1910 – 2010: Alfa Romeo celebrates a century of wins and world records

On June 24th, Alfa Romeo celebrated its 100th anniversary. Alfa Romeo has produced some of the most legendary and exciting cars ever made. From the most expensive to the least, each car produced contains this DNA.

Below are some of the highlights of this 100 year story for you to enjoy, courtesy of Fiat Group Press...

Alfa Romeo was officially established in Milan on 24 June 1910. That year, a group of entrepreneurs and businessmen acquired Società Italiana Automobili Darracq, the Italian branch of the French car maker, and its Portello workshops on the city outskirts, and established A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili – “Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company”).



The emblem underlined the new company's ties to the city of Milan: a red cross from the city's banner and the Visconti family "grass snake" ("Biscione" in Italian). The first car to sport it was the “24 HP”, a model that stood out from the very beginning for its mechanics, performance and driving pleasure - features which will become by-words for the brand.

Nicola Romeo

The outbreak of World War I and limited resources created trouble for the company, which was acquired on 2 December 1915 by Neapolitan engineer and entrepreneur Nicola Romeo. The name was changed to “Alfa-Romeo”. The Portello plant, with a workforce of 2500 workers, was expanded and converted to war production. The plant made engine compressors, ammunition, aircraft engines and - starting in 1917 - trains. The company went back to making cars at the end of the war.

P2 Gran Premio 1925-1930

Alfa Romeo made its first important leap forward winning Targa Florio in 1923 (the brand's first of ten wins) with the “RL TF”, which was also the first appearance of the four-leaf clover (“quadrifoglio” in Italian) racing emblem, and then in 1925 with the “P2 Gran Premio”, that won the first Automobile World Championship in history, the first of Alfa Romeo's five victories.

Giuseppe Merosi

In the meantime, Romeo replaced Alfa Chief Engineer Giuseppe Merosi, the man who had created the first models and joined the company back in 1910, with Vittorio Jano, creator of the legendary Alfas of the 1930s.

Alfa Romeo P2

His debut model was the “P2”, which was followed by...

6C 1500 Super Sport

the “6C 1500” (1928)...

"6C 1750 Gran Sport

the “6C 1750” (1930)...

8C 2300

the “8C 2300” (1931)...

P3

and the “Gran Premio Tipo B-P3” (1932). These models greatly contributed to increasing the “Quadrifoglio” record wins and elevated the technical prestige of cars made at the Portello plant.

Vittorio Jano

Vittorio Jano was responsible for the legendary "8C" eight cylinder in-line engine with supercharger.

Tazio Nuvolari

The 1930s were the years in which the Alfa Romeo legend took shape. Engine reliability was undisputed and the names of the winning drivers - Antonio Ascari, Gastone Brilli Peri, Giuseppe Campari, Enzo Ferrari, Tazio Nuvolari, Achille Varzi - were on everybody's lips. They won many legendary races: Mille Miglia (11 wins, an undefeated record), Le Mans 24 Hours (four consecutive editions), Targa Florio, and a very long list of international Grand Prix. In addition, the lessons learned from racing were transferred to standard production models.

The worldwide recession that followed the Wall Street Crash of 1929 had repercussions on Alfa's expansion: the company was taken over in 1933 by IRI (Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale - Industrial Reconstruction Institute). Ugo Gobbato was appointed Managing Director. He rationalized and reorganized production focusing on the core business of aircraft engines, industrial vehicles and touring and racing cars.

8C 2900A 1935-1937

The company stopped managing its own racing team that year and its “8C2300B” cars were given to Scuderia Ferrari. Results were brilliant: Alfa won more races than any other manufacturer in 1934, and racing even outshone standard production in 1936.

"Alfa Romeo D2

Aeronautic production reached nearly 80 percent of the entire yearly revenue. New orders came in, also from abroad, and a new plant was opened in Pomigliano d'Arco (Naples) at the end of the decade.

8C 2900 Le Mans 1938

The outbreak of World War II unsettled the company's ambitious plans. As with most Italian industries, Alfa converted to war production and its plants were bombed by the Allies (the Portello plant ceased operations all together following the damage it received on 20 October 1944). Work resumed the following April after the peace treaty was signed but the workshops had been damaged and there were no components for making aircraft engines, coaches or cars. So the eight thousand workers of the Portello plant made electric cooking ranges, metallic furniture, doors, windows and shutters - in other words, the objects needed to rebuild a country.

