Balocco; but I'm biased.

 

Ballaco, I actually don't like the gearing in the 1986 car. It has the tallest overall ratio in first gear making it seem sluggish. The crossmember/rear torsion bar mount is much weaker. The 1986 shift linkage is better when it's working well, but it's much more complex and wears out. The 1986 also has the essentially unobtainable 1986 ONLY speedometer sending unit.


Greg,
Silicone Hose Kits
OKINJECTORS--Gasoline and Diesel Injector Cleaning, Rebuild, Overhaul, and Testing Services

 

I was looking for a GTV6 not too long ago, and the advice I was given was to find the best example with the lowest mileage, regardless of year. There's really not enough of a difference between the model years to justify choosing one over another, unless you *really* want a Balocco or Maratona.

 

While it is true for the engines, the same cannot be said for the gear ratios over the years.

 

I agree, I strongly prefer the '82 gearset.

 

I have driven all of them a lot, and have these thoughts;

All are great, difference are small.
Gearing being the 'biggest' one in shear difference.

Late car slightly more "Refined" ??
Ya, a bit. Best 'refinement' is removable center crossmember.

Later shift set up? I prefer earlier, simpler and tougher, can be improved enough easily.

All the engines are the same, barring small differences in elec under hood, i.e. coil, 'spark boxes', and a couple other small details.
I do like the hand throttle of the early cars, I know cold start stuff was 'improved' in later cars, but Greg got it right in the Blue Meanie. A little more driver input needed, but that's a good thing, for a Real sports car.

My preference is a great engine, the gear ratio that I like for the most driving I will do in it, and seats that fit me.
All the rest of the bits and moving parts in all GTV6's, if those criterion are satisfied, work for me.

Did that help?
Just my 2.5 cents worth.

 

Thanks for the comments guys. So, the cars are basically the same. From a pure styling standpoint, which do you prefer. The Balocco with its grey wheels, black stripe, red carpet, and red pipping on the black leather, or the more basic color schemes?

 

Much prefer the later Recarro style seats....Also prefer the Metallic middle bumpers of the 84's together with the grey (ala 164) lower third body cladding that the 84 also has !

 

I think it really comes down to what do YOU prefer? I like my '86, doesn't seem sluggish to me but then again I dropped a 3.0L into it.

Kevin

 

My favorite GTV6 for cosmetics is the 84 in Chestnut Brown and the charcoal gray lower body and wheels.

The 81 through 86 cars are very similar, but I prefer the later ones for various reasons:

1 - Improved shift linkage.
2 - More comfortable seats.
3 - Tropic Air.
4 - Better rust proofing.
5 - Better instrumentation (No 85 MPH Speedos).
6 - I prefer the later badging and tailgate emblem.
7 - One piece head gaskets.

The earlier ones have some advantages:

1 - Stronger front T-bar mounting points.
2 - Better quality Campy wheels.
3 - Wood steering wheel with wood shifter.

That said, the later cars seemed to be better built than the earlier ones when new.

 

I can't argue with any of the insights above. But, if you are that torn on which way to jump, you can eliminate those detail differences that are easily swapped out from your criteria. Unless you need a car that is 'museum precise' in how it is outfitted.

In stating the obvious... things like: seats, wheels, hood emblems, plastic cladding, steering wheels, and such, can all be easily swapped to your liking.

I, personally, have chosen the '86 option. But there is no wrong answer to this question.

 

Thanks. The reason I'm asking and a little torn is that I'm into all original museum type cars. So, if I were to buy a Balocco because I happened to find a really original and nice example, I would keep it stock. I'm simply a little torn on the styling and was curious what you guys thought concerning the styling of the various cars.

 

One major consideration would be what kind of driving you do. If you spend a lot of time on the highway, then go for the Balocco with the taller gears. 3500 rpm is something like 85-90 mph. Less revs at speed, better highway mileage, etc.

If most of your driving is around town or on the track, then go for the later car with the 4.10 rear end.

My .02,

bs

 

I think the Balocco is a nice styling exercise, it and the Maratona were the only Special Editions offered. They both have their appeal stylistically.
It really boils down to taste. A super clean stock set up is very pretty as well, in my opinion.

 

I think the Balocco is a nice styling exercise, it and the Maratona were the only Special Editions offered. They both have their appeal stylistically.

Don't forget the Gran Turismo, that was another GTV6 styling exercise.

The Callaway was more than styling..

bs

 

Since I've been trained in car styling at Art Center, I guess that helps my qualifications in addressing this question. Altho, your personal leanings should be the final determining factor. It's your $$.

On the Balocco, I find the stick-on graphics along the belt line a bit heavy handed. The paint detailing on the rims make those a bit more special, tho. As the Campy rims ran from '81-'84, those are the most common of the 3 (or 4) factory offerings. it does set them apart. If your eventual intent is to resell a GTV6, the Balocco is usually seen as the most desirable, due to it's limited production numbers. Same with a Maratona.

The 'wine glass' rims on an '86 may be seen as a bit more attractive (by some) than the Campagnolos. And unique, due to one year offering. Those are a little lighter, but more prone to warping with a curb scuff, or serious pot hole encounter.

