"BlythBros." (blythbros)
07/24/2015 at 09:41 Filed to: None
44
65|
"BlythBros." (blythbros)
07/24/2015 at 09:41 Filed to: None | 44
| 65 |
Just east of Portland, above the Columbia River, lies Corbett, Oregon, a swath of utterly tranquil American landscape. There, the Historic Columbia River Highway permits glimpses of the river valley, where conifers and diffuse light from low clouds conspire in a vivid scene with the rock cliffs and the water below. Stray from the RV-friendly scenic highway, and your gaze shifts to from the horizon to the pitch-black switchbacks lined with red pine needles. The road surfaces are too unforgiving to enjoy a stiffly sprung sports car, and with the light bicycle traffic, the ragged edge of tire adhesion is off limits. Enter the Italian sports sedan.
A month of standing sentinel over Alfa Romeo Milano Verde on a Craigslist, a year with a rewards credit card, and a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! culminated in an impromptu flight to Oregon to retrieve my latest object of obsession. The mere sound of the approaching Busso V6 as the seller pulled up to pick my girlfriend and me up from our AirBnB in Portland affirmed my decision to buy; the sellers small-talk, abridged life story affirmed my latest life decisions. Oregon is one of very few places where you might meet a man who decided to append his automotive engineering degree with grad studies in environmental science because he didnt respect what engineering represented in the 70s - one of the few places where you might meet a man who quit his job 4 years out of school because he needed a vacation. Instant affirmation.
Meet me at a party, and it takes fewer than 2 minutes for me to start making excuses for Alfa Romeo. My history with the marque leads some to even suggest that masochism might be involved. I wont say that Alfas have treated me particularly well. Had Alfa placed some baffles in the oil pans of their 24V cars, I might still have my gorgeous, yacht club spec 164LS. And, where do I begin with my old Milano - seriously, an engine that cant be turned over backwards? Really? Sure, I wouldnt blame them for the flimsy aftermarket mechanical timing belt tensioners, were it not for the fact that they sold hundreds of thousands of cars with a hydraulic timing belt tensioner that leaked enough to warrant a redesign. In my experience, Alfas are the only cars susceptible to fire should you press the throttle while starting the car. Unforgiving, Alfas.
And yet, I dont take it personally. Im sure Alfa didnt intend for me to spend a Michigan winter in my unheated garage to master the nuance of 12V Busso V6 timing belts, rebuilding yet another set of heads. Maybe the engineering department was on strike during that critical period of the design phase where the effects of corner loading on oil pressure are reviewed. Whatever their cause, I will admit that some design flaws made it into production.
The flaws I could live without. Its my understanding that some car enthusiasts autocross and even track their cars, and in spite of that mechanical thrashing, get away without needing much more than a brake fluid, or diff oil, or brake pad change. Thats enticing. Rebuilding every system on your car will establish an intimate bond between owner and vehicle, but so will 10/10 on a racetrack, and only a very perverse minority would prefer the former.
So what is there to gain in the struggle, besides the questionable bond with ones machinery? Progress in the pursuit of expertise, for one. Two
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
, a brake system overhaul, rust repair, electric troubleshooting, a comprehensive suspension refresh - the resulting knowledge base snowballs into something with dubious utility outside the circle of your specific cult car. But, when you receive a text message with a hyper-specific question from an enthusiast forum mate (everyone freaks out when they see that groove in the first rod journal on a Busso V6) and you fire off an instant, informed response, you cant help but feel validated in your struggle. Sure, resort to Google for the simple questions, but there is a sweet spot of mechanical experience, guided by a shop manual, that is both tolerable and supremely enjoyable. Often, it starts with mechanical failure.
No more than two years after !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , there I was, thousands of miles from home, about to embark on a journey across more than half of the country in a car that I knew so well, yet had never touched or seen. Since the Pacific Northwest is gorgeous, and I was on a rather tight timeline, I invited my girlfriend to help with the drive. Or she offered. Either way, shes fortunately a bright engineer, whos weathered !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! before, but very few people are amenable to the uncertainty surrounding mechanical failure in the middle of nowhere, and shes no exception.
Knowingly, I troubled some Oregon-based internet acquaintances with the task of inspecting my Milano prospect before I committed to a cashiers check and a flight to Oregon. The car - and the seller - checked out.