6C 2300 Mille Miglia

Auto building was resumed only in 1946. Pre-war 6C 2500s rolled out of the factory with 158s salvaged from the race tracks..

6C 2500 Super Sport Villa

New versions (Freccia d'oro and Villa d'Este), fitting an innovative steering wheel mounted gear shift, soon arrived.

1900 Super Sprint

The 1900, the first Alfa with monocoque body shell, was designed by Orazio Satta Puliga (who had joined the company in 1938) in 1950, and the first assembly line was opened at the Portello plant.

Racing wins multiplied

Alfa Romeo 158 1947-1950

The supremacy of the Alfa 158 in Grand Prix was absolute and Nino Farina won the Formula 1 World Championship in 1950.

Tipo 159 Alfetta

The following year was legendary Juan Manuel Fangio's turn: he won the second Championship behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 159 fitted with the most powerful 1500 engine ever made delivering 425 HP at over 300 km/h.

C52 Disco Volante 2000 Spider with Tyron Power

Straight afterwards, Alfa decided to retire from Grand Prix competitions but kept on competing in the Sport category with the “1900 Disco Volante”, a flying-saucer shaped car capable of reaching a top speed of 225 km/h. In the meanwhile, the company concentrated on the production of standard cars, industrial vehicles, aircraft and naval engines, and diesel engines for industrial applications. Following the IRI reorganisation in 1948, Alfa passed into the Finmeccanica sub-holding.

Giulietta Sprint

“Giulietta Sprint” was introduced in 1954. This car - along with...

Giulietta Spider

the “Spider” (1955) and...

Giulietta Berlina

the “Berlina” (1955) - would be crucial, and not only for the history of Alfa: it established new parameters (this was the first standard production car with a twin cam engine entirely made of aluminum) and embodied Italy's willingness to emerge from the dark years of the war.

All Aluminum Twin Cam engine

Furthermore, it consolidated Alfa Romeo's vocation as a "major auto maker".

Giulia Berlina 1962-1978

The 1960s started with the success of the “Giulia” (1962), which developed the philosophy of the earlier “Giulietta” with new proportions, forcing Alfa Romeo to expand and open a new plant in Arese near Milan.

At the end of its long, honored career, “Giulia” and its spin offs ...

Giulia 1600 Sprint Speciale

Giulia 1600 Sprint Speciale (1963-1965)...

Giulia 1300GT

the “Giulia Sprint GT” (1964)...

Giulia 1600 TI

Giulia 1600 TI (1963-67)...

Giulia Coupe GT Junior Z

Giulia Coupé GT Junior Z (1969-1975)...

Alfa Romeo Spider 1966-1983

the “1600 Spider Duetto” (1966) and...

1750 Berlina

the “1750” in saloon, coupé and spider versions - reached the outstanding goal of one million units made.

Racing activities continued throughout the decade. The Autodelta racing team was established and Alfa Romeo won on tracks worldwide with...

Giulia TZ 2

the “Giulia TZ” (1963) and “TZ 2” (1965)...

1750 GT AM

“Giulia GTA” (1965) and...

33 Stradale

“33” (from ’69 to ’71).

Orazio Satta Puliga Legacy

The 1960s were fruitful years for the company: cars were sold worldwide and ties with the United States - a particularly good market for Alfa Romeo - were consolidated. As a result of the forward-thinking managerial skills of Giuseppe Luraghi, CEO until 1974, and the remarkable engineering skills of Orazio Satta Puliga, Alfa Chief Engineer, who created all the models up to the "Alfetta", Alfa Romeo reached the peak of its development. The Portello plant, by now incorporated in the spreading city of Milan, was insufficient. Production was gradually transferred to a new plant (with an area of over two million and a half square meters) which was opened in Arese and a prototype test track was opened in Balocco (Vercelli).

Pomigliano d'Arco

Following the high increase in demand, Alfa Romeo planned the opening of a new plant in Pomigliano d'Arco (Naples): the foundation stone was laid on 29 April 1968.

Rudolf Hruska

Engineer Rudolf Hruska was called to design a new car:

Alfasud Sprint Grand Prix

Alfasud Ti Trofeo

Alfasud Sprint 6C Prototipo

the "Alfasud", a compact entry-level car equipped with a number of sophisticated mechanical solutions (flat-4 “boxer” overhanging front engine), was introduced in 1971.

