re: Alfasuds in US?

[David R Johnson <QA2282@domain.elided>]

In AD-V7 #1425, Andrew Watry wrote:

> John Tipler's new book, Alfa Romeo Sporting Saloons (which has a good number
> of errors and mis-captioned pix, etc., in it) devotes a lot of space to
> Alfasuds, which we in the US never got to buy.  Are there any Suds in the
> US, either legally or otherwise?  Do they ever come up for sale?

I have that book, and it is interesting to hear about the mis-captioned
pictures, since I was finding it rather confusing.  That may explain why.  As
for Alfasuds, there is one shown on Tom Zat's Alfa Heaven site (
http://www.alfaheaven.com/AHI_Text_Pages/AHIcars2.html ).  It's about 1/3 of the
way down the page, and you have to scan over to the right to find it due to the
weird page layout.  This car appears to have been used as an EPA car and then a
factory racer.  Looks like Alfa was considering importing them, but changed
their minds.  Pity, although the early Suds probably would not have done Alfa's
reputation in the US a lot of good due to their propensity to rust.

As for whether this car is for sale, I don't know, although it may not be
because of it's history and rarity (in the US).  One of these days I plan on
visiting Tom's museum, since it is about 4-5 hours drive from me, so I may get a
chance to see it.  Having cut my motoring teeth on a couple of Suds when I still
lived in the UK, I have a high opinion of them (if not of their longevity,
although my '83 was still going strong at the age at which my '78 succumbed to
terminal tin worm).  If anyone knows where any are hiding in the US, I would
also be interested to hear about it, especially if they happen to be for sale.

Also, I will take this opportunity to point out to any UK digesti that I still
have a Sud 1.5 engine and 5-speed transmission available free to a good home.
It's at my parents' house in the Southeast.  Please contact me for details.  I
would love to get them out of my parents garage and I have no use for them.

Dave J.
1982 GTV6 (resting)

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