If you like your Alfas weird and wonderful, look no further
/ Thursday, 22 January 2026 / Loading commentsfeels like a return to the small Alfa of old. It’s fast, it’s fun to drive, it looks like nothing else and it’s probably too expensive to make sense to most people.
Just like the good old days. While £90k Quadrifoglios are lovely, it’s those at less than half money which often appear a bit more relevant for the average enthusiast. And despite shared architecture, the 280hp Junior does feel very… Alfa-y. It also continues a long and illustrious tradition of slightly strange-looking small Alfas that are more interesting than the average hatch. People are quick to rush to the RZ/SZ as the peak of weird and wonderful Alfas, though they certainly aren’t the only ones. The 33 was certainly a bit strange. And who can forget the 145 and 146 siblings? The idea was entirely conventional: replace that ageing 33 with a new pair of C-segment hatches, just the kind of thing that the premium makers were showing an interest in for the mid-'90s . They would be based on existing architecture, too, in this case the Fiat Tipo. The execution was anything but normal, though, with separate designers for both the three- and five-door and resulting hatchbacks unlike anything that had been seen before. They sort of looked related, while also very different as well. You might remember the Fiat Bravo and Brava doing similar. When most five-door hatches just added doors to the three-door version, the Italians embraced the opportunity for distinct models wholeheartedly. Nearly half a million 145s and 146s were sold until 2001, until the 147 replaced them both with a more conventionally pretty take on the small Alfa hatch. Neither sold amazingly in the UK, and what was once a rare sight is now basically extinct. You can blame the usual suspects for that: corrosion, scrappage schemes, maintenance costs and so on. Imagine having a 145 or 146 back when a cambelt change might have cost nearly the value of the car; it would be a very hard thing to justify. Fortunately, though, a few people really loved Alfa’s quirky take on the hatch, and some survive to this day. As a usable modern classic that’s still relatively cheap to buy, super rare and boasts a great Alfa engine under the bonnet, there's plenty in the 145’s favour.comes from an Alfa Owners Club member, who kept it garaged, and there’s said to be a healthy stack of paperwork for its modest 76,000 miles. A pre-facelift in red with the pepperpot wheels, this 145 looks an absolute gem. There’s a new MOT promised, which is handy, though it’s worth pointing out that the last test mentioned corroded suspension as an advisory. And that’s unlikely to have gone away. The ideal opportunity for an upgrade, at least - fresh springs and dampers should work wonders for bringing an old car back to life. And anything that’s almost 30 years old, even with low mileage, is going to need some TLC for regular use in 2026. Certainly scooting around in a 145 Cloverleaf sounds a fun enough prospect to spend some money on one - especially as it’s just £6,499 to start with…
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Man pleads guilty to capital murder of 12-year-old boy in shooting at Cloverleaf apartmentA man accused in the 2024 capital murder of a 12-year-old boy has accepted a 50-year plea deal.
Read more »
Man gets 50 years in prison for 2024 shooting death of ex-girlfriend's 12-year-old son in CloverleafCarlos Fernandez was killed in March 2024, when authorities said he was trying to protect his mom from her abusive ex. Nearly two years later, Terry Rivera pleaded guilty in connection with the shooting.
Read more »
Brooklyn Beckham & His Wife Doubted Romeo’s GF’s Intentions for Dating Brooklyn’s Ex Months Before Airing Their Family Drama—Inside the Eldest Beckham’s Dating HistoryBrooklyn and Nicola first sparked romance rumors in October 2019 when they were seen at a Halloween party together. They confirmed their relationship in an Instagram post in January 2020. Nicola attended Brooklyn’s 21st birthday party with his family in March of that year, calling him her “soulmate” on Instagram.
Read more »
Kuminga returns, but Warriors routed by Raptors in first game without ButlerBuddy Hield sank all six of his 3-point attempts and Jonathan Kuminga scored 20 points in his first playing time since Dec. 18, but the Warriors fell behind as many as 30 points and lost 145-127.
Read more »
Quickley has 40 points to power Raptors past Warriors in Golden State's first game without Butler- Immanuel Quickley matched his career high with 40 points and added 10 assists, and the Toronto Raptors ran away from Golden State early Tuesday night for a 145-127 win in the Warriors' first game since losing star guard Jimmy Butler to a...
Read more »
Breitbart News Hosts Policy Event with Commerce Secretary Howard LutnickBreitbart News is hosting a policy event in Washington, D.C., featuring Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow. The event, in partnership with CGCN and the ALFA Institute, will discuss Lutnick's role in revitalizing the American economy and restructuring the global economy through strategic tariffs. The event will take place on Wednesday morning, February 11, 2026.
Read more »