Now this is a real rarity! A 156 Sportwagon, to my eye the best looking version of the 156, fitted with Alfa’s legendary Busso V6, in this case the 2.5 24V mated to the unusual but extremely useable Q-System 4-speed automatic gearbox. This is not to be confused with the troublesome Selespeed automated manual fitted to the 4 cylinder cars. Although an auto it does, however, have a Sport mode and a gated H-pattern manually selected option should you wish not to leave it in D. It is a great system, and in todays traffic allows easy town driving, with the ability to lift her skirts and engage the driver when a B-road calls.

I have to admit to being a bit of a fan of the 156, running one as my own daily driver and another 3 within the family & business. The 156 really was the first Alfa that could hold it’s own quality wise against the German opposition, hence most had hard lives as company cars and family hacks covering large mileages. Now, 20 years after the last examples were registered, that has resulted in few being left on our roads, fewer still in this condition and with such low mileage of 80059. She has clearly been cherished throughout her life, with just 3 owners from new. The 2nd owner kept her for 13 years, so perhaps she was a dealer demonstrator, before her current owner bought her in 2019, she is only for sale now due to his recent retirement and plans to spend time travelling.

She presents superbly in her classic combination of Alfa red with tan leather interior, with enough mod cons to keep the driver happy including 4x electric windows, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and a bluetooth adaptor for the factory fit Bose stereo system.

In this ownership she has been treated to a ‘no expense spared’ attitude to maintenance and upgrades involving the best name in 156’s Autolusso in Bournemouth. She spent some months there in 2020 with a huge £11066.00 being lavished upon her, the major items being:

1. Engine & complete from suspension/subframe removal.
2. Refurbishment of front subframe.
3. Strip down of engine to remove cylinder heads.
4. Refurbish cylinder heads.
5. Reassemble engine with all new gaskets & seals.
6. New water pump.
7. New cam belt, tensioners, idlers, auxiliary belts etc.
8. All fluids replaced.
9. Wizard exhaust system (with centre silencer option, so she’s not too loud).
10. Powder coated engine bay set in black.
11. Clean of engine bay before refitting engine and subframe.
12. Removal of all wheel arch liners and steam clean of complete underside.
13. Rust protection of complete underside before refitting of arch liners and suspension components.
14. Full suspension overhaul to include KW V1 coil over kit, poly bushes to anti-roll bars, new TRW upper and lower suspension arms, new drop links, new top mounts, rear lower bushes, rear top mounts, rear control arms.
15. Full suspension geometry set up.
16. Rebuilt driveshafts with new CV boots.
17. New handbrake cables.
18. New discs and pads to front and rear.

The owner subsequently fitted the lovely 17 inch alloy wheels from an Alfa GT, restored in contrasting bronze with 215/45 tyres.

As can be seen the work was exhaustive and since being carried out she has been used sparingly covering just 5k miles, so still feels as fresh as the day she left Autolusso’s workshops. Annual servicing has been carried out since and in March this year she passed an advisory free MOT, so is ready to drive away and enjoy.

This would make the perfect entry to Busso ownership for someone looking for a useable, family daily or weekend show car that is easy to use around town with the auto gearbox and being ULEZ compliant, but equally can be fun and involving on the open road when conditions allow.

Although registered in 2006 this is a 2002 built example, so not affected by the recent road tax increases to 2006-on vehicles.

She comes with a file of invoices and MOT’s from the current ownership and her original book pack with a spare key.

If you would like to discuss further or arrange a viewing please contact Alex on 01243 882142