General Facelift croma
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General Facelift croma
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There are so few left, it's unlikely - although, if anyone has, this is probably the most likely place to find them!
The Croma was the least favoured of the "Type 4" cars - Saabs lasted best due to their enthusiastic following and better rust proofing than the Lancia and Fiat - whilst the 164 was pretty rust resilient, but the engines were sought after for older Alfas, which saw far too many prematurely scrapped.
(Although I never really rated the Type 4 cars myself - the Alfa looks fantastic, but didn't drive anywhere near as well as a 75/90 - and the smaller 155, particularly in wide body form was a much better car to drive, too)
The Croma was the least favoured of the "Type 4" cars - Saabs lasted best due to their enthusiastic following and better rust proofing than the Lancia and Fiat - whilst the 164 was pretty rust resilient, but the engines were sought after for older Alfas, which saw far too many prematurely scrapped.
(Although I never really rated the Type 4 cars myself - the Alfa looks fantastic, but didn't drive anywhere near as well as a 75/90 - and the smaller 155, particularly in wide body form was a much better car to drive, too)
dante giacosa
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Is the one you know of, in the UK, icom..?
Hi yes it is
dante giacosa
Member
ooh!
in 'England' somewhere..?
in 'England' somewhere..?
dante giacosa
Member
well,
I always like to 'keep my eye in', so to speak...
I had both a Mk1 & 2 back in the day.
But no- it's more out of interest- I'm angling for a Cinquecento at the moment; I've never owned one of those...
I always like to 'keep my eye in', so to speak...
I had both a Mk1 & 2 back in the day.
But no- it's more out of interest- I'm angling for a Cinquecento at the moment; I've never owned one of those...
dante giacosa
Member
Well, I'm glad you asked that Icom- as I had never considered that there was a facelift-Mk1!
The 'Mk2' which I thought I had, was sufficiently different in every respect to be a distinct car, in my mind- it even had ABS! The badge for which I still have in my kitchen, for some reason.
I've dug out some pictures of them. For a while, I owned both types at the same time.
The 'Mk2' which I thought I had, was sufficiently different in every respect to be a distinct car, in my mind- it even had ABS! The badge for which I still have in my kitchen, for some reason.
I've dug out some pictures of them. For a while, I owned both types at the same time.
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dante giacosa
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dante giacosa
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dante giacosa
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they were both mine...
dante giacosa
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'What happened to them?'
Well, after about £3k spent on the Mk1, by which point it really was a very well sorted example; new rear subframe, new steering rack, back-calipers both replaced (twice) and all manner of other servicing-
It seemed like a good idea to trade it in for an ex-demonstrator Seicento Sporting with Abarth bodykit. (I think I got £500 for it, or something). That was 1999. It went 'off to auctions, in Glasgow'. Somebody got a bargain.
The Mk2 went eventually into a trade in for a Marea 155 20v- an astonishing piece of gear, and one of the best cars I've ever had. That was probably about 2000 / 2001.
It started my love-affair with the 5-cylinder engine, and I've had about five cars with that engine since. The Marea was like a rocketship after the Mk2, which although more refined as a car, than the Mk1, lacked the charisma and purity or shape, I thought.
I owned both the Marea and a Coupe turbo at the time (the Seicento got traded in for the Coupé)- but the non-turbo Marea was the better car.
The Mk2 was bought by someone local from the dealership I traded it in to for the Marea. It might even have been someone who worked there, as I found it unlikely that they would resell it as a going concern, in 2001.
I used to see it parked at the bottom of blocks of flats nearby. They had it for years actually.
And then one day, it wasn't there anymore.
Well, after about £3k spent on the Mk1, by which point it really was a very well sorted example; new rear subframe, new steering rack, back-calipers both replaced (twice) and all manner of other servicing-
It seemed like a good idea to trade it in for an ex-demonstrator Seicento Sporting with Abarth bodykit. (I think I got £500 for it, or something). That was 1999. It went 'off to auctions, in Glasgow'. Somebody got a bargain.
The Mk2 went eventually into a trade in for a Marea 155 20v- an astonishing piece of gear, and one of the best cars I've ever had. That was probably about 2000 / 2001.
It started my love-affair with the 5-cylinder engine, and I've had about five cars with that engine since. The Marea was like a rocketship after the Mk2, which although more refined as a car, than the Mk1, lacked the charisma and purity or shape, I thought.
I owned both the Marea and a Coupe turbo at the time (the Seicento got traded in for the Coupé)- but the non-turbo Marea was the better car.
The Mk2 was bought by someone local from the dealership I traded it in to for the Marea. It might even have been someone who worked there, as I found it unlikely that they would resell it as a going concern, in 2001.
I used to see it parked at the bottom of blocks of flats nearby. They had it for years actually.
And then one day, it wasn't there anymore.
dante giacosa
Member
I think I would go for the Mk1 if I could find one, myself.
A red CHT came up in Ireland about five years ago. It was in a barn and I was in touch with the lady who had it and she sent me pictures of it.
But ultimately- I didn't go for it.
(already having three cars at the time)
Can you get a picture of the one you are aware of locally, Icom..?
A red CHT came up in Ireland about five years ago. It was in a barn and I was in touch with the lady who had it and she sent me pictures of it.
But ultimately- I didn't go for it.
(already having three cars at the time)
Can you get a picture of the one you are aware of locally, Icom..?
I always preferred the Mk1 with its rectangular headlights and flat front.
Had a Turbo i.e. for 18 years. Paintwork was bright red until 2006 when I drove it to Corfu for 6 months. When I got back, it was pink where it had been parked out in the sun.
.
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dante giacosa
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oh man-
that's a peach; lucky you
Quite good instrumentation, eh? -Oil pressure & temperature.
I LOVE the back-end of a Croma; so much better than a SAAB, 164 or Lancia Thema, I think...
That looks really well looked after mechanically- I see the new fuel-pressure regulator and air-flow meter; I didn't realise the Mk1 had ABS!
(although Icom said as much before)
that's a peach; lucky you
Quite good instrumentation, eh? -Oil pressure & temperature.
I LOVE the back-end of a Croma; so much better than a SAAB, 164 or Lancia Thema, I think...
That looks really well looked after mechanically- I see the new fuel-pressure regulator and air-flow meter; I didn't realise the Mk1 had ABS!
(although Icom said as much before)
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