Before the 156 came along, Alfa had amassed a well-deserved reputation for building cars that liked to have random hissy fits. And sadly that reputation was coupled with a dealer network whose staff would rather have a fag break than help sort it out. The 156 did nothing to change those things (my own had to have its steering column replaced after a heavy night parked on the drive), but it looked so good that it really didn't matter how inept it was. Buying a 156 was like marrying Jessica Simpson.
Designed by current VW Group design chief Walter de'Silva, the 156 was unveiled at 1997's Frankfurt Show and replaced the Fiat Tipo-based (and hardly arresting) 155 saloon. Concealed rear door handles and an off-centre front number plate were just two of its striking details, while its engine range was nothing if not pleasing on the ears. A front-wheel drive configuration (based on a chassis joint-developed with Saab) meant that it could never match BMW's 3 Series dynamically, and nor did it sell in anywhere near the German's numbers, but 680,000 sales worldwide was a resounding success and marked the beginning of a design-led resurgence for the Italian brand.
