When considering Milanos for purchase, it would be a mistake to consider only the 3.0L Verde, when in reality its performance benefits over the rest of the range are modest. The Silver model is best for those seeking a car with the fewest standard features for a cool spartan feel. The Platinum is the only model aside from the Verde to feature an LSD, but includes the sometimes-problematic ABS system, as well as the leather / suede seats that do not usually age well. If you can live without the LSD, or would be open to swapping in an LSD transaxle yourself, the Gold has the excellent cloth seats and most of the electronic features of a Platinum, but uses a non-ABS braking system, which seems to be more robust.
This Milano Gold features Verde phone dial wheels and an Ansa exhaust, but seems stock otherwise. At just under 50k miles, it is one of the lower mile Milanos we've seen recently, and the asking price reflects that. With proper care, it is possible to preserve the current excellent condition, so we wouldn't worry too much about packing miles onto this one.
The Lancia Thema is hardly a Lancia in the traditional sense, but somehow its generic Italian sport sedan credentials add up to something very appealing. Take a competent FWD sedan chassis developed with the deep pockets of Fiat, drop in a venerable 3.0L Busso V6 from Alfa Romeo, and tack on some Lancia badges and you have the Lancia Thema V6.
Lancia also offered the Thema in 8.32 form with a 2.9L Ferrari V8, so why bother with the V6? Head to Youtube to find out, or just take our word for it: the Busso V6 sounds better than the detuned Ferrari V8. Add to that the serviceability of the Alfa power plant compared to the Ferrari unit, the major price discount, and the sleeper appeal, and the case for the Thema V6 is strong.
All of the 164 hounds out there know that 164s are cheap and easy to come by if you know where to look. Sub-$1000 transactions aren't uncommon, and we've heard of 164s simply given away to their new owners. And, while we understand the realities of market value - the potential market for a used 164 is really quite small - limited appeal doesn't mean that the 164 lacks for redeeming qualities.
In a 1991 Alfa 164L, you will find automatic climate control, heated seats, fog lights, 15" wheels, a 3.0L Busso V6, cruise control, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, and a power moonroof. In its time, that was a really generous list of options; if you want some interesting and Italian to drive in relative comfort, you can buy a new Giulia, sure, but a clean 164 will check many of the same boxes (off the track at least) and do so in excellent 90s Pininfarina style.
Yesterday a local automotive designer stopped by to say hi and to see what was going on in the CICFS garage (Milano close-ratio transaxle build, Maserati heater core swap). He brought his Dodge Viper. Base engine offered up from the contemporary heavy-duty Ram, Chrysler's newly acquired Lamborghini division was tasked with tapping into the V10's potential. A monster was born. The RZ, known as Il Mostro may not stack up to the specs of the Viper in terms of performance, but it stems from a similar corporate exercise; bringing a show car and its spirit to life in a series production vehicle.
The basis of the two vehicles could not be more different. Chrysler dove deep into the weeds, tooling up new cylinder heads and more for the engine, devising a new chassis, and putting together many of the car's mechanicals from scratch. Alfa, in creating an arguably wilder monster, dipped into its current parts bin, repurposing the DeDion / transaxle chassis of the Milano. Front double wishbone torsion beam suspension with coilover helpers, rear DeDion suspension, and a transaxle with inboard brake calipers. The V6 was a modestly hotter take on the 3.0L in the Milano.
