1 comments about Alfa Romeo Tipo33: The Development,Racing and Chassis History.

1. This book was just released and is already on backorder! Just having got mine I now know why: It's terrific! Packed with vintage pictures it covers the development history of the Tipo 33 from 1964 to 1977. A must for any vintage racing buff.

1 comments about Keith Martin on Collecting Alfa Romeo.

1. There is really no technical information or specifications in this book. There are many well written articles but they were written several years ago and are just being republished here. Being a long term subscriber to Sports Car Market may be a disadvantage for me in this case. There is a one page price guide that might be useful but it lists a car as a 101 1300 Spider Normale for example while the text lists this car a Giula Spider Normale. The 'What Its Really Worth' section is also a series of republished auction reviews which are several years old.
   If you want specifications and some insight into differentiating the various years I recommend the Illustrated Alfa Romeo Buyer's Guide.

1 comments about Alfetta: The Alfa Romeo 158 & 159 Grand Prix Car (Autoclassics).

1. This is actually a rather good book. Well-written, lots of history, lots of photographs, a seemingly thorough history of the Alfetta, which won races in 1938, and was still winning races in 1951, by which time its 1,500 cc supercharged straight-8 engine was putting out over 400 horsepower, using the original blocks and crankcases! Pretty amazing! The book also covers `one man's obsession', the successful effort by one Michel Podberejsky (a.k.a. `Mike Sparken') to extract a derelict Alfetta from Alfa's storage area, and have it rebuilt to racing condition. The author had a chance to drive the car, and he has proof, in the form of no less than five pictures of him `experiencing the power of the Alfa'. They are very nice pictures, but I would have traded them all for more technical details of this remarkable engine, particularly detail drawings and photographs of components. There is only one rather small reproduction of an engine cross-section drawing accompanying the discussion of the engine's designer, Gioachino Columbo (yes, the same guy who did the original Ferrari engine design). I think Karl Ludvigsen (Classic Racing Engines, etc) has shown that a market exists for technical details.

No comments about Alfa Romeo Giulia - Spider Owners Workshop Manual 1962-1978 (Autobook Series of Workshop Manuals).

No comments about Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Coupe (Essential Buyer's Guide).

5 comments about Alfa Romeo Owner's Bible: A Hands-On Guide to Getting the Most from Your Alfa (Alfa Romeo).

1. The book is a very interesting read (great cover) but potential buyers should be aware that there is no information regarding the boxer engine.



2. Tene poco detiales sobre la techniqua de suckar las cosas
   Tene mas historia de los carros que nada.



3. The title ought to be "Alfa Romeo Non-Spider-Owner's Bible." I don't know much about Pat Braden other than his peers' respect for him as an Alfa enthusiast and his love of the brand which leaps from the pages; it's an entertaining read. If I had to guess from his almost complete omission of them, I'd say he hated Spiders, at least all of them that came after 1970, so if you're a Spider owner, don't expect this to be your only book. I can't speak for other models, but I know that there's maybe 3 photos of a Spider in the entire book, and not a single technical issue I've needed help with used the super-common 2 liter Spider engine for the example. Other model owners may feel the same way, but knowing Alfa Romeos sold Spiders probably 10 to 1 versus other models in the states, that renders this book not too handy (as a bible) for 10 to 1 of Alfa owners out there. It's an enjoyable read, the author seems genuiunely knowlegeable (I say seems because I can't verify most of what he writes about the other models) and his love of the marque is inspiring. For a first time Alfa/Spider owner, it's borderline useless for practical examples, even vilified late-model Alfas like the Milano and the 164 get more attention. Clearly not worthless, but hardly a bible if you own the Alfa that most people are likely to get their hands on. Maybe I miss the point, but to me, a "bible" ought to tell you how many quarts of oil your car needs, at least verbally describe where your car's 2 fuel filters are, maybe show at least a single photo of your brake booster (I've worked on my own cars for 20 years and had never seen one before), maybe show you what's involved with changing the convertible top or swapping the dashboard, that sort of thing. There are 3 brief paragraphs on changing the convertible top, no photos whatsoever, and a couple words about how it's possible to cover or change the dashboard; barely worth the space. I'm not nearly a real mechanic, but I'm not new to automobiles, this just wasn't the book I wanted or needed.



4. Pat Braden was clearly an enthusiast of the Alfa marque and one held in high regard by many longtime peers. That said, the title of this book is misleading. The author's emphasis on a relative few models and the omission of others of significance make this book much less than the authoritative compendium of Alfa Romeo knowledge the name implies. It is not without merit: there is a good deal of useful general information for owners of some of the most commercially successful models. But, for many true enthusiasts who live and breathe the Alfa Romeo experience, it falls well short of being a standard reference tome.



5. This book has little information to repair 164 v6 motors. It was a waste of time to get this book.

4 comments about Alfa Romeo Sports Coupés 1954-1989.

1. If you are restoring a Giulietta or Giulia and are unsure about what is original for your car and what things are supposed to look like in the many incarnations of the 750 and 101 series, this is the book to have. Special bodied Alfas are also well covered. Great book.



2. This glorious, in-color wish book has provided my husband with hours of enjoying beautiful photos, good info and just plain DREAMS!!! It is one of the nicest gifts someone who loves dramatic old cars-or ANY Alfas, can be given. Well done, with good amounts of info and wonderful pictures.



3. Alfa Romeo books are not too common so this is a nice book. I used to drive Alfa all the time but changed to the British autos back in the 1970s.
   
