RE: Must you be male to own an ALFA?

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

In AD7-644 Steve Morgan writes: 

"Yeah, Alfa's are definitely sexist - - the passengers' seats  are designed 
for a smaller person than the ones designed for drivers. - - - on the Spider 
I long ago realized that Alfa had designed a "woman's" seat on the passenger 
side.  The back is noticeable narrower. - - I know, the narrower Alfa seat 
back doesn't mean the passenger has to be a woman, and the driver's seat is 
probably as welcome a spot for one gender as the other.  But, I think I'm 
right."

Careful, Steve, you are impugning the virility of Brits, Ozians, Orientals 
and perhaps even prewar Italians who also steered on the right.

Giuliettas and Giulias - all 750, 101, 105, and 115 Alfas- had offset engines 
and transmissions, providing appreciably more footroom, seatroom, and 
elbowroom for the spirited driving of the LHD driver. On the Giuliettas this 
was accompanied by a canting of the engine to allow more room for the 
induction system in the small engine-bay. I did always understand that this 
was giving the driver's spatial needs priority over the passenger's, but it 
also usually helps the balance- a tad more engine weight on the right while a 
single driver, or a heavier driver with a lighter passenger, would put a tad 
more weight on the left. The poor drivers in RHD countries had to put up with 
constricted pedal room, narrower seats and the rest- including less 
well-balanced cars- but it wasn't sexism. Or so I was told.

John H.
Raleigh, N.C.

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