Alfa Romeo is not a brand that will spring to mind when thinking of classic wagon makers. There was a rather ungainly 33 Sportwagon in the early 1990s, featuring the Sud’s flat four, but the best was very much yet to come.
The wait was around a decade and once again a famous name from Alfa’s history was borrowed. Rather than nicking the sports prototype’s 33, the 156 Sportwagon’s was rather more fitting: GTA.
In the 1960s and early ‘70s the 105-Series GTA was a fearsome little machine, able to mix it in touring car racing across the world. So it suits the rapid Sportwagon and its saloon-car heritage to a tee.
The Sportwagon used the famous 3.2-litre Busso V6, sweet sounding and even sweeter revving, and touched 250bhp.
And the styling?
‘Imagine a slender, good-looking car as long as a coupé: roof spoiler, excellent Cd, powerful engines and sportscar suspensions,’ Alfa said in its flamboyant launch. ‘Then add a tailgate hinged far forward on the roof to ensure maximum accessibility, fold-down rear seats – naturally – and a well-equipped, versatile luggage compartment: a flexible space well-suited to people with a dynamic lifestyle who make time for many activities.
‘The result is a car that is different. The Alfa Sportwagon, or station wagon motoring Alfa Romeo style.’
New doors were made at the rear for a sleeker finish, but when the GTA launched in 2002 the once range-topping 2.0 Twin Spark lost of its, well, sparkle. Big wheels, so obviously Alfa, a hike in horsepower from south of 200, stiffer and lower suspension, a six-speed gearbox and big Brembo brakes came and the critics were in raptures.
It was an estate, or rather Sportwagon, but not especially practical.
But as Winter Wagons go, they don’t come much more appealing. Head to the Winter Wagons lawn at the Scramble to see what we mean.
