Customer Reviews

Alfa Romeo All-Alloy Twin CAM Companion, 1954-1994: Four-Cylinder History, Care, and Restoration: Giulietta, Giulia, and Alfetta Families

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"Alfa in America," the name of the second chapter, would have been a better title for this excellent book - written by a life long enthusiast whose life paralleled the marque's presence in America. The remaining chapters are a nice distillation of the author's previous books on the history and maintenance of Alfa's four cam models. The heart of the book, and the main reason for its purchase is this chapter.

It is a very personal book. Pat's was one of the original founders of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club back in 1958 during a time when Max Hoffman was bringing the cars over in a trickle (both the club and Hoffman's stories are also included). Pat was there and it is that added experience and tone that make this book so interesting. He does not hold back on either the strengths or weaknesses of the cars, the company, the club, or the people The book is also brutally honest. There are reasons why the marque's adventure in America ultimately failed (and some ways the story unfolds in a similar fashion as Jonathan Wood's "Wheels of misfortune: The rise and fall of the British motor industry."). Pat does an excellent job of providing an overview and then a year by year analysis.

This is an excellent book. Anyone with more then a passing interest in Alfa Romeo should add this to there library along side Griffith Borgeson's "The Alfa Romeo Tradition" and Fusi's "All Cars from 1910." It is that special....

I bought this book right as I started the restoration of a 1973 Alfa GTV. This book is unique for being a mix of history / technical overview / technical shop manual. For instance the book places the All alloy twin cam motor in its historical context, explaining why the design has been so durable and prescient. At the same time, it gives a great semi-technical overview of the motor. It then moves into a narrative style description of how to dissasemble the motor and what to look for. This is not a shop manual. I will not have it in the garage with me when I take the motor apart. However it is very useful for to help plan what parts of the motor will likely need rebuilding and which almost never fail. This is not information that you will find in a shop manual. For this reason, I think this book is useful to anyone contemplating purchase of an older alfa, or actively restoring/driving one.

Another easy transaction with this supplier. Almost immediate shipping and the items received in pristine condition. The book itself is well known to be critical for Alfa owners so not much more to say on that subject.

This is a must for anyone interested in Alfa Romeos. Pat Braden was probably one of the best because he took the mystery out of owning and caring for this wonderful Italian legend. The Alfa is not as complicated or hard to care for as some people think, it is as easy to care for as a Chevy or Ford and much more fun to drive. I would recommend this to anyone interested in this wonderful car.

Braden's last book is a treasure trove of Alfa lore and history. Everything you wanted (and some you didn't) to know. Lots of priceless tips (rope in the combustion chambers?) to keep you amazed, and enough folksy humor to keep you amused (burying valves with friends). Tons of pics of what they should have done. Braden will be missed.

I currently drive a 1974 MG Midget and have been looking into getting a second classic car. Maybe an Alfa? I was hoping this book would explain (and show) the many different models of Alfa's that are out there. This is not the book for that. First the pictures are all black and white and kind of dark and soft. But worse, the author spends the first two chapters of the book explaining how confusing the names of Alfa's are (no kidding? ..that's why I bought your book). When he finally gets around to try and sort out the mess he only makes me more confused. When explaining one model he starts talking about another models..from 30 years ago...and then he throws in comments about Ferrari's? He jumps from one time period to another. He is all over the place. The guy has ADD or something.
I'm sure once you get all the different models down (from another book, of course) this book will give you lots of insight. But don't buy this book if you are not already an Alfa expert!