The

The Newsletter of A.L.F.A. Inc.

Owners Club

January 2017

TN Alfa Romeo

HappY New Year

In This Issue: President’s Message – Bo Richardson Business Meeting Minutes – Laura Greason Holiday Party Pictures – Bo Richardson and Steve Stocks Alfa History – Alfa Romeo Alfasud

The official publication of A.L.F.A, Inc., the Tennessee Alfa Romeo A.L.F.A, Inc. Board of Directors Owners Club, a non-profit organization of Alfa Romeo enthusiasts, President: which is a regional chapter of the National Alfa Romeo Owners Bo Richardson

Club, Inc. (AROC). A.L.F.A., Inc. is incorporated in the state of Tennessee. 615-830-7729 borichardson@musiccitymetals Vice President: Bob Simonds 931-592-3232 1966alfa@gmail.com

Canzone di Alfa Secretary: Editor: Laura Greason – Cordova, TN

Bob Simonds – Sequatchie, TN 901 755-9796 jpgreason@comcast.net Send articles and ads, preferably by email, to: Treasurer:

Bob Simonds Phyllis Tilden – Cleveland, TN 11069 Highway 150 816 309-6200 phyllis@uncommonink.com Sequatchie, TN 37374 Activities Director:

Email: 1966alfa@gmail.com Steve Stocks Phone: 931 592-3232 615-216-0933 stevestocks@comcat.net Webmaster: Pauline Simonds 931-592-3232 1966alfa@gmail.com

Disclaimer: Canzone di Alfa

is not to be considered the authority on maintaining or improving Alfas. The views expressed are those of the author or person quoted. Anything contained herein does not constitute an endorsement by the club, its officers,

or Alfa Romeo, Inc. This publication and organization assume no liability for any consequence.

Alfa Romeo Owners Club To join A.L.F.A., Inc. and the national AROC, or renew your membership, contact:

Barbara Clarke, Executive Secretary; P.O. Box 92155, Portland, Oregon 97292

1-877-399-AROC (toll free) Phone: 816-459-7462

aroc.office@gmail.com

President ’s message I hope everyone had a great Holiday break. I had a great Christmas day and the day

after because the weather in middle Tennessee was 70 degrees. It was a busy

Christmas day, but I got out of the house about dusk. Fortunately, the head lights

shine bright on the Giulietta. Not sure if that is high beam or low beam. I should

see if I can make the floor button work someday.

Anyway, with the top down, I headed west with our Christmas guest Mel, who was

nervous from the get go because of that strange quick release seat belt. Out

highway 70, over 9-mile hill and through Bellevue to Buffalo Road. The car being

well warmed up by now was humming nicely. Winding toward old Charlotte Pike

brought back memories of all the people we knew that had lived on Buffalo Road at

one time. On the way back home we noticed that the Broadway Brew house was

open on Christmas day. Some gentleman patron helped Mel out of the car and

once inside I watched her enjoy a “Bushwhacker”. A unique drink of the

establishment. She commented that is was a special feeling to be in an antique car.

Many people always ask what kind of car is it and what year. It’s fun to share that

with others. They often have a car story of their own or of someone they know.

Monday was even better. A little windy, but another great day. Penny could not

join me so I took her ‘91 spider, again with the top down, and went South on I-65

to Cool Springs Boulevard where the “Cars and Coffee” happens every Saturday in

the spring and summer. Highway 431 to 5 Points in Franklin where I turned right

by the Mark’s Insurance Agency going west on Main Street. I passed a building on

the outskirts of Franklin that was the original location of my business before 1985

when I became involved. The roads started twisting and turning and I thought

what a beautiful part of middle Tennessee. Classic looking residences, farms,

ranches with cattle, horses and dogs were seen with every other turn of the road.

Leapers Creek, the Harpeth River, the road with those vistas just kept coming. I

thought how lucky we all are to live in such a perfect state for meandering in our

classic Alfa Romeo’s. While I was thinking, it does not seem to get any better than

this, I found my way to the entrance of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The 50mph

section, 50 miles from Nashville that was sparse with traffic and with no visible sign

of civilization. What a great way home.

I hope everyone had a chance to take advantage of the couple of days of nice

weather this holiday and experience your “backyard” in an Alfa Romeo. It sure

made me look forward to 2017 and the spring and summer driving weather it will

bring. Happy New Year!

Bo

the front page. If you have musical knowledge and can make out the me, you’ll s

December 10, 2016

President Bob McKeown called the meeting to order.

We had several guests and new members present. Introductions were made. Mark Chambers, who has a Duetto; Mike Seneker, who has an 83 Spider; Mike and Vickie Hemsley, who are members of Capitol, Deep South and ALFA Inc chapters, Hattie Cunningham and Matt Boos. Hattie has previously been a member of the Kansas City Chapter and has a Spider. The minutes of the last meeting, held March 12, 2016, were included in the April Newsletter.

Treasurer's Report: we have a balance in the club account of $4454. The convention account currently has $8000.00 Phyllis and Tom predict that when all payments are final we will have a balance for our club of about $3700.

Old Business

Bob reviewed what we did as convention hosts.

New Business

The 2017 AROC National Convention will be held in Montreal, Canada. The 2018 convention will be held in Olympia, Washington.

