Japan has a thriving car culture that extends to imported brands. And the country doesn’t have strict import laws like the US, so plenty of rare foreign cars can be found for sale there and exported to America. For example, this 1997 Alfa Romeo 155 made its way to Corona, Calif., where it was recently offered on eBay.
Japanese enthusiasts often take an interest in offbeat cars. For example, there’s a thriving Japan-based community of Lotus Europa and Fiat Panda fans, alongside the expected Ferrari and Jaguar buffs. On paper, a boxy, mid-size, front-wheel-drive sedan doesn’t seem like a car that would create such a fan base.
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However, Alfa Romeo heavily campaigned the 155 in road racing, which helped it develop a cult following.
The Alfa Romeo 155 Has a Performance Heritage
The Alfa Romeo 155 won the Italian, German, British, and Spanish touring car series, all fiercely contested by rivals from BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, and Opel. It also raced in Japan’s touring car series. Although it didn’t win the championship there, its presence cultivated admirers.
The Alfa 155 also came with a dizzying array of engines, options, and special editions. The car for sale is one of the more desirable specifications, a 1995-and-up wide-body redesign that allowed for a wider track.
Alfa Romeo also improved the 155’s steering and upgraded the revvy 2.0-liter Twin Spark four-cylinder to a 16-valve head. Naturally, the 2.0-liter would be the optimal engine for Japan, allowing maximum performance without pushing the car into a more expensive road-tax bracket for 2,000cc and larger motors. These modifications were derived from its racing enterprise, and the connection to the successful race car made street versions more desirable.
Driven Like an Alfa Should Be Driven
The Alfa Romeo 155 available on eBay has only 68,000 miles and is said to drive well. Those miles might have been hard-earned, as there’s evidence the vehicle was modified and perhaps even raced on weekends. Holes in the rear trunk lid indicate an aftermarket wing though the original spoiler is included in the sale. An aftermarket steering wheel and shift knob were added, and the radio and headliner were removed.
The seller notes some “Alfa issues” like peeling clearcoat, a loose door card, a stuck window regulator, and a glove box that doesn’t stay closed. However, the car does not show any rust, a common plight for cars that have lived in Japan’s coastal regions.
Importing via Japan might seem a roundabout way to get an Italian car, but it’s not a bad idea. Japanese collector cars typically have low miles, as the country has a robust public transportation system. In addition, infamously strict safety inspections ensure cars are maintained well. Also, in dense urban areas, you must prove you have a dedicated parking spot before registering a car.
Shop now for Alfa RomeosThis car’s circuitous path to the US might be the ideal way to get your hands on a European car like the Alfa Romeo 155, which was never sold here as a new model.
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