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Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Forums39
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 922 Likes: 1
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 922 Likes: 1 |
The AlfaSd had such a bad (and deserved) reputation for rust that I am surprised that many still exist in good condition.
The factory was set up with Italian Govt money to give employment in the south, and the local steel that was used for the shells was of very poor quality , hence the rust.
Nice cars when new , but longevity was not good. I believe that the Italian Govt also did a deal with the Soviets, selling the Fiat 124/125 production line (that became the Lada) in exchange for steel. Although proper steel specifications were agreed the Sovs just produced the usual rubbish and it got used in everything including Ferraris.
Kevin
2009 Morgan Plus 4 - 4 seater
2015 Subaru Forester 2.0ltr
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,017 Likes: 3 |
I met someone who bought a new Lancia Beta Coupe. Within a couple of weeks, the fuel tank vent blocked and the tank collapsed until he could only get one gallon in it.
A replacement tank took several weeks to arrive. That was in the late seventies. Such nice memories. Now we drive Morgan cars (or M3W) not to forget the shortcomings of the 70's 🤩
Hannes
once: Green M3W; 2013
now: Red 4/4 Sport; 2011
and some practical cars for use in real life
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 831 Likes: 23
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 831 Likes: 23 |
Ran a 6 year old Lancia HPE in the mid 80s as a "Station Car". Lovely car when it worked. Sunroof leaked, wing mirrors snapped of at 90mph. Crowning glory was changing down going uphill on Park St in Bristol and I sheared off the clutch pedal at the top of the pedal box.
1980 +8 Blue
And a few others
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Stephen
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 27,817 Likes: 749
Member of the Inner Circle
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Member of the Inner Circle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 27,817 Likes: 749 |
Ditto. We had a later 33 & it was great. My mate at Uni had a Sud which I loved but all I could afford was a Honda 369 twin at the time. Happy days
JohnV6
2022 CX Plus Four
2025 Renault Scenic Alpine etech "Yvette"
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,945 Likes: 28
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,945 Likes: 28 |
Re you sure they aren't plastic replicas  Bet there is more filler present than there is steel.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,945 Likes: 28
Charter Member
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Charter Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,945 Likes: 28 |
The AlfaSd had such a bad (and deserved) reputation for rust that I am surprised that many still exist in good condition.
The factory was set up with Italian Govt money to give employment in the south, and the local steel that was used for the shells was of very poor quality , hence the rust.
Nice cars when new , but longevity was not good. All steel rusts except stainless. The reason the Sud rusted like the Lancia did, is very poor paint protection and undersealing. But then in a dry hot climate ............ I guess much the same sort of apprach that means all Italian leather shoes soak up water like blotting paper.
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 901
Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 901 |
I remember lusting after an Alfa Sud in the late 1970's. All cars rusted in the 1970's but the yard at the back of the Alfa dealers was full of rotten AlfaSuds only a few years old. We had an Alfa 156 Twin Spark Selespeed luckily as a new company car in 2000 which was great to drive when new but not so good to drive when it was 3 years old out of warranty with lots of expensive faults.
Never lusted after another Alfa after that.
Rob
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,415
Has a lot to Say!
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Has a lot to Say!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,415 |
The AlfaSd had such a bad (and deserved) reputation for rust that I am surprised that many still exist in good condition.
The factory was set up with Italian Govt money to give employment in the south, and the local steel that was used for the shells was of very poor quality , hence the rust.
Nice cars when new , but longevity was not good. I believe that the Italian Govt also did a deal with the Soviets, selling the Fiat 124/125 production line (that became the Lada) in exchange for steel. Although proper steel specifications were agreed the Sovs just produced the usual rubbish and it got used in everything including Ferraris. Having restored Italian cars for a decade before I got involved in Morgan’s this is absolutely what happened My experience says it was mostly melted down Ww2 tanks ….
Simon @ Sifab.co.uk
Sifabtemporary@gmail.com
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,633 Likes: 62
Talk Morgan Enthusiast
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Talk Morgan Enthusiast
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,633 Likes: 62 |
Simon is right and the windscreen surround issues were not helped by stainless and low grade Russian steel being in close company. Still my 1.2ti is probably the car that I remember with the most affection of all the ones I have owned. I was quite upset when I heard that it had finally been put down after a racing accident with a subsequent owner (then fitted with a very worked 1.7)
99 plus 8 indigo
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 185
L - Learner Plates On
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L - Learner Plates On
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 185 |
We had a 78 Sud Sprint bought new, great to drive and sounded great and it’s probably the car we look back on as the most enjoyable but it certainly wasn’t an investment.
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