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Year: 1993 Model: Alfa Romeo RZ Engine: 3.0L V6 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 9,090 Price: $97,500 Location: San Diego, CA
Alfa Romeo ES-30 Roadster Zagato, VIN: ZAR162000*03002149 Year 1993 Make Alfa Romeo Model Zagato Roadster Type No 162C1 VIN ZAR162000*03002149 Italian Homologation No DGM 52914 OM Zagato Production No 27011688 Zagato Body No 168 Engine No 61501++XXXXXX Production No 130 of 284 Exterior Color Rosso Alfa 130 Interior Color Black Full Leather Mileage 14,594 Kilometers 1993 Alfa Romeo Zagato Roadster, VIN: ZAR162000*03002149 Individual History: Completed in 1993 and exported to Japan but not sold new until August 10th, 2001 when it was road registered privately for the first time on Aichi, Japan plates "301 4616." On March 18th, 2005 it was sold privately to the second owner also in Aichi and registered on new plates "301 759." On November 6th, 2009, the registration was renewed on plates "303 4183." On April 8th, 2010, this Alfa was sold and registered on Ouayma plates "300 4314." On June 10th, 2014, it was sold again and reregistered on Kangawa plates "335 130." On February 6th, 2015, this Alfa was sold and re-registered on Tokyo plates "331 5517." On September 29th, 2015 it was purchased corporately and reregistered on Tokyo plates "300 4417 Registration remained Tokyo "30 4417 in dealer inventory from 2015 until sale of vehicle in May of 2018. Mileage at time of initial registration was less than 100 kilometers and vehicle was registered as a new vehicle, no previous owners or registration. No mileage discrepancies at each time of re-registation. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on September 21st, 2012 at 12,700 kilometers. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on September 2nd, 2014 at 13,500 kilometers. Mileage officially recorded and confirmed by Japanese road-registration authorities on at time of sale in May of 2018 at 14,500 kilometers. June 2018, Japanese road-registatino canceled, vehicle formally exported and imported to the Unites States July 2018, all services, safety checks completed. New tires installed.
Engine Compression Test Results: Cylinder No Pounds per Square Inch
1 185
2 190
3 190
4 194
5 192
6 190
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We only worry about the RZ/SZ specific components when it comes to keeping one of these on the road. There are very few of those when it comes to mechanicals - headers and coilers come to mind. Bodywork, on the other hand, is likely in short supply. Fortunately, this example looks very clean and complete and shouldn't require month-long eBay searches for anything short of a collision.
With the SZ, you're plunking down serious cash for a design exercise. An exercise that, to our eyes, was not an improvement on existing Alfa Romeo transaxle offerings. Still undeniably cool, the high valuations lend the RZ/SZ pair their new status as more of a collector car, as opposed to a true enthusiast car. And, if you're more of a collector? You might as well seek out a low-mileage example such as this RZ.
Even a hasty collection of vertical cell phone shots of a clean 164 LS parked in a gravel drive do justice to the design of the FWD Alfa Romeo sedan. We've seen the details that make this design so pleasing show up in other automakers' work lately. VW offers the same green over tan interior on their recently canceled Golf Alltrack. Rivian's R1T and R1S both employ a similar light bar across the tailgate of their trucks. And of course, Alfa Romeo still offers the circle motif, albeit five of them and in a larger diameter, on the wheels of the Giulia.
Those who love the design of the 164 easily forgive the 164's mechanical makeup, but what isn't to like about it? Interior room and comfort is up over the Milano, but the weight penalty isn't noticeable in normal driving. On this LS model, the power (210hp in stock form), is a major improvement over the 183hp in a Milano Verde, and the way the power builds as you wind out the tach is as close to a thrill as you'll experience in a 1990's executive sedan.
I've owned my Alfa 164LS for almost 20 years. I have owned several Alfas and am i lifelong Alfisti. This Alfa has been loved and cared for the Alfas should be. Many new parts over the years; too many to list. Recently upgraded suspension with new components including Koni shocks. You can fly in from anywhere in the country and drive this car home. Here are the only issues:
Small rust spot above windshield and on fender. Not obvious at all; very small.
Driver's seat will not go up or down. works fine going back and forth.
Heated seats inop
Cruise Control inop
CD changer works sometimes.
LCD Climate control display works great and all pixels work except one.
That's it. The car is ready to enjoy and be driven. I simply don't have the time for it anymore.Please ask me any questions! I want it to go to a good home 🙂
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These 24V V6's require a careful wrench when it comes to cam belt replacement and cam timing adjustment. The cams gears are not keyed, so cam locks are required when setting the timing, unless you've really got a knack for it. Timing belt tension should be set with a weighted arm, but again, those who know their way around these engines can set it by feel. Having done only two 24V timing belt jobs, we'll exclude ourselves from that list. The point of all of this is to say that we advise interested parties to inquire as to the age of the timing belt and idler bearings. Recent suspension work, including Koni shocks, should have the ride in fairly good order. Looking at the engine bay photos, we have a good feeling about the mechanical health of this example.
The seller encourages potential buyers to fly in and drive this car home. We've done three separate 164 acquisitions from long distance, and will add that if you do indeed fly in and drive home, you'll probably fall for the car on that first long trip. No Alfa loves 80mph cruising quite so much as a 24V 164.