Election of Officers President: Bo Richardson Vice President: Bob Simonds Secretary: Laura Greason Treasurer: Phyllis Tilden Newsletter Editor: Bob Simonds Activities: Steve Stocks Webmaster: Pauline Simonds

The March 2017 meeting will be held at Larry Benson's home in Greenback, TN. We may also travel to Greenville to tour a collection of 50 Ferraris and an 8C Competzione. The June meeting will be held at Bob and Pauline Simonds home in Sequatchie. We will also have a Fun Rally following the business meeting.

Bob Simonds presented Bob McKeown with an appreciation plaque and convention poster.

Thanks to Bo and Penny Richardson for hosting today's meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.

Business Meeting Minutes

“ The gangs all here””

Laura, Bob & Judy and Pauline

Larry and Mike Matt and Bob

Tom and Bruce

Penny, Phyllis and Carol

Alfa Romeo Alfasud

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud (Type 901, 902 and 904) was a small family car manufactured by Industria Napoletana Costruzioni Autoveicoli Alfa Romeo-Alfasud S.p.A of Italy from 1971 to 1989, a new company owned by Alfa Romeo and Finmeccanica. The company was based in the poor southern region of Italy as a part of labour policy of the government.

It is considered one of Alfa Romeo's most successful models, with 893,719 examples sold between 1972 and 1983 plus 121,434 Sprint coupé versions between 1976 and 1989. A common nickname for the car is ’Sud. The car went through two facelifts, first in 1977 and the second one in 1980.

1972 Alfasud Sedan

Alfa Romeo had explored building a smaller front wheel drive car in the 1950s but it was not until 1967 that firm plans were laid down for an all-new model to fit in below the existing Alfa Romeo range. It was developed by Austrian Rudolf Hruska, who created a unique engineering package, clothed in a body styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign .

The car was built at a new factory at Pomigliano d'Arco in southern Italy, hence the car's name, Alfa Sud (Alfa South). January 18, 1968, saw the registration at Naples of a new company named "Industria Napoletana Costruzioni Autoveicoli Alfa Romeo-Alfasud S.p.A.". The Alfasud was shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1971 and was immediately praised by journalists for its styling. The four-door saloon featured an 1,186 cc Boxer water-cooled engine with a belt-driven overhead camshaft on each cylinder head. It also featured an elaborate suspension setup for a car in its class (MacPherson struts at the front and a beam axle with Watt's linkage at the rear). Other unusual features for this size of car were four-wheel disc brakes (with the front ones being inboard) and rack and pinion steering. The engine design allowed the Alfasud a low bonnet line, making it very aerodynamic (for its day), and in addition gave it a low centre of gravity. As a result of these design features, the car had excellent performance for its engine size, and levels of roadholding and handling that would not be equaled in its class for another ten years.

Between 1973 and 1976 there were several model changes.

In November 1973 the first Alfasud sport model joined the range, the two-door Alfasud ti—(Turismo Internazionale, or Touring International).

In 1974, Alfa Romeo launched a more upscale model, the Alfasud SE.

The SE was replaced by the Alfasud L (Lusso) model introduced in January 1975.

A three-door estate model called the Alfasud Giardinetta was introduced in May 1975; it had the same equipment as the Alfasud "L".

In 1976 the Lusso model was replaced with the new Alfasud 5m (5 marce, five speed) model, the first four-door Alfasud with a five-speed gearbox. Presented at the March 1976 Geneva Motor Show, it was equipped like the Lusso it replaced.

The Alfasud Sprint was presented to the press in September 1976 in Baia Domizia (Caserta), and shown at the Turin Motor Show in November. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro like the Alfasud, whose mechanicals it was based on, it had a lower, more angular design, featuring a hatchback (although no folding rear seats). The Alfasud Sprint was assembled together with the Alfasud in the Pomigliano d'Arco plant, located in southern Italy—hence the original "Sud" moniker, which means south in Italian.

1976 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint

In May 1978, the Alfasud Sprint underwent its first updates, both cosmetic and technical. Engine choice was enlarged to two boxers, shared with the renewed Alfasud ti. Outside many exterior details were changed from chrome to matte black stainless steel or plastic, the side repeaters changed position and became square, and the front turn signals switched from white to amber.

Just one year later, in June 1979, another engine update arrived and the Alfasud Sprint became the Alfasud Sprint Veloce. Thanks to double twin-choke carburetors (each choke feeding a single cylinder) and a higher compression ratio engine.

In February 1983 Alfa Romeo updated all of its sports cars; the Sprint received a major facelift. Thereafter the Alfasud prefix and Veloce suffix were abandoned, and the car was known as Alfa Romeo Sprint. Three models made up the Sprint range: 1.3 and 1.5, with engines and performance unchanged from the Alfasud Sprint Veloce, and the new 1.5 Quadrifoglio Verde, which was shown at the March 1983 Geneva Motor Show.

In November 1987 the Sprint was updated for the last time; the 1.3 variant was carried over, while the 1.5 engine was phased out and the 1.5 QV was superseded by the 118 PS (87 kW; 116 hp) Sprint 1.7 Quadrifoglio Verde.

Despite sophisticated engineering, Alfasuds (especially the early ones) had a strong reputation for suffering from rust, mostly due to the poor quality Russian steel used in their construction and storage conditions of the steel.

Rusty Alfa Romeo Alfasud (about 6 years, and 88,000 km old)

Upon opening a new factory in southern Italy, and no longer manufacturing Alfa Romeos exclusively in Milan, the word Milano was removed from the Alfa Romeo badge beginning in 1972.

Pauline and I hope all ALFA, Inc. members

have good health, good cheer, good friends - and good running Alfas – all throughout the

New Year