OV9

I love old car ads, especially when they’re almost the same as your own car

Although by 1980 I’d be surprised if anyone believed their anti corrosion claims

Made a little bracket to hold the fuse box and relays including the two extra ones for the headlight upgrade, looks pretty neat I think



Everything tested and working

Excellent work!

Nik and Richard would be pround.

It looks more factory than the factory original

Dave!

Not a massive update because it hasn’t needed much, I’ve been running it about and using it for the occasional commute whenever the weather allows.

Back in June we took it to the national Alfa day in Bicester, where it was part of what many were saying was the biggest turnout of alfasuds most people had seen since the early 90s! Most counts suggest around 30 alfasuds and variants.

Parked next to this stunning S2 Ti, was great seeing a standard 4 door family model next to the top of the range sporty model of the same version. Newer s3 hatch version in front too.



While doing the clutch a few months back I noticed the front bushes looked past their best. Of course I couldn’t just chuck new bushes in the crusty old arms, so off they came for a full refurb.



Bush removal tool kit


All off


Annoyed I didn’t buy a pair of ball joints too, but luckily the originals are still nice and tight and smooth with no play. Arms were hit with the spinning wire death wheel, treated with rust converter then painted.



New bushes popped in, powerflex heritage versions which are their standard purple road spec bushes but coloured dark grey so they don’t stick out like a sore thumb under your classic car



Gave the struts a wire brush and lick of paint too, and put it back together



MOT prep yesterday involved a quick check of all the lights, noticed the near side side repeater was a bit dim, luckily had a bulb in stock so reached up inside the wing and swapped them over in approx 10 seconds.

And today’s MOT…

MOT out of choice rather than legal requirement?

Bit of both to be honest, it’s a 1980 build but because it was exported them imported it’s on an 82reg, and I haven’t bothered sorting the paperwork to prove the build to register it as a historic vehicle. Should really as I’ll save a few quid on tax.

As I’d like to keep using it fairly regularly I don’t think it does any harm having someone independent and trusted casting their eye over it once a year either so will probably carry it on. Looks nice in the history file too.

Good for proof of mileage too

Got spotted on the way to and at a localish car meet I’d not been to before, really pleased with these!

The silhouette looks very Austin Allegro doesn't it?

The first pic looks like you have a 1970s tache too - good dedication.

Simon wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 6:11 pm The silhouette looks very Austin Allegro doesn't it?

Almost like someone from BL had seen the early drawings, copied it then realised their upright engine wouldn’t fit so gave it a bulbous bonnet and restyled the rest to match.

The early alfasud wheel trims are strikingly similar to allegro ones too

Rich B wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:05 pm The first pic looks like you have a 1970s tache too - good dedication.

Nah, just general all over face fuzz from being too lazy to shave

I’ve heard the allegro comments a lot, and can kind of see it, they were both 2 / 4 door hatchback-ish looking fwd saloons released in the early 70s, but I think the Alfa is more like how people think they remembered the allegro looked. I know which I prefer anyway

They are very similar but the arse of the Alfa in particular looks much better.

I do still like the Allegro estate though although I never ever want to own one.

Today marks two year of alfasud ownership.

8000 miles filled with smiles. Only one mechanical issue which was a blown indicator fuse. Fixed at the roadside, then swapped for a newer style fuse board that weekend having already purchased the parts in advance.

A bit of tidying, a bit of preventative maintenance and servicing, several shows / events and two largish YouTube channel appearances.