Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 116 Series (Alfetta Sedan/GT/GTV & Giulietta Sedan) => Topic started by: Midda Samid on March 21, 2013, 10:14:42 AM

Title: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Midda Samid on March 21, 2013, 10:14:42 AM
Does anyone have any info on the "strada" from around '81-'83.. They were a brownish gunmetal grey with gold 15in rims and a gold Strada in a stripe at the base of the doors.. They had light interior with horizontal stripes(older shaped seats with wide headrests.. pic of pattern attached).. I had an opportunity to buy one some years ago and at the time decided I didn't need one then and would wait.. now I never see them.. ever..  :(

Are they still around? maybe those of you that have them in the shed would like to post pics of them..? incidentally, there is a turbo coupe for sale in QLD that has the right colours, just missing the wheels and the strada decals.. and it's a turbo..

The one I was going to purchase was in Hawthorn Vic about 11yrs ago and I have seen one in Sth Morang Vic in the last 5yrs.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Beatle on March 21, 2013, 08:52:17 PM
I remember the Strada when they were new.  I also have some brochures somewhere.

From memory they were simply another trim/sticker pack.  And probably unique to Oz (as were the Sprortiva and SportivaII sedans).  I don't think the Stradas were numbered like the Sportivas.

I also have a brochure somewhere showing a regular GTV with that striped interior, so I'd say the stripe was an option in other markets.

The Strada seems to align with the introduction of the GTV6, so I'd guess it was an effort to refresh the two litre image in the shadow of the larger engined car. 
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Midda Samid on March 23, 2013, 10:16:14 PM
maybe you could post a photo of the brochure if you can track it down..

I agree it was just cosmetic optioning to improve image.. but they did it well. Did they have the central tacho dash or the later V6 dash?  and I have seen the same pattern in the seats in a dark blue(possibly faded from something else) in a red car.

The SportivaII was and still is a good looking colour scheme(brown, who'd have thought).. and a numbered car that hasn't realised value..

surely someone has pics of a Strada they have owned? or still own
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: four90s on March 25, 2013, 02:13:16 PM
I've got a complete interior from one if you wanted to fake one up.

Steve
Adelaide
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: LukeC on March 27, 2013, 11:46:33 AM
I had an '83 Strada GTV back in about 1989. They had the early type of dash. It is a long time ago, but I seem to remember that the front radiator support panel was the earlier non-recessed version unlike a GTV6. It had the later square type air filter setup. The colour was Grigio Nube metalic: AR 737. The car had the Benzoni 15 x 6 wheels with gold centres and gold stripes down the side with angular accents. "STRADA" was written in a font like arial either side. They were not numbered and the interior was a cacky light tan with darker stripes (like the grey/blue style). I may actually have a picture of it at home.

There was also and earlier strada model made in 1977.

I also was told at the time that some of these were sold to Avis (as hire cars) in Brisbane.

I put some cams and a nice leather steering wheel in mine and sold it to a guy from Toowoomba in QLD.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: VeeSix on March 28, 2013, 01:13:50 AM
Yes I remember them, I have a photo of one somewhere, they were simply the 1980 to 1983 type GTV, the split dash type with the wheels painted gold instead of silver, a decal between the wheel arches at the bottom of the doors reading lower case strada and the interior colour of thorn, loved the gunmetal colour with the gold, fantastic combination, looked really good, I could imagine any surviving ones would have had the wheels changed to silver and the strada decal removed, I will track my photo down in the next few days  :)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Beatle on March 28, 2013, 04:40:02 PM
Quote from: Midda Samid on March 23, 2013, 10:16:14 PM

The SportivaII was and still is a good looking colour scheme(brown, who'd have thought).. and a numbered car that hasn't realised value..


Sportiva was available in a few colours Midda.  Red, dark blue, metallic brown, and my fave, Ivory.   Maybe others.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: LukeC on March 28, 2013, 05:55:02 PM
Here's the pictures of mine. I also had a Brown and gold Sportiva II. Once I pasted up the opurtinity to buy a metallic purple Sportiva I with 40,000 km on the clock (in about 2000!).
Title: Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Strada
Post by: VeeSix on March 29, 2013, 02:04:31 PM
Wow! Well there you go! Thankyou Luke, that is how i remember them and how the one in my photo looks, do you still have it Luke?  :)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: LukeC on March 31, 2013, 12:01:28 PM
No. Sold it and bought a very low milage 1985 2.0 Giulietta when my first wife was 8.5 months pregnant.

