The economic depression that followed World War II decreed that Alfa Romeo could no longer afford to produce purely the bespoke motorcars that had made the marque famous on both road and track. Mass produced models were needed and the first fruits in this direction were the 1900 Berlinetta and […]

{vsig}1995-2_1753{/vsig} Like most manufacturers after World War II, Alfa Romeo had to rebuild factories and produce a range of cars that would be economically viable to both manufacturer and public. Already a suitable new engine existed in the 2.5-liter six-cylinder of 1939, basically an enlarged version of the previous 2.3-liter […]

When the Giulietta SZ was first announced, it was described by Sports Car World as “Zagato’s Little Jewel” and, over 30 years later, there is n reason to dispute that assessment. With 100 bhp, a five-speed gearbox, a top speed of 120 mph and 0-50 mph in 81 seconds, there […]

The origins of the Alfa SV Zagato, and in turn all the other Zagato bodied Giuliettas up to the TZ-2, lie in an accident which occurred when Dore Leto di Priolo lost his Giulietta by a bridge during the Mille Miglia in 1956. The badly smashed car was retrieved from […]

The Stuff That Dreams Were Made of {analysis} by Pat Braden Writing about the Giulietta Spring in the Alfa Rome/Sports Car Market Letter is somewhat akin to retelling the Christmas story in a church newsletter. The essentials are well known to the congregation, as well as the supporting legends. The […]

We need to begin by understanding what kind of “Junior” this is. The Junior Zagato is not a little-brother Zagato; Junior refers to the engine size. When Alfa released the Giulia 1600 cc engine in 1963, as a replacement for the Giulietta 1300 cc, Alfisti landed in the next-higher “circulation” […]

{vsig}1994-4_1771{/vsig} Try this at your next Alfa club meeting. Take a poll. Ask how many of the members own or have owned GTVs in either 1600, 1750, or 2000 flavors. Ask those that sold them if they wished they had them back. Ask those who have them how they feel […]

Imagine a modern car company tooling up to produce anew model, then stopping after a mere 92 examples were produced. That’s exactly what happened with the Alfa Romeo Quattroruote (or `4R’) Spider. Inspired by an article in the Milan motoring magazine, “Quattroruote”, Alfa Romeo commissioned the coach-builder Zagato to clothe […]

In 1963, Alfa Romeo decided that the 1,300 cc Giulietta series was due for a facelift and the 1,600 cc Giulia model was introduced. The most apparent identifying feature of the Giulia is the chromed, horizontal faux hood-scoop trim, replacing the petite vertical chrome strip of the earlier Giulietta. Alfa […]

Imagine yourself as a fly on the wall at the headquarters of Alfa Romeo circa 1956. The conversation concerns the fate of the 1900 driveline, now that the Touring-bodied three-window (Fifth series) coupes and serial-production sedans were reaching the end of their sales viability. Buoyed by the success of the […]