Perhaps my girlfriend was on to something. She called me out for my hubris a minute into our decidedly blithe departure from the seller no sooner than a minute into the trip; a minute later, and we were pulled to the side of the road. I couldnt depress the clutch pedal - our hearts sank.
At this juncture, we had to choose between returning to the seller for assistance or coming up with an interim solution to get us to my girlfriends sister, a couple hundred miles north in Seattle. Drawing on past experience with a clutch hose failure, I knew that the hydraulics were intact, and it was just mechanical binding preventing me from pressing the clutch pedal. The clutch pedal responded favorably to some intense jiggling and we were off, the nearest Harbor Freight clear in our sights.
We bought some peace of mind at a Harbor Freight in Portland and starting making our way north to Seattle. As soon as I crossed the bridge into Washington, I wound up with a speeding ticket. I think I was in third gear. Last year, on the first night of breaking in my old Milano following the engine rebuild, I also got pulled over for speeding. In both cases, I was utterly lacking in documentation - including insurance, registration, license plates - but after receiting Alfa Romeo Milano Verde a few times for the officers, they were content with the modest ticket revenue and let me drive off with a minor speeding ticket.
It really shouldnt be so difficult, but for me, Im often at a loss when trying to explain what my Milano means to me. With highly rational people, the difficulty is compounded to a painful degree. In Seattle, I took a first stab at explaining why I had flown from Detroit to Portland to buy a fervid expression of Italian design and engineering. Mind you, this conversation typically arises after the curious party has failed to locate the concealed interior door release mechanism. So, its an uphill battle.
Moreover, how do you explain why, a month after !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! burned down your garage, crushing you emotionally, you bought another Alfa Milano? One route is to cite the many unique attributes - Recaro seats, torsion bar front suspension, DeDion rear suspension, rear transaxle, all aluminum V6, roof-mounted window switches - but none of that is relatable to the non-enthusiast. In cases where you dont expect a positive reception to your reasoning, its sometimes easiest to disarm people with some red flags. Give them reason to believe that youre a bit off, and theyll understand. Though originally employed to make a much more important point, Dolphus Raymond put it best in To Kill A Mockingbird:
if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymonds in the clutches of whiskeythats why he wont change his ways. He cant help himself, thats why he lives the way he does
Just like reflexive rejection of the obscure, resolute devotion can be dangerous. As difficult as it is for me to admit, my first doubt of the Milano platform came in the form of a Kia Soul as we made our twilight crossing of the Idaho panhandle along !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Ultimate grip never came into play, but the altitude-stricken Busso V6 powering my Milano begged for every last bit of throttle to keep up with the Kia over hill and dale. In the end it earned its keep, enabling our confusion of I-90 with 90 mph speed limit. Turbos guys wont understand, but I expect solidarity from Rocky Mountain BRZ drivers.
The Milano made it back to Michigan, where it awaits the construction of my new garage. Ive already put three times as many miles on it as I ever put on my old Milano, and yet, I feel like I barely know it. This time, were in less of a rush. Once the new garage is up, well get acquainted, no doubt.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is recovering from the garage fire that took our !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . We still have our !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and now this new Milano. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to follow along.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 09:48 |
|
saw this one on the streets a few weeks ago.
|
BlythBros.
> pip bip - choose Corrour
07/24/2015 at 09:51 |
|
Nice - 75 America? That thing looks a little bit scruffy, but the red ones clean up really nicely.
|
pip bip - choose Corrour
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 09:53 |
|
North Melbourne , Australia.
sadly seldom seen now.
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 10:35 |
|
I had almost forgotten having sold my platinum, but now you have me scurrying back to alfabb to find a GTV6...
|
BlythBros.
> Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/24/2015 at 10:39 |
|
Check out the red car on CL in California. $5k...
|
Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 10:53 |
|
Shit.
daender
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 10:54 |
|
Oh hell yeah, congrats on finding another!
|
BlythBros.
> Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/24/2015 at 11:06 |
|
https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/5131086542
Xkjacob
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:02 |
|
I have an rx8. I am a pretty (asshole) rationalist. How does my engine burns oil as a function of its operation jive with rationality?
1. It helped build confidence in working on my car and provided me with the initiative to learn and fix an automobile.
2. It has helped educate me in automotive topics to make better informed decision at the shop.
3. It seats 4, is sufficient for 12 hour road tripstrips, can autocross, and can handle DD.
There you go, a useful rationalization for having a car that requires excess maintenance. You are accruing useful automotive skills that are (somewhat transferrable) beneficial.
