Ratto Macchina: 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold

There is something to be said about driving a car that performs like a racehorse but looks like a goat.  You can have your fun on the out on the twisties and park as close as you want tat the supermarket.  The downside might be that look back you do as you walk away from your car.  Find this 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold for sale in Newfield, NY for $2,500 via craigslist.

Tip from tipper Cory.

The Milano was the last rear drive Alfa prior to the new Giulia.  Some say that it is the last real Alfa, designed prior to FIAT’s takover in 1986.  It was an evolution of the Alfetta 116 chassis and was known as the 75 – for Alfa’s 75th anniversary when it was introduced.  In the US, the story goes that the engineers in Alfa’s US R&D center called it by code name Milano, Alfa’s Italian marketing found out and thought that it would be fitting for Americans.

The scruffy-ness of the outside of this not so mint Milano carries over to the inside with cracked and worn leather and dangling, exposed wires.  No engine shots are included in the ad and the key piece of information – when the timing belt was changed – is conspicuously absent.  The Alfa V-6 is an interference design and conventional wisdom is timing belt change every 3 years or 30,000 miles PERIOD.

From the seller’s ad:

For Sale: My 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano Gold with only 57k miles. 2.5 liter V6 Busso engine runs strong and sounds amazing. Rear wheel drive, 5 speed manual transmission mounted in the rear for a near-perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance. This is a rare and very fun car to drive with an incredibly addictive Italian V6 exhaust note.

The car is currently registered and inspected. I have a clean NYS title in hand. It’s a little rough around the edges and the paint is terrible, but it runs and drives 100%.

Some more specifics:

– Brand new Dunlop Direzza DZ102 tires purchased this summer.

– Brand new center exhaust section

– Brand new coolant hoses with recent coolant flush.

– Injectors recently fully rebuilt and tuned by OKInjectors.com

– Many other new parts and recent maintenance – fuel lines, brake “speed bleeders”, etc.

– Drive shaft support bearing recently replaced.

– Aftermarket fender flares, side skirts, and spoiler give it an aggressive, slightly “race car” look.

– Minor body rust spots in a few corners. The underside of the car is otherwise pretty clean though.

– No working stereo.

Asking $2500 or best offer. No trades, please.

If you’re interested in seeing the car, give me a call or send a text/email and I’ll give you the full tour. 

See another crisp cookie with a rich chocolate filling? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com

Gianni is Daily Turismo’s Pacific Northwest correspondent.