The concept isn't foreign to the elders at CICFS: US serviceman buys desirable car in Europe, drives it while serving in Germany, and then brings it back to the US to enjoy. We have to imagine that e30 BMWs are currently popular among car enthusiast serviceman in Europe, so we applaud this gentleman for his taste in less-common sports sedans.
The Alfa 75 in 1.6 trim is as basic as the model was offered. A friend of the site has a particularly mean 75 1.6, which was swapped to a 3.0L Busso V6 powertrain for the ultimate sleeper 75. This particular 75 doesn't deliver on sleeper status, with its aftermarket wheels and Alfa Romeo decals, but we see nothing that couldn't be reversed for a 2.0 TS sleeper build.
This is a 1988 Alfa Romeo 75 2.0 Twin Spark, the European version of the Milano in the states.
VIN: ZAR162B2000049876
This car is a European spec car, originally it was imported from Italy and sold new in the Netherlands in 1988 as a White Alfa 75 1.6. From there It changed hands and had a full documented restoration in 1998 by L Beute. When it was restored, the drivetrain was swapped over from a 2.0 Twin Spark and the car was resprayed green. The car was purchased from the Netherlands in 2014, from there it was imported to Germany and then to the United States. Once it made it over here, the car was brought back up to good condition.
What Separates it from the Milano:
Euro Bumpers and headlights
Euro Tails
Reliable 2.0TS engine
Center Exit Exhaust
Fuel tank under the car instead of in the trunk
NO quirky ABS system
NO sunroof
Power front windows only
NO A/C factory
Less weight
The Good:
Everything from the rear doors back was rebuilt. All new transmission mounts, new slave cylinder, lines, brake calipers. Brake rotors, replacement axles and new rear bearings.
New wheels and tires
New brakes all the way around
Rebuilt Transaxle
Rebuilt Shifter
Strong Engine
Excellent Paint
Mint interior
Lowered with Koni Adjustable Shocks and Springs
The Bad:
Inner and outer rear wheel arch rust,
The passenger rear door has a rust hole in it
Inner fender behind the coolant bottle also has a hole in it.
Paint has two clearcoat blemishes
Headliner Sagging
Though the suspension components seem to be pretty devoid of rust, this car does show a fair amount of rot, particularly in the area where the rear doors meet the rear wheel wells. This is a common rust area for the 75 / Milano, and repair sheetmetal does exist - as do examples without the rust.
Asking price is strong on this car. We attribute that to the rarity of this particular model in North America, as well as to the considerable list of maintenance that the current owner had completed on the car. We'd ditch the Nardi steering wheel and shifter, swap out the Crown Royal shift boot for something less 2008, and get to work on rust mitigation. For those in search of the ultimate lightweight 75 and a powerful engine to boot, this car is a good opportunity.