CobraJoe
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:12 |
|
This more makes me sad that I dont have a close knit community of car friends. There are very few who share my car insanity, and none that share my particular flavor of it.
PhilipNotPhil
> Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/24/2015 at 15:17 |
|
I miss my 82 3.0 litre GTV6 Turbo, it was a bitch to drive with an amazingly heavy clutch, when in town it over heated in traffic, and every strange noise made my heart jump. It was super scary in the rain as the turbo never seemed to kick in at the same point, but the passion, the noise from the exhaust, and those lines, damn I miss that gorgeous beast.
Declan Hackett
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:25 |
|
Look on the bright side; this intimate knowledge of the workings of a 75 will come in handy when you get one of these!
Skamanda
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:28 |
|
Hopefully you didnt spook the cops too badly in rural Minnesota! :)
|
Skamanda
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:29 |
|
Youre such a bad influence! What if he had something important to save for?
Ah well, I guess he can just save up for it again later...
aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:35 |
|
I know exactly how you feel man.
also funny how you posted this on the 24th, had it been a month sooner it would of been on Alfa Romeos birthday
RallyWrench
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:37 |
|
This is great. And after reading it, I still want a Milano, same as before. Theyre a weekly search for me. Id prefer a GTV-6, but I need a back seat.
|
RallyWrench
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:38 |
|
Dammit thats an hour and a half away... and cheap. Wonder why? If Alfabb prices are to be believed, that car could easily pull $7k+, even with the front seats coming apart.
|
RallyWrench
> Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/24/2015 at 15:40 |
|
Shit is right, Im an hour and a half from that car and look for GTV6s and Milanos weekly. Practically, I cant justify it, but damn the want is strong.
Autojunkie
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:42 |
|
My best one was flying to NM to pick up my VW Westy and roadtrip it back to Michigan. The only thing more exciting than buying another car is the long roadtrip to get it home.
Nice Alfa too, BTW.
humz
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:47 |
|
This is a great write up. I have lived in Washington for the majority of my life, and my wifes parents are from the Portland area, so I of course have been all over the PNW.. Anyway, the pictures were great. I vaguely recognize a few of those locations and backgrounds, and am always astounded at how beautiful this whole area is. Then throw in some beautiful Italian metal in the foreground... ya got me. Thank you!
Darren McLellan
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 15:57 |
|
The Columbia River Scenic Highway is a gorgeous stretch of road.
s38junkie
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:04 |
|
I get why you love the Milano... No one understands my infatuation either :) Congrats on your purchase.
Quade
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:07 |
|
begin with my old Milano - seriously, an engine that cant be turned over backwards?
You dont want to turn any car with a timing belt backwards. Says so right in the manual so Hondas and Toyotas share this quirk. Its not just the Italians.
SOCdriver
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:23 |
|
My plan is to wait a few more months and get a new Alfa when the Guilia hits the US. I will give the wife my Corolla and dive the Alfa. When inevitably the Afla is in the shop I will have the 1989 MR2 that I can drive to work, having a reliable 3rd car is always good with anything FIAT.
Chairman Kaga
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:27 |
|
Brother.
tylinol
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:28 |
|
This is absolutely great. When I have to explain my Milano to local enthusiats (and living in Nashville, TN I often do) I always tell them, Its an Italian BMW E30, with all the good and bad that entails.
Its a great contrast to my Saab, which is so perfectly engineered and executed that its no wonder they werent profitable. The Saab is extremely powerful and makes the ergonomics of the Alfa seem completely haphazard, but it can not even come close in terms of feedback, agility, and...dear god the noise.
|
Chairman Kaga
> Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
07/24/2015 at 16:29 |
|
Im still rebuilding my engine... as I have been since March. The 90/10 rule for Alfas remains in play.
|
CzechMonster76
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:33 |
|
Had one for few years. Never could get rid off transmission problems and the clutch was wonky. Other than that it was good to me.
JR1
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:44 |
|
How many of these are in the U.S? I imagine they are rare. By the way nice article
John W
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 16:54 |
|
Only car I ever regretted selling..... 23 years and 205k miles on the original engine
|
BlythBros.
