33 Series II

An in-house redesign saw a longer Alfa 164-style nose and tail grafted on the reskinned 33 – now known as the 33 Boxer 16V QV.

Power and torque from a new fuel-injected twin-cam 16-valve version of the Boxer 1.7-litre engine rose (to 95kW and 151Nm respectively), as did luggage space. There was also another new dashboard and revised cabin.

Power steering, alloy wheels, central locking, air-conditioning and power windows were also part of the new package.

In May '91 the 4WD 33 returned in the shape of the 33 S 16V Permanent 4, but this time it was a five-door hatchback using a rear wheel differential with a Ferguson viscous coupling to proportion drive from the usual 95/5 front/rear bias to a maximum 55/45 in extremely slippery conditions.

However it was treacherous economic conditions that forced Alfa Romeo to retreat from Australia for more than five years from early 1993, thus spelling the end for the unloved 33 Series II range.

Alfa’s next small car entrant was the acclaimed 147 of 2001.