I think '83 was the first year that 2.0 GTVs got the 23.5 mm torsion bars.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: gtv6sv on April 01, 2013, 11:19:55 AM
My gtv is a strada  :) very beautiful car, however i have put if off the road to eventually restore it!
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: VeeSix on April 06, 2013, 12:15:30 PM
Any photos?  :)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: aggie57 on April 06, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
In the early to mid nineties a very active club member, John Towle, ran one in many club events.  Here is a photo of it lined up next to some other club wannabe's at Phillip Island.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: VeeSix on April 10, 2013, 05:54:30 PM
Ahh........the early nineties fantastic!  ;)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Midda Samid on July 03, 2013, 01:16:17 PM
I am going to bump this thread since there were some promises for photo's and only a few turned up.. not mentioning any names Lukec, veesix, PB :)

I am convinced that Natedog's new grey GTV is a strada.. right year, it's gunmetal, it has blonde doorcards, split dash..

Sadly it seems that no one in the forum still owns one.. :(
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Beatle on July 03, 2013, 05:46:41 PM
Unfortunately, the Strada was not much more than a 'sticker pack'.  So with the stickers gone, it's really just another GTV 2.0, not that there is anything wrong with that. 

I believe the colour was an option on non-Stradas, and I'll bet the interior trim found it's way into other cars too.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Midda Samid on July 03, 2013, 10:27:37 PM
Ouch, you cut me deep.. Not sure what it is with my fascination with them.. maybe trying to find value in something I can afford rather than the typical love for things I can't.. maybe it's just another method of trying to convince my wife I need another Alfetta.. "but it's rare darling.. pleeeaasse?"
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: hammer on September 18, 2013, 10:17:16 PM
Here's a link to a pic of one of your beloved Stradas.

http://rossjohnsonphotography.zenfolio.com/top_gear_2013_rnd4_08092013_regularity/h7dc6fbe4#h7dc6fbe4

This car is owned by Queenslander Lee Morrissey. Lee only purchased the car about 12 months ago and is in the process of freshening up the suspension and mechanicals. This picture was taken at Queensland's Lakeside Raceway earlier this month, where Lee was giving the Strada a spin in the regularity category of our Festival Of Italian Motorsport.

Cheers,

Brent
Title: Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Strada
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 03:56:06 PM
I did not search for the photo because someone else put one up, but seeing you revived the thread I will hunt it down in the photo box, yes they were just a standard Gunmetal GTV 2.0 with wheels painted gold and decals, the thorn interior was available in any GTV 2.0 as was the grey, but as with most colour trims the darker colour one is the more common, regular, GTV6, 164, the reason there is not that much around is there was not all that much too start with plus as with most models most people move on to the updated model, in this case the complete dash, twin mirror, Recaro seat, two tone body colour 1983 to 1986 series GTV 2.0, but now you can basically have any GTV you want for $ next to nothing, dependent on condition of course, you just have to decide which year you want and at what stage the car is at, trashed, good or mint, if you are keen to revive a Strada it would be a simple path, hunt a genuine one down, as you can see a few have popped up on here already, or mock one up, grab any colour GTV, respray the wheels and body, hunt down a thorn interior and you can get decals made to any specification on e-bay now, usually in the UK at a reasonable price, now, where's that photo box........... :o
Title: Found the memory box
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 04:42:18 PM
Feast your eyes for some old candy, i found the memory box, sorry about the photo quality, but i am actually taking pictures of old pictures, here is the GTV Strada i was talking about, was considering it for my first car but ended up with a red one, here she is in the nine ways Broadmeadow car yard..........................
Title: Advertised Strada ( or as advertisement indicates Strata)
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 06:35:44 PM
Found some old advertisements as well, $18900.00 for a Strada eh  ;D
Title: Strada?
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 06:38:00 PM
This may have been a Strada, resprayed, decals not re-applied $13900.00  ;)
Title: Found a photo of my first Alfa Romeo!
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 06:42:30 PM
My first car, a 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0, always wanted a GTV6 out of school but this was all i could afford, GTV6s were still around $15000.00 back then, traded her in on my second Alfa Romeo a one owner 75 Potenziata which i still have, wonder what happened to my GTV?  :-*
Title: Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 with Grand Prix kit
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 06:49:04 PM
Here is a old photo of a GTV 2.0 at the annual Sydney show, remember back in the 1990s when alot of people were putting the Grand Prix kits on GTV 2.0s? Saw this one on e-bay a few years back in someones back yard in Melboune all rusted and falling apart, i almost purchased it off Brian Foley when he was selling it, i think he said someone traded it in to him for a GTV6  8)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: hammer on September 19, 2013, 08:55:32 PM
Great pics VeeSix.