> tylinol
07/24/2015 at 17:11 |
|
Both lovely cars. A good friend had a 9000 Aero and it was impressive. Like you said, Italian e30 is an apt description of the Milano. Ive owned 2 e30s and though I do miss the durable interiors and huge parts availability, theyre not as special to me. Would love to see more photos of the two cars together - send them to graham at blythbros.com if you want us to put them on the facebook page.
wildnotmild
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 17:15 |
|
Thank you for bringing my next car to Michigan for me. Let me know when you are done with it. Thanks!
zziro
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 17:18 |
|
I recently got pulled over in my 84 GTV-6 in a small Michigan town. It was just dark enough to obligate the use of headlights, revealing to the officer that I was driving without a fully functioning set of taillights, brake lights, or signals. I was also speeding a little.
He took my license and registration, then came back to the car, Do you feel like James Bond?
My mind was blown. This small town Michigan cop recognized the GTV-6 from one of Roger Moores Bond movies. He let me go with a warning.
|
tylinol
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 17:44 |
|
Sure thing! Im working up to a proper side-by-side comparison in the next couple weeks so I should have an opportunity to take more photos then.
Jonee
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 18:18 |
|
This is one of my favorite reads on this site in a long while. I nearly bought a Milano not long ago that was in San Francisco to drive down the Pacific Coast. I regret not doing so but, funny enough, I did recently buy a Renault Le Car up in Oregon to replace the one I shouldnt have sold. They seem to be releasing their weird cars up there as a service to people like us.
Flavien Vidal
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 21:06 |
|
In my experience, Alfas are the only cars susceptible to fire should you press the throttle while starting the car. Unforgiving, Alfas.
Well, if you mean that for cold engines, then yes, its fairly rare as they just end up drawning... But for hot engines, most older cars Ive owned and driven require to have the gas pedal slammed on the floor while it starts...
LongbowMkII
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 21:17 |
|
Beautifully written and damn you for keep reminding me that I want one of these. Seeing a driver GTV-6 parked next to a GTA sprint coupe didnt help any either.
A Guiletta convertible is my dream mid-life/crisis retirement car. A.) Its gorgeous B.) Theyll all be well into 6 figures by the time that happens, so I got one that means Id be doing pretty well. Something about them just seems...perfect.
|
BlythBros.
> aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
07/24/2015 at 21:34 |
|
Massive socket set... 1 5/8 selected (or 41? mm)...crank bolt? Ok, now I forget the actual numbers, but crank bolt? Only other big one on V6 cars is front A-arm nut
|
BlythBros.
> Chairman Kaga
07/24/2015 at 21:35 |
|
Please tell me that youre planning on painting the centers of your wheels dark grey or black. Please. Silver italian cars have a special place in my heart...a friend has a Silver Dino Spider <3
|
BlythBros.
> CobraJoe
07/24/2015 at 21:35 |
|
Whats your flavor??
|
BlythBros.
> RallyWrench
07/24/2015 at 21:36 |
|
Milano back seat is pretty nice, too. There is a perfect red Verde on the BB classifieds.
|
BlythBros.
> JR1
07/24/2015 at 21:36 |
|
Thanks. I think like 600 Verdes and maybe twice that many of the other trim levels. Not really sure though. And thanks.
|
BlythBros.
> zziro
07/24/2015 at 21:38 |
|
Haha I seriously didnt have ANY documentation both times. The first was a joy ride, and the second was in such a dangerous spot, the cop just wanted it over with.
Are you going to the Italian happening in Detroit metro tomorrow?
|
BlythBros.
> SOCdriver
07/24/2015 at 21:39 |
|
Im very interested to see if the new Giulia delivers...
|
BlythBros.
> Skamanda
07/24/2015 at 21:40 |
|
Didnt you warn me about MN? I heeded your warning, but Waze didnt show any cops along that route! That map isnt quite accurate though. We took I-90.
|
BlythBros.
> LongbowMkII
07/24/2015 at 21:41 |
|
Thanks. Ive been in a Giulia spider and it was definitely wonderful, but there are other, cheaper means of achieving similar experience!
|
BlythBros.
