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11-19-2005, 02:21 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Belgium
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Alfa Romeo Arna : a rarity!
3145 cars built from 1984 to 1986.
Cooperation between Alfa and Nissan; Engine and drivetrain by Alfa, body (Cherry) and rear axle by Nissan.
1300 cc boxer engine
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11-22-2005, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Capel St Mary, Suffolk, UK
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The Arna was imported into the UK but most were either the 1.2 SL or the 1.5ti. They were not very popular in the UK and were probably considered to be something of a joke. I think it was the idea of an Alfa looking like a Nissan that was what killed it. In the UK we also had the Nissan version which was known as the Cherry Europe, and that was even less desirable.
You are correct that they are rare. Out of around 4,000 members in the UK AROC, there is only one that is still seen turning up to events and that is a 1.2SL. It usually gets a lot of interest though.
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Phil
1963 Giulia 101 Spider (RHD)
1992 75 2.0 TS LE
2001 916 series Spider TS Lusso
2000 156 2.0 Lusso Sportwagon
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11-22-2005, 01:08 PM
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Location: Dunno, my satnav got me here!!
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When I lived in Durban, South Africa, there was one near my house. I thought it was ugly back then, and I have not changed my mind since. I'm not sure if they were imported into the country but could never figure out why Alfa built them. The Sud was an awesome car and it filled the segment the Arna was sold in.
Perhaps they built it for those wanting a Sud that did not rust?
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And on the 7th day, he made Alfas....
Is a dream a lie if it don't come true
Or is it something worse - Bruce Springsteen (The Boss)
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11-22-2005, 01:42 PM
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Location: Capel St Mary, Suffolk, UK
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If they wanted a Sud that did not rust, using a Nissan bodyshell was not the best way to achieve it. Arnas rotted as well as the Sud did.
The reason that the Arna existed was that Alfa was in serious financial trouble and by working with Nissan they shared the development costs of a new model. Perhaps they should have chosen a better partner though.
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Phil
1963 Giulia 101 Spider (RHD)
1992 75 2.0 TS LE
2001 916 series Spider TS Lusso
2000 156 2.0 Lusso Sportwagon
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11-23-2005, 02:57 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 580
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 Quote:
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Originally Posted by AlfaPDent
If they wanted a Sud that did not rust, using a Nissan bodyshell was not the best way to achieve it. Arnas rotted as well as the Sud did.
The reason that the Arna existed was that Alfa was in serious financial trouble and by working with Nissan they shared the development costs of a new model. Perhaps they should have chosen a better partner though.
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And it was under Pres. Massacesi, while IRI public group was still ruling.
Financial troubles and the need to amortize the production of boxer engines were the reasons for ARNA, but politics matter, as the ARNA plant had to do with a DC minister who had been pressuring Alfa Romeo from the early seventies to build a factory in his county.
President Luraghi was dismissed because he had opposed to the project of such a new plant back in 1974.
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11-23-2005, 04:32 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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Yes, probably one of the most hideous things ever to emerge from Alfa factory gates!
Still, with that boxer engine, it was probably a lot more fun than the Nissan it was based on.
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11-23-2005, 09:24 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: danbury CT
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It may be low time for Alfa but..
Yes it might of been the hard and tough times for Alfa but as an Alfa lover, Its great to see Alfa Romeo competing no matter what car or body its in its all in the Spirit of Alfa Romeo one of the best cars EVER made. Have you ever seen the Gillet Vertigo that car had an Alfa Romeo V6 and it competes in the Lemans series. 2000,2002,2003 I think those where the years that Gillet race car was had the Alfa power plant pulling a good 600+ hp I cant remember.
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11-24-2005, 06:51 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Denny164l
Yes it might of been the hard and tough times for Alfa but as an Alfa lover, Its great to see Alfa Romeo competing no matter what car or body its in its all in the Spirit of Alfa Romeo one of the best cars EVER made. Have you ever seen the Gillet Vertigo that car had an Alfa Romeo V6 and it competes in the Lemans series. 2000,2002,2003 I think those where the years that Gillet race car was had the Alfa power plant pulling a good 600+ hp I cant remember.
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420HP is the quoted output for short race, I 've seen somewhere higher figures, but .... The engine is reliable, that's a good point. Very few failures through the years.
For long distance races, they use the 3-litre. Not sure about the output. A close friend of mine is in charge of preparing the differentials. He told me once about the long-run 3-litre, but I'm not sure anymore.
See:
http://www.berrang-foto.de/moelig.htm
http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...6190&FS=FIA-GT
http://www.gilletvertigo.com/frb/racing.htm
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