner, and a
two column advertisement by ARI in the January 1980 issue. The editorial
coverage backhandedly said it was "the most tasteful so far" of a series of
limited edition Alfas, and mentioned that previous commemorative editions had
been called the Mario Andretti Signature Edition (also an Alfetta) and the
Niki Lauda Spider. 
The Atkins' "fender flares on the rear wheels only" are not in the photos I
have, but could be from any of several aftermarket sources.

"Special Edition" Alfas of the period were often, if not usually, tart-up jobs
to boost sagging sales, and usually, but not always, done by the national
distributor; some were done by individual dealers. The Ronal A-1 wheel, with
twelve round holes, is a much neater and more articulated design than the
later "phone dial" wheels of Spider and Verde infamy; they were available in
four-bolt and five bolt patterns, the Alfetta wheels moderately common and the
GTV-6 wheels fairly scarce.

There is a reference in the March 1978 Alfa Owner to ARI giving its dealers a
say in the cosmetic and handling features to be offered on the '78s, leather
interiors, manual sunroofs, tinted glass, etc. Bobcor Imports was one dealer
which gussied up its own "special edition", the "BSE-T180" which offered
turbocharging, performance springs/shocks/swaybars, upgraded brakes, exhaust
system, oil cooler, wheel spacers, "too-wide tires front and rear" on some
loud-looking wheels, louvers for rear quarter windows as well as deck,
spoilers, flares, moldings, "decals galore", and garish paint job, all for
$4571.20 over new-car list or you could pick and chose, cafeteria style, from
their options catalog. (The pejorative phrases in quotes are from the magazine
but the photos in Bobcor's ads bear them out.) To each his own-

Cordially, 

John H. 
Raleigh N.C.

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