The design over of the ALFA 6 (code named "Project 119") was initiated in the early of 1970 and the entry into production was scheduled for the end of 1973. The House of Arese, in fact, wanted to return to the great in the field of large sedans to 6-cylinder, after the departure of the scene (1969) by lucky little sedan in 2600. The project 119, incorporating many ideas both technical (but not the pattern transaxle) that aesthetic of the Alfetta, had, in fact, lead to debut a new V6 engine of 2.5 liter all aluminum.
The oil crisis of the Yom Kippur War (November 1973), advises the heads of the House, then the property of IRI, to put in a car, by that time also defined in detail, which traveled 7 km with one liter of precious gasoline. The oil shocks and social, that crossed over the period 1974-1978, attenuaded themselves towards the end of the decade, so in 1979, Alfa Romeo decided to market the fruits of "Project 119", the ALFA 6.
And the body is perhaps the part of the car that definitely affected the actual date of birth, the very traditional line is a bit outdated and collecting a few consensus: in fact the 6 seems to be the sister of the Alfetta, so the call is immediately ALFONA nickname.
The front rather heavy, with the typical baseball fan central, four projectors and big flashers side. In side view the relationship is even more evident, while the massive tail and large headlights, has a significant overhang equipped with a sophisticated machine like the De Dion rear deck, complex and expensive, a difference that is not hosted of the Alfetta exchange. This, according to the designer Busso, to allow you to enter an automatic transmission for the request and then come to numerically negligible! Indeed the major dimensions of the automatic transmission would not have allowed a dignified arrangement of the central rear passenger! Sorry to say the least banal as those who followed the project 119 falled inexorably handling gear at the rear of the series Alfetta. Much more banal, as the ALFA 6 a flag-car, issues of the Alfetta gearbox and levers on arrived transmission shaft were not tolerated and you opted for the expensive manual ZF German at first reversed already mounted on the “Montreal”. Not only. Was requested to the ZF also the specifications for the installation of powerful VM Turbodiesel 5-cylinder. So much so that, for the small tolerances, it opted for a specific oil of the AGIP, until then only used for the lubrication of gasoline engines. And again: the powerful torque that the V6 release in crisis in 2500 put it, the first prototypes to change back, the joint central rubber that already gave so many trouble in developing oh the Alfetta. Only with the 2500 presentation of the Alfetta GTV 1981 taken the road to match the V6 with the change back, improved gradually, thanks to technology experience, with decent results with the introduction of the V6 and 90 of the 75 V6. But the German ZF is another thing ....
The strong point of the new flagship of Arese V6 was the best of 2492cc powered by 6 single carburettors Dell'Orto 40mm , paid the not inconsiderable power to 160 hp din. What I was impressed, however, the couple, always available, which coupled reports to trigger a short deadly mix of the rest ungluer great sedan. For the rest the technical scheme provided for a front-wheel independent double triangles, De Dion rear axle and 4 disc brakes, seat and inboard the front with 4 piston for the brake. Other refinements were headlamps adjustable from inside the inertial switch of the petrol in the event of a collision interrupted supply to the fuel pump. The test of the “Quattroruote” magazine, put out the good engine, good road behavior, but also the consumption and the high line exceeded. Alfa tried to promote the great strength of body but, filled with bad luck, a few months after the entry into the market the actor Gino Bramieri (among the first buyers of the model) destroyed his ALFA 6 in a tragic accident in which found dead the actress Liana Trouchè. The first series produced until the end of 1982, were built just over 6100 copies. The second series in 1983 in an attempt to improve the fate of the business model, the ALFA 6 was subjected to a restyling. Given the scarcity of financial resources available to the House did not touch the plates and the changes were concentrated on the external and internal. Changed the outside lights (2 rectangular headlights rather than circular with headlamp-cleaning facility, the front grille, the bumper (now in plastic and totally devoid of rostrums, which was down the length of the model at 4.68 m.) appeared and new bumpers and side profiles new aerodynamic spoiler below the bumpers. The structure became lower, making the car less massive. Inside the seats were redesigned, beautiful and of great finish and the door panels, while on the bridge were replaced the fake wood inserts with those of real wood, like the knob of the gear, the lighter and front ashtray. From a technical point of view is reported the adoption of injection electronics that gave the V6, also 2.5 liters, more gentleness of delivery and greater moderation in consumption. The power down to 158 hp and was stretched to the bridge. On the domestic market, in an attempt to make it more fiscally attractive the ALFA 6, the 2.5i, only the preparation rich “Quadrifoglio Oro” (also complete with air conditioning and adjustable electric seats) was flanked by the 2.0 V6 (equipped with a V6 carburettors of a 1996cc engine capacity reduced to 135 hp) and 2.5 Turbodiesel 5 (prompted by a 5-cylinder engines of 2494cc VM from 105cv). Feature of 2000 was the same relationship to the replacement and the deck of the 2500 first round, then obviously weak an ALFA 6 with about less 30 hp. Technical choice evil but so is heavy bypass the PET of 38%, that at insisted on more than 2000 models. Fortunately there was an understanding of selling it only in the Italian market .... Another speech for the TD certainly was at the hands of diesel engines and agricultural trucks and diesel cars were only the extreme offs between the savings and comfort. But TD wasn’t. The performances that outclassed the 2000 and were near to 2500, more cheap than the 2500 first series, and especially quiet after the 100 km/h. The ALFA 6 remained on the market for another four years, with an impact on the market more and more negligible, and left the list in 1987, replaced by the 164th The second series were all produced in 6000 copies (of which 1162 2.5i V6 “Quadrifoglio Oro”. Owning one today means having the best technology of ‘70 years of Alfa Romeo.
