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The Alfa Romeo Busso V6: The Italian Engine Behind a Legend

First fitted to the 1979 Alfa Romeo 6, the Busso V6 evolved through multiple displacements and 24-valve versions used in cars from the GTV 6 to the GTA.
Entry551 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The Alfa Romeo Busso V6 is the family of six-cylinder engines associated with engineer Giuseppe Busso. Its first production application was the 2.5-liter Alfa Romeo 6, launched in 1979; over the following decades, the design grew into multiple displacements and 24-valve versions used in cars including the GTV 6, 75, 156, 166 and GTA models.

What is the Alfa Romeo Busso V6?

“Busso V6” is the common name for Alfa Romeo’s V6 engine family developed under engineer Giuseppe Busso. The project began in the late 1960s as a 60-degree V6 intended for the brand’s medium- and high-class cars. Development slowed during the 1973 oil crisis, and the first production version arrived in 1979, according to the Museo Motori technical record.

The name refers to an evolving family, not one fixed specification. Displacement, cylinder heads, fuel systems and output changed across applications, so figures for one Busso cannot be applied to all of them.

Where did the Busso V6 first appear?

The first production car to use the engine was the Alfa Romeo 6, launched in 1979. Its 2.5-liter V6 used light-alloy components, two belt-driven overhead camshafts and six Dell’Orto carburetors. In this specific Alfa 6 application, Alfa Romeo reported 156 CV at 5,600 rpm and 224 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Stellantis Media says 12,070 Alfa 6 cars were produced from 1979 through 1985 (Stellantis Media, 23 May 2024).

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Those output figures belong to the original carbureted 2.5-liter installation; they are not specifications for the later 24-valve engines.

How did the engine family evolve?

Over time, the Busso V6 appeared in versions from roughly 2.0 to 3.0 liters, including a supercharged 2.0-liter variant. Its applications included the GTV 6 and Alfa Romeo 75, 164, 155, 156 and 166, as well as some Fiat and Lancia sedans and modified competition cars. The list is representative rather than exhaustive, and fitment varied by model and version.

Rank #2
Rareelectrical Starter Fits 2002-2008 Alfa Romeo 147 156 Gta Gt 3.2L V6
  • Compatible with VALEO, BOSCH, DELCO REMY, FIAT, LUCAS, LETRIKA, MAHLE, MAGNETI MARELLI, ALFA ROMEO, LANCIA. Please verify your OEM part number from your original unit to help ensure fitment.
  • Replaces: Alfa Romeo / Fiat / Lancia Part Numbers: / 60813403, 60813460, 60814706 / 60512847, 605128470 / 60655876, 60585343 / 46414831, 77274850, 7727485 / 55193410, 55195503 / 1951005030, 195100503000 / Bosch Part Numbers: / 0 001 108 048, 0001108048 / 0 001 108 126, 0001108126 / 0 001 108 136, 0001108136 / 0 001 108 159, 0001108159 / 0 001 108 225, 0001108225 / F 042 002 037 / Sr0485x (Reman) / Marelli / Letrika / Lucas / Valeo / Delco Remy / Wilson: / Magneti
  • Applications: ⚠️ 12 Volt 1.4 Kw 9 Tooth Bosch Pmgr Starter: / 12V, 1.4 Kw (1.88 Hp), Clockwise, Permanent Magnet Gear Reduction, 9 Tooth Pinion, About 8.2 Lbs / Replaces Alfa Romeo 60813403 / 60512847 And Bosch 0 001 108 136 / 0 001 108 048 / Sr0485x / Alfa Romeo 164: / 1991-1995 Alfa Romeo 164, V6 3.0L 2959Cc (Usa) / 1987-1998 Alfa Romeo 164 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.0 V6 Turbo, 3.0 V6 12V / 24V / Alfa Romeo 155 / 156 / 166 / 147 / Gt: / 1992-1997 Alfa Romeo 155 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.5 V6 /
  • Applications: 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.5 V6 / 1997-2005 Alfa Romeo 156 And Sportwagon 2.5 V6 24V / 2002-2005 Alfa Romeo 156 Gta 3.2 V6 / 1998-2007 Alfa Romeo 166 2.0 V6 Turbo, 2.5, 3.0 And 3.2 V6 / 2003-2005 Alfa Romeo 147 Gta 3.2 V6 / 2004-2008 Alfa Romeo Gt 3.2 V6 / / Alfa Romeo Gtv / Spider (916): / 1995-2000 Gtv And Spider 2.0 V6 Turbo / 1996-2005 Gtv And Spider 3.0 V6 / 2003-2006 Gtv And Spider 3.2 V6 / / Lancia / Fiat: / 1994-2000 Lancia Kappa 3.0 V6...
  • Starter Motor Source: Aftermarket

In 1992, Alfa Romeo renewed the engine with four valves per cylinder, first on the 3.0-liter version. A later example documented in detail is the AR32401 2.5-liter 24-valve V6:

Specification AR32401 2.5 V6 24V
Displacement 2,492 cm³
Output 190 HP at 6,300 rpm
Torque 222 Nm at 5,000 rpm
Compression ratio 10.3:1
Bore × stroke 88 × 68.3 mm
Head and valve layout Aluminum-alloy heads; four valves per cylinder
Camshaft drive Two overhead camshafts per bank, driven by one toothed belt
Fuel system Bosch Motronic ME 2.1 multipoint electronic injection
Applications and years listed Alfa Romeo 156 and 166; 1997–2005

The figures and construction details are from the Museo Motori, University of Palermo; its record does not state a publication year.

