1994 Alfa Romeo 164

Welcome to our latest auction listing for an ultra-rare 1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Cloverleaf 3.0 24v QV with a black Recaro leather interior. Thought to be one of only 24 left in the country - and possibly the only one with the Recaro interior - the vendor makes the bold claim that it is “probably the best top-of-the-range 164 in the country”.

That may or may not be true but its credentials are unimpeachable and include winning the 'Judges Choice' award at the Alfa Romeo Day at Hever Castle in 2018, after which it scooped the runner’s up prize in the following year’s Masterclass.

In the care of its enthusiast owner for the past three years and part of a small collection of eight cars (seven of which are red…), it took him five years to find the right car – but then finding a 164 that has passed every single MoT since 2012 with no advisory points - and has a full service history – isn’t going to be easy, is it?

Said to still be in “mint condition with not even a spec of rust” it is being offered with a very sensible reserve, making this is your chance to buy a car that you probably thought had passed you by.

The Rosso Red coachwork is beautifully offset by the black lower body, a combination that allows those sleek Pininfarina lines to shine. With very good shutlines and perfect panel alignment, it says only good things; you can never be certain of course but the vendor is pretty sure that this example, unlike Halloween, does not have any horror stories in its past.

The paintwork is unblemished and There’s no rust either. Yup, that’s right; this is an Alfa that isn’t demonstrating the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics…

The limited chromework is very good being untarnished and free of even the lightest pitting.

The body kit lines up very well too, as does the ‘tilt ‘n’ slide’ steel sunroof. The latter seals tightly and operates as it should but that fact hasn’t come as a surprise, has it? Oh, and the sensors you think can see in the front and rear bumpers? Yup, they’re parking sensors. Oh, and the sensors you think can see in the front and rear bumpers? Yup, they’re parking sensors.

The Alfa comes with a separate boot spoiler as well. This hasn’t been fitted because the vendor prefers a clean and unsullied look but it’s there, rare and waiting to be fitted should the car’s new owner prefer to add a dash of flash.

Speaking of which, the 18-inch BBS-style split-rim alloy wheels might not be the originals but they’re free of damage and completely unmarked. They fitted with matching 225/45ZR18 Nexen N8000 tyres too, all of which have good tread. Obviously.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Work to do? Well, apart from that one minor dent there’s nothing to do whatsoever – and you weren’t expecting to read that of an early 90’s Alfa, were you?

The black leather Recaro interior isn’t only rare – this is believed to be the only 164 left that features the original factory one – but it’s in great shape; Italian cars haven’t always been known for the quality of their interiors yet this one puts paid to the myth that the inside is as fragile as the outside.

So, the electrically adjustable and heated front leather seats are only very gently creased and still as supportive and comfortable as they were when they were fitted 26 years ago. The rear seats, which are almost as deeply bolstered as those in the front, are in an even better condition - and there are rear sunblinds back there too.

And it all works, which is even more remarkable. But then, as you can see from the attached invoices, even the air-conditioning system has been regularly maintained over the years.

The boot is solid and well presented but given how clean the rest of the interior is we can see the new owner will almost certainly end up detailing the painted metalwork under the (very good) carpets.

Faults? Well, we have been told that the digits on the central display in the centre console. are only half-visible; please see slide 83 for details. This is a common fault and he’s included a secondhand replacement for the new owner to fit should this bother them.

The only other issue we can see is a very small tear in the leather on the outside edge of the passenger’s seat; slide number 87 shows this but you’ll need to look closely as it is very small.

The V6 engine was rebuilt in 2000 after a timing belt broke. The final bill topped £3,500 but included two reconditioned cylinder heads plus a new radiator, clutch, and refurbished fuel injectors.

The same year saw another hefty four-figure bill for a new starter motor and air-conditioning pump and filter plus alternator jockey wheels. The car also sports uprated Tarox G88 front discs and pads - and that was a name we haven’t heard of in years!

The most recent work was a service, including driveshaft seals on both sides, on the 11th October 2020 by Sussex Alfa Romeo.

The hand-written summary of the car’s service history reads as follows:

• 04.10.1994 – pre-delivery inspection miles by Mangoletsi of Knutsford

• 19.11.1994 and 974 miles – service by Mangoletsi of Knutsford

• 10.12.1994 and 2,732 miles – service by Mangoletsi of Knutsford

• 10.05.1994 and 11,644 miles – service by Pendragon

• 02.08.1995 and 20,587 miles – service by AFG Great Barr

• 23.10.1995 and 27,832 miles – service by Stourminster Motors

• 07.03.1996 and 36,706 miles – service by Pendragon

• 13.06.1996 and 42,827 miles – service by Pendragon

• 12.12.1996 and 51,068 miles – service by San Siro Alfa Romeo

• 28.02.2008 and 113,844 miles – service and cambelt change by Jamie Porter Alfa Romeo

• 15.07.2010 and 117,485 miles – service by East View Motors

• 11.08.2012 and 119,336 miles – service

• 06.01.2014 and 120,522 miles – oil and cambelt change

• 16.04.2016 and 122,115 miles – service and new starter motor

• 10.04.2018 and 123,928 miles – oil, filter, and fresh brake fluid

• 09.10.2020 and 124,961 miles – service by Sussex Alfa

There are also plenty of old invoices for work carried out over the years; we couldn’t possibly list it all, so please take the time to browse through them to get a feel for how well this car has been looked after.

We haven’t driven it but the vendor tells us that it “goes like a rocket”, which sounds about right given its reputed 0-60mph time of just 7.7 seconds.

The engine bay is neat and tidy without being obsessively so, and the underside of the car is solid and completely free of the usual rust and corrosion that haunts even the most carefully conserved cars.

It really is remarkably clean and solid – but then this is a remarkable example.

The Alfa’s MoT certificate, which is valid until April 2021, was gained without a single advisory point, something it’s been doing since 2012.

It has a number of expired MoT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, the stamped service history, the rest of the book pack and the storage wallet plus two sets of keys and a sales brochure.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

The Alfa Romeo 164 is something of an unappreciated classic; while everyone loves the way they look, sound, and go, few are brave enough to actually buy one.

Which is a bit silly. The underlying platform was a joint Saab/Alfa/Lancia/Fiat effort, so the mechanical underpinnings are rock-solid and no less reliable than anything else of that period.

And, Alfa’s rust-woes were well-behind them by this point, with the 156 and 164 being no better or worse than their contemporaries thanks to those galvanized body panels.

As a result, we can’t help but think that the 164’s time has come. While we think it is still undervalued there are growing signs of interest in what is effectively a four-seater supercar.

The guide price is between £9,000 and £14,000 and the reserve is, as always, set even lower than this. With only 24 or so left on the road in the United Kingdom, the opportunity to snap up a decent 164 has never been slimmer – and it’s getting ever slimmer as the months slip by.

Remember: cars and girls have one thing in common; the ones we regret are the ones we let slip through our fingers…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor near Brighton in East Sussex; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and an array of regional providers for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.