> Jonee
07/24/2015 at 21:42 |
|
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. And wow, a Le Car. The local Alfa wrench even makes fun of those. Ever hear of or race with Warren Rhen? He sold his Milano to my friend, and was a Le Car racer when there was a series.
|
LongbowMkII
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 21:49 |
|
I believe that a NA Miata would likely be entirely better to drive, but I think the Giuletta is pretty enough to wake up and go out to the garage to stare at while you eat your cereal.
|
Jonee
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 23:06 |
|
That name does look familiar so I must have come across it in Renault lore somewhere. I wish there were enough of us left to still have a series. Le Cars just dont have the cachet of an Alfa. Good luck with the new one.
|
aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 23:36 |
|
Yep front crank bolt for the 2.0 inline 4
|
zziro
> BlythBros.
07/24/2015 at 23:38 |
|
No, I actually live in NYC haha. My Alfa lives with my parents in Indiana. Was considering going to Watkins Glen tomorrow to see all the vintage Alfas race, but instead Im going to the beach with friends. What canya do, right?
Comfortably Dumb
> BlythBros.
07/25/2015 at 02:09 |
|
Those screenshots you took from GTA 5 look super realistic
tehkav
> BlythBros.
07/25/2015 at 04:51 |
|
Wow. Im gutting my 9-5 Aero right now and I feel much of your pain - and Im vindicated by a lot of what youve said. Best of luck, and a thumbs up for keeping rare marques on the road.
colorfulyawn
> BlythBros.
07/25/2015 at 05:36 |
|
Back in high school, I lost my virginity to a girl who drove a Milano Verde. This was back in 93, when they werent yet old cars. Ive loved them ever since, and someday hope to own one myself.
Manushka
> BlythBros.
07/25/2015 at 11:24 |
|
Alfas are all about passion Italian Style= pleasure and pain. the pleasure of looking at such beauty, of hearing the engine, of feeling the handling and the pain of actually owning one. Getting to know a mechanic better than your own spouse.
yet...
I owned a GTv6 broke down all the time, I think I put my mechanic;s kid through college, it drove me mad and I finally had enough and bought a Golf which ran perfectly and was easy.
yet...
17 years later I recall warmly nay, lovingly that GTv6 and barely think on the Golf.
BlakeAGinn
> daender
07/25/2015 at 12:51 |
|
Since I started with my online business I earn $62 every 15 minutes. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you dont check it out.go to this site home tab
For more detail> http://www.Netcash5.com
russkunkel
> BlythBros.
07/25/2015 at 15:19 |
|
Thanks the exact same one I had after I got rid of my red one. We eventually turned it into a race car and my father finally smashed the shit out of it at Watkins Glen.
The lady great one in the U.S. I had the top tier 164 and while the car was fine it wasnt an Alfa to me. I ran it up to about 177k and then it sat in a garage for four years and I finally gave it to a friend. That things was immaculate when he got it.
Have fun with the new one.
|
BlythBros.
> colorfulyawn
07/25/2015 at 15:54 |
|
Haha love this
|
torque
> tylinol
07/25/2015 at 18:59 |
|
stared for the 9000 (Aero?). I can understand Alfa love, though cant imagine living with one
|
Jbrisley
> BlythBros.
07/26/2015 at 12:32 |
|
Great article I totally agree and feel your pain this is my fifth Alfa Romeo in 8 months and Ive not seen another 166
|
Dru
> BlythBros.
07/27/2015 at 09:34 |
|
Glad you found another! After reading your last piece, I was truly heartbroken for you. These cars are absurdly rare, and strange in the best way. I'd love to scoop one up if it ever became viable. Something tells me the Busso noise has to be appreciated first hand.
|
Chairman Kaga
> BlythBros.
07/27/2015 at 11:27 |
|
I havent decided what to do with the wheels yet. Ive seen some older cars like mine with some early 90s wheels from a 164 that looked totally right. Ive also seen the stock wheels stripped down to bare aluminum and clear coated. But thats the original finish on the original Campagnolos. Gunmetal paint, no clear or lacquer, and no dark center.
|
Skamanda
> BlythBros.
07/27/2015 at 12:16 |
|
haha yes, yes I did! I still think back to my drive back from Vancouver and chuckle at how many cops came out for a pack of 4 cars doing 85mph...
|
2dayforever
> colorfulyawn
03/01/2017 at 14:28 |
|
you are a boss
wheres this girl you mentioned?
|
colorfulyawn
> 2dayforever
03/01/2017 at 17:54 |
|
No idea. We havent had any contact since the summer of 94. Every once in a while I try to find her on the typical social media sites, but so far no luck.