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Rank #3
Rareelectrical Oem Grade Starter Fits 1991-1995 Alfa Romeo 164 V6 Sedan
  • Compatible with VALEO, BOSCH, DELCO REMY, FIAT, LUCAS, LETRIKA, MAHLE, MAGNETI MARELLI, ALFA ROMEO, LANCIA. Please verify your OEM part number from your original unit to help ensure fitment.
  • Replaces: Alfa Romeo / Fiat / Lancia Part Numbers: / 60813403, 60813460, 60814706 / 60512847, 605128470 / 60655876, 60585343 / 46414831, 77274850, 7727485 / 55193410, 55195503 / 1951005030, 195100503000 / Bosch Part Numbers: / 0 001 108 048, 0001108048 / 0 001 108 126, 0001108126 / 0 001 108 136, 0001108136 / 0 001 108 159, 0001108159 / 0 001 108 225, 0001108225 / F 042 002 037 / Sr0485x (Reman) / Marelli / Letrika / Lucas / Valeo / Delco Remy / Wilson: / Magneti
  • Applications: ⚠️ 12 Volt 1.4 Kw 9 Tooth Bosch Pmgr Starter: / 12V, 1.4 Kw (1.88 Hp), Clockwise, Permanent Magnet Gear Reduction, 9 Tooth Pinion, About 8.2 Lbs / Replaces Alfa Romeo 60813403 / 60512847 And Bosch 0 001 108 136 / 0 001 108 048 / Sr0485x / Alfa Romeo 164: / 1991-1995 Alfa Romeo 164, V6 3.0L 2959Cc (Usa) / 1987-1998 Alfa Romeo 164 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.0 V6 Turbo, 3.0 V6 12V / 24V / Alfa Romeo 155 / 156 / 166 / 147 / Gt: / 1992-1997 Alfa Romeo 155 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.5 V6 /
  • Applications: 2.0 Twin Spark, 2.5 V6 / 1997-2005 Alfa Romeo 156 And Sportwagon 2.5 V6 24V / 2002-2005 Alfa Romeo 156 Gta 3.2 V6 / 1998-2007 Alfa Romeo 166 2.0 V6 Turbo, 2.5, 3.0 And 3.2 V6 / 2003-2005 Alfa Romeo 147 Gta 3.2 V6 / 2004-2008 Alfa Romeo Gt 3.2 V6 / / Alfa Romeo Gtv / Spider (916): / 1995-2000 Gtv And Spider 2.0 V6 Turbo / 1996-2005 Gtv And Spider 3.0 V6 / 2003-2006 Gtv And Spider 3.2 V6 / / Lancia / Fiat: / 1994-2000 Lancia Kappa 3.0 V6...
  • Starter Motor Source: Aftermarket

Which Alfa Romeos had a Busso V6?

Representative Alfa Romeo applications documented in the technical record include:

  • Alfa Romeo 6: the original 2.5-liter, carbureted production application from 1979.
  • GTV 6 and Alfa Romeo 75: examples of the earlier V6 family.
  • Alfa Romeo 164, 155, 156 and 166: later models offered with Busso-family engines in particular versions.
  • Alfa Romeo 147 GTA and 156 GTA: received the 3.2-liter, 250 HP V6 introduced in 2002.

These names identify models with documented applications, not a claim that every trim, market or model year used the V6. Confirm the exact engine code and vehicle specification when researching a particular car.

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What made the Busso V6 historically significant?

Its significance lies in the span of its development and use: a 1979 debut in the Alfa 6 led to a varied engine family that served Alfa Romeo models through the 24-valve era. The progression from the original 2.5-liter carbureted configuration to electronically injected, four-valve-per-cylinder engines shows how the design adapted rather than remaining one unchanged specification.

The 2.5-liter AR32401 also received an international Engine of the Year award in the 2–2.5-liter displacement class in 2000, as recorded by Museo Motori. This is an award for that displacement class and variant context, not a general ranking of every Busso engine.

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iJDMTOY Engine Push Start Decoration for Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio
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Enthusiasts often associate the Busso with a distinctive character, but the cited technical and manufacturer records do not provide comparative sound, reliability or owner-satisfaction measurements. Those qualities should be treated as reputation, not as quantified evidence here.

What should owners check before servicing one?

Exact variant identification matters. The AR32401 record specifies toothed-belt-driven camshafts, but that fact alone does not establish parts fitment or service intervals for every Busso engine or vehicle.

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  • Verify the car’s model year, market and engine code before ordering components.
  • Match timing-belt parts and service information to that exact engine and application.
  • Do not assume a component listed for one 2.5-liter Busso fits another displacement or generation.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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