RE: Alfa Orphans

["Tim Hancock" <timhancock@domain.elided>]

Scale is undeniably important. Total all models 164 production was about
273,400. MGB production got to about 500,000. Do not forget that MGB heritage
has always been supported by the factory even through very lean times. They
took a bit of pursuading to do the 'heritage' shells, but ran with it as soon
as it became clear the demand was there to make it commercially viable. The
body jigs had been earmarked for scrap!  Whilst Alfa talk and trade heavily on
their history I am not so sure that they have ever provided that much help in
keeping oldies going..or even compararative newies for that matter.

Some  main dealers in the UK such as BMW and Merc do reduced labour/parts rate
schemes for older vehicles (5 years plus) to try and keep them ' in the loop '
with third and fourth owner/ lower income owners. Some see it as a bit of a
con in that the rates are still steep, but Alfa have never tried it and unless
you are driving the latest kit they often show no interest in you. Spares for
75s have just been reduced in price significantly, and this is billed as
'helping the older Alfa owner', but if you look at it more deeply the 75 has
just passed the 10 year rule in the EEC whereby a manufacturer has to provide
parts and support for ten years after production ceases. I see this as a means
of getting rid of inventory that they are no longer legally required to hold,
and soon people with contagious diseases will be more welcome at an Alfa
dealer than a 75 owner.

It is difficult to remember that your main task is to drain the swamp when you
are up to your arse in Alligators, and the simple task of surviving has
prevented Alfa/Fiat entertaining ideas of looking after 'customer care' in the
short or longer term. All the same I do think there must be scope for a small
part of FIAT/ Alfa being tasked with producing selected parts runs, and
liasing with AROCs around the globe to make sure this is demand responsive.
Properly run it could be a nice little profit centre as most of us would pay a
reasonable premium for the right/authentic materials and parts. It works for a
whole MG sub-industry as has been pointed out, so there is a working economic
model to copy.

Tim Hancock   Boston UK

164TS
164 Super
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