When we think of the supertouring sedans of the early 90s, we obviously visualize the BMW M3, Mercedes 190E and, on the Italian side, the Alfa Romeo 155 and 156. Large road-going sedans are not, in principle, the right size, but there are always exceptions! The 164, for example, came close to running in the 1989 Procar championship, an idea launched by Bernie Ecclestone.
However, the 164 Procar was a silhouette prototype, which had little to do with the original production sedan, and was equipped with a V10 engine that had been designed primarily for F1! It developed 620 bhp at 13,300 rpm. Weighing just 750 kg, the 164 Pro-Car reached a top speed of 340 km/h.
But if this project ended up in the cupboard, 164s closer to the series still experienced the thrill of racing: in the unmissable British Alfa Romeo and Italian Intermarques championship!
No, the 164 is not so clumsy!
L'Alfa Romeo 164 had an unexpected but striking career in the British championship, starting in 1991 thanks to Mike Buckler and Ron Davidson, who saw in this large saloon a promising racing car despite initial scepticism. The first large Alfa Romeo road saloon produced since the takeover by Fiat and the merger with Lancia, the front-wheel-drive 164, presented in 1987, had incensed purists and some of the press had deplored a front axle lacking bite.
Returning to our 164s, the first season was a difficult one, with a car still in development against well-established competition. Despite this, Ron Davidson managed to finish 5th in class in 1991, then 4th in 1992, with some notable victories.
In 1993, the 164 progressed: Ron finished 2nd in his class, behind an Alfasud Sprint, while Mike Buckler also experimented with an astonishing 164 diesel! In 1994, a second 164 appeared with Jane Cheffings, who quickly adapted to this imposing car.
The crowning glory came in 1995, when Martin Parsons gave the 164 its first class victory, and eventually won the class championship after a hard-fought season. Martin followed this up in 1996 with a second class title.
Ramping up
In 1998, the engine was upgraded to a 3.0 24-valve version, which delivered excellent performance, but was engaged irregularly, preventing it from competing for the title. The 3.0L V6 24v engine had been launched by the brand in 1992, with 211 hp and then up to 230 hp. A 4×4 version with permanent all-wheel drive will also appear in the catalog.
In 2002, Tony Soper took over a former 164 competition car, prepared for category A. Despite stiff competition, he achieved good results, including two podiums overall, confirming the car's potential. In 2004, Ian Brookfield took up the torch and enjoyed an excellent season, finishing 2nd in his class, with a win at Mallory. After that, participation became more sporadic, but the 164 remained popular with the public.
A highlight came in 2013, when Matt Daly put in a remarkable performance at Silverstone, finishing 3rd overall in the rain, demonstrating that the 164 could still compete with the best.
Finally, Ron Davidson returned to the 164 in 2015 with a new car prepared by Bianco. After several fine races, he finished 2nd in the Power Trophy in 2017. Despite the installation of a 24-valve engine, the hoped-for performance wasn't there. The car was then put up for sale, after many years of loyal service.
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