This Modified V6 156 Is Frankenstein's Alfa

As a result of spending quite a bit of time in the Giulia Quadrifoglio recently, I often find myself looking in the classifieds for the closest thing to Alfa’s new super saloon I can afford: the old 2.5-litre V6 156.

That’s what led to me stumbling upon this curious creation. The seller may say it’s received a “face lift bodykit,” but it’s quite clearly a 147 front end that’s been grafted onto the nose of this 156.

It looks to be an aftermarket take on the 147 GTA’s front bumper, and quite why you’d want to add that to the front of a 156, we’re not sure. Elsewhere, there’s a pair of aftermarket side skirts, a vented rear bumper, Lexus-style rear lights, some spangly alloy wheels and a strut brace. It’s been lowered, and a Remus stainless steel exhaust system has been added.

The price for all this? £500. I’d almost be tempted to buy it and ‘rescue’ it - removing most of its aftermarket tat (keeping the exhaust, obviously), and maybe, just maybe, leaving that 147 front end on for teh lolz to confuse people. Just for a few weeks.

It is after all one of the very few V6s with the facelifted interior, made for one year only before the exterior facelift came along, at which point the 2.5-litre Busso-engined beauty was discontinued.

The problem? Other that the fact this will need a stack of parts to return it to near-stock condition (we’re thinking a parts car would be the way to go), it has no MOT, and apparently has a tendency to overheat in traffic. Ah.

Anyone fancy taking this project on?