SP3...whats that?

I've seen this "SP3" spec thrown around on here and I need educating on the models of the 156!

As far as I know, on the earlier ones it was base, Lusso (soft luxury one) and Veloce (firmer sportier one?). Then later the Turismo came and replaced the base model, or sat next to it or something?

I know mines a Veloce, but is it an SP3? People have mentioned big spoilers, skirts, lowered suspension etc but I'm not sure. Is there an SP1 and SP2? Mine seems to be quite low and stiff, but not exactly decked.

My car:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture005.jpg


Also, its got a black Momo leather interior, but the B-Pillar trims aren't leather trimmed, they're grey fabric. Is this is Alfa being lazy/cheap, or is it as I suspect, showing that someone has put a leather interior in this car as it would have had cloth standard?

You can just make it out in this pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture026.jpg

Cheers!

SP1 sp2 and sp3 came before Veloce. The early 156s were available in standard, Lusso or standard with SP1-3. (I always had problems with insurance and even my V5 said Lusso on when clearly it wasnt.)

Anyway, the 1.8 could only have SP1, and IIRC was lowered suspension, sports trim (cloth), orange numbers on dials, carbon effect console, 16" alloys and sideskirts.

I think the SP2 added chrome exhaust and sp3 added leather interior. I remember I couldnt have leather on the 1.8TS

Originally Posted by PR

SP1 sp2 and sp3 came before Veloce. The early 156s were available in standard, Lusso or standard with SP1-3. (I always had problems with insurance and even my V5 said Lusso on when clearly it wasnt.)

Anyway, the 1.8 could only have SP1, and IIRC was lowered suspension, sports trim (cloth), orange numbers on dials, carbon effect console, 16" alloys and sideskirts.

I think the SP2 added chrome exhaust and sp3 added leather interior. I remember I couldnt have leather on the 1.8TS

Perfect.

Except I that the SP1 came with standard seats with sports cloth, and the SP2 had Recaros (also cloth trimmed). Not absolutely certain about this though.

Yes thats spot on. I remember being p*ssed off at the time cos I really wanted the recaros!

As far as i am aware mine is an SP3 , it has momo leather interior instead of cloth recaros , it also has a high level spoiler but not sure if that was actually part of the SP3 pack or not. the irridescent Nuvola blue paint also came as an option at a cost of £1380 as were the sideskirts.
try this site it may help.

http://http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars...97.aspx?Page=7

The B post had a bit of matching upholstry on it, yes, so if that one is cloth, the seats are non standard so expect some kind of airbag bodge.

Ah so it sounds like mine isn't a Veloce then, but an SP? Not sure which one, but it does sound like it never had leather originally (and the airbag light is on!)

It also has the orange numbering on the dials and the carbon console. So SP3 not Veloce?