2nd Foreign Car?

The Peugeot was only the 2nd, I say? Well, actually, I just realized it was the 3rd. Dad's first foreign car was (surprise) a Beetle. I actually wouldn't mind getting to take a spin in one of those. But that's not the car that I missed out on. That would be import #2 - a 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT. Oh man, I thought that car was soooooo cool. We got rid of it shortly before I was able to drive. We moved to Florida in '86 (I started driving in '89), and the Alfa had a black leather interior with no A/C. Ouch. So it was parted with. I sure wish I had a chance to drive it.

Near as I can remember, the Alfetta had all the qualities associated with Italian cars. Maintenance: It rusted all around the doors and various other places, I remember dad working on that. High Maintenance: Dad took it to an Alfa mechanic who worked out of his home garage. Temperamental: It's the only car I've ever been in that just quit running while being driven. Really Temperamental: Shortly after buying the Alfa, dad got a daily driver, cause it only really ran when it was 72 degrees and sunny and the tape deck had Italian Opera in it. Ok, not that last bit, but maybe that was the problem.

I think Dad really liked this car. The first thing that happened when he brought it home was we all piled in and went for a drive. Just a drive, we didn't go anywhere specific. And dad got pulled over for speeding. Did I mention it was red?