Is that your current list of cars on your posting footer? You must have some garage!

Cheers,

Brent
Title: Alfa Romeos
Post by: VeeSix on September 19, 2013, 11:04:37 PM
Hello Brent

Yes, they were from old religous photo box, I had not looked thru them for a while, I think we all tend to store them electronically now, such a new age now, I have quite a collection of photos from Auto Italia Canberra, Sydney annual show and here and there around the Sydney and Newcastle regions, I will start posting a few every week and see if anyone comes up with, oh I remember that Alfa or there's my old car etc etc

Yes they are my current permanant collection, no only my GTV6 and 75 Potenziata get to keep warm every night, the rest are all outside which means more constant attention, it's amazing how much damage the sun can do if you do not keep on top of attention, I will have to build a 10 car shed or similar one day  ::)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Mick A on September 21, 2013, 10:06:20 PM
Quote from: aggie57 on April 06, 2013, 03:01:58 PM
In the early to mid nineties a very active club member, John Towle, ran one in many club events.  Here is a photo of it lined up next to some other club wannabe's at Phillip Island.

That's a great photo! Would love to see more old photos from club events.
Title: Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0 Strada listed
Post by: VeeSix on February 03, 2014, 06:01:48 PM
I was looking thru a old 1984 car magazine and actually found the Strada listed, mind you, $2000.00 above the cost of the regular GTV, alot of money for some decals and gold wheels back then  :)
Title: Rest of the price list
Post by: VeeSix on February 03, 2014, 06:03:41 PM
Also states the Strada is down .1 of a kilowat on the regular GTV?
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Beatle on February 03, 2014, 06:42:11 PM
Strada gets a larger fuel tank too.....

Another reason why you can never take contemporary published data as gospel.

PS:  Did the '84 GTV6 get a 75L tank?
Title: Misprint
Post by: VeeSix on February 04, 2014, 07:21:18 AM
Yes, definantly a misprint there, I think the GTV6 information is correct  ;)
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: four90s on February 04, 2014, 10:27:42 AM
Paul,

I think my '84 GTV6 has a 75 litre tank. I know it's pretty big and doesn't leave much room in the boot.

Mind you, I've never been game to fill it right up. I'm still chasing some sort of leak somewhere in the fuel system. It always smells of petrol after I've put some in it.

Cheers
Steve
Adelaide
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: Davidm1600 on February 04, 2014, 12:31:22 PM
There is a gold strada down here in Hobart.  I last saw it about 6 months or so ago, it belongs to a mate of a mate of mine.  It was partially stripped down for a re-build.  Not sure what has happened to it since then.  I remember this car when it was new, but over the years sadly it went down hill.  One interesting thing with this car was that it had a bone coloured leather interior.  Last time I saw it the seats were in terrible condition, all the stitching having come apart.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: gtv6sv on February 04, 2014, 01:28:24 PM
Hey guys this is my strada, my first car! Love everything about it!
Sadly in a 'long slumber' atm waiting for a restoration!
My one also has the bone leather interior, previous owner took off the strada decal!
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: aggie57 on February 04, 2014, 02:35:12 PM
Quote from: Paul Bayly on February 03, 2014, 06:42:11 PM
Strada gets a larger fuel tank too.....

Another reason why you can never take contemporary published data as gospel.

PS:  Did the '84 GTV6 get a 75L tank?

Yes.  All GTV6's had the big tank. But doubt the Strada had a bigger tank than standard GTV4's.
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: GG105 on February 05, 2014, 09:12:57 AM
Its interesting how perceptions change with time.

When I bought my first GTV4 in '86, Stradas couldn't be given away. I didn't like the gold centred wheels or the stripe (still don't like the stripe) and the cream interior. When I look at the pictures on this thread they don't look so bad nearly 30 years on. My first GTV6 had the cream interior which I didn't like, particularly after the grey of my 2 litre. That doesn't look too bad now either, as most car interiors are a sea of black and or grey.

All of which probably means I am deeply shallow and a slave to current fashion....

Paul is correct, GTV4s had the smaller tank in the floor.

John
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: ItalCarGuy on May 13, 2014, 09:41:48 AM
Anyone need a full Strada interior? Wheels could also be available. Car was stripped to be a racecar. PM me for more info
Title: Re: gunmetal and gold Alfetta 2.0L
Post by: LaStregaNera on May 14, 2014, 08:34:26 AM
I had a school mate back in Adelaide who had a Strada, was minus it's sticker pack though - he balled it up on Gorge road really badly, but walked away unhurt.