   Still very nice and lovely photos.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Alfonso Lopez Cousiño



4. Well... a definitive history since 1954 of the +2 cars. However a few little errors bug me about it. After reading Pat Braden's technical accounts of the Giulietta and Giulia, I notice that a few things about the Veloce's are gotten wrong in this account about technical features of the most sporting versions of the production cars. Which leaves me wondering... is anything else slightly off? I don't know enough about the Suds or the GTA's, GTAms to say, but I will have to dig now to find out.

3 comments about Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin Cam Companion, 1954-1994: Four-Cylinder History, Care, and Restoration : Giulietta, Giulia, and Alfetta Families.

1. "Alfa in America," the name of the second chapter, would have been a better title for this excellent book - written by a life long enthusiast whose life paralleled the marque's presence in America. The remaining chapters are a nice distillation of the author's previous books on the history and maintenance of Alfa's four cam models. The heart of the book, and the main reason for its purchase is this chapter.

   It is a very personal book. Pat's was one of the original founders of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club back in 1958 during a time when Max Hoffman was bringing the cars over in a trickle (both the club and Hoffman's stories are also included). Pat was there and it is that added experience and tone that make this book so interesting. He does not hold back on either the strengths or weaknesses of the cars, the company, the club, or the people The book is also brutally honest. There are reasons why the marque's adventure in America ultimately failed (and some ways the story unfolds in a similar fashion as Jonathan Wood's "Wheels of misfortune: The rise and fall of the British motor industry."). Pat does an excellent job of providing an overview and then a year by year analysis.

   This is an excellent book. Anyone with more then a passing interest in Alfa Romeo should add this to there library along side Griffith Borgeson's "The Alfa Romeo Tradition" and Fusi's "All Cars from 1910." It is that special....




2. Braden's last book is a treasure trove of Alfa lore and history. Everything you wanted (and some you didn't) to know. Lots of priceless tips (rope in the combustion chambers?) to keep you amazed, and enough folksy humor to keep you amused (burying valves with friends). Tons of pics of what they should have done. Braden will be missed.



3. I currently drive a 1974 MG Midget and have been looking into getting a second classic car. Maybe an Alfa? I was hoping this book would explain (and show) the many different models of Alfa's that are out there. This is not the book for that. First the pictures are all black and white and kind of dark and soft. But worse, the author spends the first two chapters of the book explaining how confusing the names of Alfa's are (no kidding? ..that's why I bought your book). When he finally gets around to try and sort out the mess he only makes me more confused. When explaining one model he starts talking about another models..from 30 years ago...and then he throws in comments about Ferrari's? He jumps from one time period to another. He is all over the place. The guy has ADD or something.
   I'm sure once you get all the different models down (from another book, of course) this book will give you lots of insight. But don't buy this book if you are not already an Alfa expert!

3 comments about Alfa Romeo DOHC Engine High-Performance Manual (Speedpro).

1. Lots of practical information on buiding high performance Alfas including some not so well known info such as throttle plate angle on Weber DCOE carbs,( very useful) would have liked some more Twin SPark specific info...maybe in the next book, Jim? a great read for Alfa lunatics...



2. This is a wealth of info for the cars in question. Informative, well-written, the voise of experience speaks. While you will not agree with all the conclusions drawn, this update takes years off your learning curve. The author is congenial without being smarmy, and offers a book that needed to be written. Don't modify your Alfa without it...



3. Is the material dated...most of it probably, but so is the subject. There is very little available for those of us who have this love-hate passion with old cars, especially if our object of affection is one of the many lovely and sometimes obscure models or makes from Europe. The Alfa four cylinder twin-cam engines comes from a time when the owner of a car could, if they felt like it, tune or modify the car without having to remap a silicone chip (I've looked all over my Weber's and I have not been able to find a serial or USB interface for my laptop). Today's designs are marvels of efficiency and reliability but for many of us whom like to get grease under our fingernails working on pre "HAL" controlled jewels like the Alfa inline TC fours and sixes, this book conveys a trove of information on what will work in our quest to squeeze the most performance from our lovely Italian mistresses (imho).

2 comments about Alfa Romeo Montreal (Essential Companion).

1. I finally got this book this week after having it pre-ordered for almost half a year and it was certainly worth the wait. Simply put, this is one of the best car books I've ever seen -- full of useful information for any owner and prospective buyer.
   
   I'm not an owner (yet), so I found Chapter 3 "Buying a Montreal" and Chapter 5 "Achilles' heels" (which happen to be the water pump front bearing, the steering box, the thermostatic actuator and microswitch of the Spica fuel pump, and the reverse gear idler shaft in the gearbox) very useful. Chapter 5 also tells readers how to elimininate the problems associated with the components listed in the previous sentence.
   
   The chapters dealing with mechanical and electrical maintenance, bodywork, and the history and production data of the Alfa Montreal are also interesting to read. Chapter 9 "Improving the Montreal" describes some modifications that may enhance handling and reliability of the car (although at the cost of originality, and subject to the owner's taste and preferences). Chapter 10 gives an overview of the race history. Th eremaining chapters deal with models, meetings, literature, tools and access to resources and services.
   
   While much of this information can be found on the author's excellent web site http://www.alfamontreal.info, I find the book easier to read than the web site because of the richness resulting from the layout of text and photos on the pages. In my opinion, this is a great companion book and I recommend it to anyone interested in this specific car model or Alfas in general.



2. This book is a must for existing and aspiring Alfa Montreal owners, as it provides a complete and comprehensive history of the model, together with many helpful hints for choosing a car, and then maintaining and possibly improving it.