I believe the Baloccos all came with red paint (jah?). No deductions there. But, on an '86 there were several paint choices. This detail might sway your styling preference, for this reason: the window graphics on any GTV6 are quite important to how the overall shape is perceived. If you have a car body where the window cut outs are bland or ugly, you will want to disguise that detail. The best way to do that is to chose a black or charcoal paint job. On any car, the window glass is always read as a medium-to-dark grey. Nearly the same color as the metallic charcoal paint offered on GTV6s. This creates the overall appearance that the entire car has been painted grey... body metal AND glass! Thus, you read the entire body as one singular lump. This makes the car look heavier. Also, a metallic charcoal is similar in color to raw steel, making it look heavier yet.

The GTV6 body has gorgeous window graphics, which are crucial to display, if you want to see what Giugiaro had in mind. A color, which is highly contrasting to the grey window glass, will bring this to light. Like: a white, silver, or red. Now, when you look at the body, you subliminally see the glass as a separate element from the body metal. It then appears that the windows were removed from the body... making the shape look much lighter in weight. And illuminates that beautiful kick-up at the rear of the side glass.

Some still prefer a darker body color, like charcoal, black, dark blue, or dark green... to get the extra reflective qualities that a white or silver cannot. There are a couple of 'designer tricks' that can help bring back the window shapes. But, those would not be truly stock details. Check out some side views of GTV6s, in different colors, and you will see what I mean.

Hope that was a little help, when you make your decision.

Cheers,
Peter

 

Planetmojo, thanks for the analysis. It makes a lot of sense to me. When I got my Balocco, it had already been stripped of the black vinyl on the beltline and it was many years later that I found out that was an original item. I don't like that look and probably will not put that line on when I have Margherita repainted.

At any rate, the story that I heard about the Balocco was that in 1981 and 82 model years, the North American marketing group had only order the silver gray with blue interiors (for whatever reason) and it was later decided that to introduce more body color options that a limited edition model would be introduced, thus the designation "Balocco S.E.". It was commemorative of the test track in Italy and sported the quadrifolio and interior of black with red piping with red carpets and serial numbers X of 350 on the glovebox. The addition of the quadrifolio is in keeping with the designation of "special" models across the line up.
I didn't like the dark wheels, either. I think they make the car look heavier, but that's just me.

 

Great input. Much appreciated!

 

I like them in white as well!

 

I like the white too. My 1985 GTV6 was white and it had a certain elegance to it. It looked expensive. I loved the way the white brought out the black bumpers and black trim around the windows. With its charcoal pinstriped cloth interior, it was very handsome indeed.

I also like my cuurent 1983 GTV6 in anthracite. The dark color makes the car look smaller and more compact. It also matches the bumpers, air dam and trim, so the car seems to look more one piece, rather than a collection of plastic trim pieces added later on. The anthracite also hides dust and dirt better than the white, which makes it easier to keep it looking sharp. Still, I guess white would still be my choice...

Steve

 

My '83 was cloned to look somewhat like a Balocco by a PO (black leather seats with red piping, red carpets, red paint, cheap quad badges on the rear) and I think it looks great. Being my first Alfa and first Italian car I wanted a red one (though it was pretty low in my priority list).

From a technical standpoint, I will continue to modify the car to suit my taste and every change between the early and late cars is on my list to modify, from the transaxle to the shifter. For me the technical aspect was a rather small part of my decision because they're all good cars. I know it's a the party line around here, but as a proud owner of a rusty GTV6 the overall shape of the frame and body should be your number one priority!

 

Hey Xander, my personal, favorite, GTV6 is a rusty beater! In a particularly virulent Viper blue! But it's wicked fast.

 

This is a interesting thread. Having owned two "Sixes", I am surprised there a so many differences in the cars. I was pretty sure, the Martonas and Baloccos were only trim differences. I had no idea the center cross member was made to be removable on the latter cars. Has anyone updated a "fixed cross member" car? Have any pictures of either a fixed car of a car with the removable cross member ? This is a modification I'd like to make on my car - if possible - because it would seem to make re-installation of the drive shaft so much easier.

 

Someone else may be able to back this up with more exact details. But, I believe that X-member changed from earlier GTV6s to later ones. Not anything to do with Baloccos and Maratonas. Just model year changes.

The length of the torsion bars changed at some point along the 1981-'86 model runs. So, I expect the torsion bar length change and the X-member change are intimately related.

Anybody got confirmation on any of that?

 

Well, the removable center cross update, my favorite, happened in mid 85's till end of 86.
Makes driveshaft work a serious heck of a lot easier.
Which is important if you really drive a GTV6.
On trailer queens, not so big a deal

You really can't "upgrade" an earlier car to removable. Major structural work needed.
Doesn't make me love the early cars any less though.
I kinda prefer them, for toughness.

 

My favorite GTV6 would have to be a Calloway Twin Turbo :eek

Sure, that wasn't exactly the question, but I never could color just between the lines, and either/or questions miss all the shades of possibilities in between.

 

I love my '86 and have been all through it, and I will never sell it, but if I ever add another to my collection, it would be the Maratona, something about the body work really strikes me!

 

The change over date was in mid year 1985. The 75/Milano, which was introduced around that time, was constructed with a box section mount for the torsion bars. The GTV6 adopted the same torsion bar mount system which used slightly shorter torsion bars than the earlier cars.

That's right. I have an early '85 with the long torsion bars. I have also owned a couple of Milano's and the driveshaft job is much easier with the later, removable cross member.