Different Standard

Drive Time

You know how you will sometimes run across a woman who you know will be bad for you, will empty your wallet, will cause you to do bad things (and not just to her), will cause you to get into trouble, but at the end of the day, you just can’t help yourself?

Here’s the automotive equivalent, the 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 M (“Matta”):

Didn’t know Alfa made a jeep-type utility back in the early 1950s?  Nor did I.  But let’s get back to the standards set in first paragraph of this post, because this little thing even warns you by its nickname that it’s going to be trouble:

Is it reliable? — doesn’t Matta
Does it have 4-wheel drive? — doesn’t Matta
What’s its gas consumption? — doesn’t Matta
Is it an uncomfortable ride? — doesn’t Matta
Is it expensive? — doesn’t Matta

Do I want one?  Hell yes.

Because it’s an Alfa.

And to make things even worse, here’s an earlier one, the 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport:

I want this one even more than the Matta… wait, no I don’t / yes I do aaaaaarrrrrrghhh I want both, because they color-match.

I have as much resistance to Alfas as I have to the type of girl in the opening paragraph.

10 comments

  2. I was in Italy in 1970, Air Force, San Vito dei Normanni AS, Puglia province. I bought a Fiat 124 Spyder, which took a lot of my pay, I was a lowly E4. I really wanted a 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce, which I believed, and still do, to be one of the classiest vehicles around. Alfas were, however, notorious for having lousy electrics. A friend bought a used Alfa 1750 sedan, forget the exact model, which would often not start in rainy weather. The Fiat was a lot of fun however, drove all over southern Italy on days off. So I applaud and appreciate your love of Alfas, and don’t forget Italian women! I greatly enjoy your blog, so please keep it up.

    1. “I really wanted a 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce, which I believed, and still do, to be one of the classiest vehicles around.”

      No argument from me on that one.

  3. That’s a no from me.

    I’d take a US Jeep WW2-50s erea or any Toyota SUV like FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser (luxury), Hilux etc.

    JQ

    1. In 1952, the Willys Jeep still didn’t have any doors, and the Toyota SUVs weren’t even a glint in the designers’ eyes.

  4. That Gran Sport looks like an MG-TD’s granddaddy. Did it sire the kidney busting ride and twitchy electrics?

    1. I suspect that the TD inherited those from the TC.

      The Alfa’s (no doubt) kidney busting ride and twitchy electrics were entirely their own.

  5. It looks nice and would fit right in in toting people around “Fantasy Island.” But out in the wilds, no one will be there to see you looking sharp in your ride when it breaks down so why not get something actually reliable and still stylish?

    JQ

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