RE: Daily Drivers

["Ben Ament" <bament@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I seem to be perpetually a decade or two behind the times - or is Alfa that
much ahead? You decide.

In 1971 I acquired my first Alfa: 1957 Guilietta Spider. After replacing a
holed piston and doing the requisite head work, this car became a daily
driver (at least in the summer). Alfa number two was a 1969 1750 GTV. Daily
driver again, and it was only 1974.

In the early 80's it was a 1971 GTV. In the middle 80's family dictates
forced a 1979 Alfetta Sport Sedan into daily duty. I drove this car daily
and on many long trips (1000 miles or more) until the early 90's. As the
family grew, the Sedan was replaced by a minivan!

But it wasn't, isn't, the end of Alfa daily drivers. I supplemented the
minivan with a 1984 GTV6 around 1995. That car even saw a daily commute of
120 miles round trip for a couple of years.

The GTV6 is now retired and it is only 2003. What to do? I now enjoy the
comfort and performance of a 1987 Milano Platinum.

In the midst of all of the Alfa daily drivers have been assorted and sundry
Alfa Spiders and Fiat Spiders, as well as the occasional Fiat coupe and a
Fiat 131 Wagon that served well for honeymoon duty and two cross-country
moves. (The 131 wagon, by the way, is the one car my wife misses. Anyone
know of one for sale?)

And all of this did not take place in Dave Mericle's sunny climes. Though we
spent two years in the Long Beach/LA environs, most of the past 30+ years of
Alfa ownership took place in Ohio and Minnesota, as well as my home state of
South Dakota. There was rarely an Alfa Romeo dealer within a 3 hour drive.

Yes Dave, I, too, have a cell phone. But I have used it more often to call
for help with the Detroit iron that I have not listed here.

Peace and good daily drives,
Ben




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