A very confident little car when first released in 1971, its FWD layout was still a novelty but it appeared that Alfa Romeo had set a high bar, thanks to its full set of disc brakes, positive driving position and sweet slick gearbox. It became a superb cruising car too, with plenty to occupy eager drivers with refinement and urge.
Alfa needed a small car to increase its market share but needed government assistance to build it. The Italian government insisted that it should build a new factory in the South of the country to help elevate the unemployment situation. Several factors dogged the car’s gleaming CV, with poor Russian metal and a fractured factory labour relationship with the management being the main issues.
Things did improve for the Sud in its final Series 3 guise, with this neatly preserved 5-door-only twin-carb Gold Cloverleaf model. By the time this car was registered, its dynamics were still intact, but things had moved on in terms of running costs and accommodation, yet these factors were never high on the list of priorities for most Alfa enthusiasts.
Available at exactly the price of a 1.3 Ti three-door, the market was tough for the Cloverleaf, as you could also buy a 2.0-litre Capri S or Lancia Delta 1600 GT for not much more money. Replaced by the 33, Alfa never quite regained the magic of the Alfasud which continues to be a bugbear for the company.