Alfetta

Production of the ”Alfetta” started in Arese the following year.

Alfetta Chassis

This sporty saloon with sophisticated mechanics (longitudinal front engine, rear wheel drive, “De Dion” rear axle and transaxle) was leader in its segment for many years...

Alfetta GTV

the "Alfetta GT” (1974),

New Giulietta 1977

followed by the lower segment “New Giulietta” (1977) saloon, were the backbone of production at the Arese plant.

Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12

In the meantime Alfa Romeo took two World Championship titles: in 1975 with the 33 TT 12 (Manufacturers Championship), and in 1977...

Alfa Romeo 33 SC 12 1977*

with the 33 SC 12 (Prototype Championship).



The Alfetta GTV6 2.5 (1980) became Alfa's flagship performance car during the 1980s, winning numerous races and championships including four consecutive European Touring Car Championships.

33 Permanent 4

Troubles deriving from the social unrest of the seventies were felt across Italy and at Alfa Romeo. Despite this, the company pulled ahead preparing models and strategies for the forthcoming decade: the "Alfa 33”, replaced the "Alfasud” in 1983, the
remarkable “Alfetta” was replaced by...

Alfa Romeo 75

the "Alfa 90” (1984) and the "Alfa 75” (1985), the last of the “Alfetta” family, was introduced to celebrate the brand's 75th anniversary.

Alfa Romeo 164

The company changed hands again in 1986, for the third time in its history. Fiat Group acquired Alfa Romeo, at that time producing the brand-new top-range saloon “164” (1987).

164 Interior

The car's success would revive Alfa Romeo and the Arese plant.

155 V6 Ti DTM

1992 was the year of the “155”, remarkably successful in races.

Alfa Romeo 145

The “145” was introduced to replace the “33” in 1994 and...

Alfa Romeo GTV

the sporty “GTV” and...

Alfa Romeo Spider 1995

“Spider” were launched the following year.

156 GTA

The model of the 1990s revival was the “156” (1997). The sports sedan is the result of a new style and advanced technical contents (like high double-wishbone front suspensions and common-rail diesel engine): it was sensationally successful in the market - awarded “Car of the Year” in 1998 - and on international race tracks taking many wins in the Touring category.

Alfa Romeo 166

The “166” replaced the “164” in 1998, and...

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

147 GTA

in 2000 “147” (also “Car of the Year”) replaced the “145” and was even more successful than its "big sister" the “156”,

Alfa Romeo GT

that in the meantime had complemented the range: the “GT”, a four-seat coupe with a style concept reminiscent of the “Giulietta Sprint”, was introduced in the Autumn of 2003.

Alfa Romeo 159 - beautiful from the front...

and rear

In the “159” replaced the “156” in 2005, evolving its style and implementing new proportions, engine versions and body configurations:

Alfa Romeo Brera

the "Brera” coupe was introduced in the same year, followed by...

Alfa Romeo Spider 2008

the new “Spider” in 2006.

8C Competizione

Again in 2006, Alfa Romeo introduced the long-awaited “8C Competizione”, a very high performance coupe with a remarkable design that made it an “instant classic”. With only 500 units made, this supercar was for collectors and a handful of lucky owners.

8C Spider

It was joined by the “8C Spider” in 2008, which maintained the same mechanical features and performance as the coupe.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde

The Alfa Romeo MiTo was introduced the same year. A compact car with a sporty look, for young motorists and everyone else who wants a distinctive performance car.

Giulietta Quadrifoglio

Now is the turn of the brand-new “Giulietta” with the aim of reviving the brand in one of the most important segments in Europe.



In the centenary year, the name is a tribute to an automotive legend which was key in the history of Alfa Romeo: the Giulietta is a car that, in the fifties, caught the imagination of generations of car enthusiasts, making the dream of owning an Alfa Romeo and enjoying the high level of comfort and technical excellence accessible for the first time.



The Alfa Romeo Style Centre has designed the new Giulietta, a five-door hatchback with an unmistakable Alfa Romeo look, capable of expressing both great agility on the most demanding routes and providing comfort on everyday roads. This is the merit of the new "Compact" architecture. Using sophisticated suspension technical solutions, a dual pinion active steering, top-quality materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, the Giulietta achieves excellent levels of on-board comfort, dynamic features and safety (both active and passive).

Alfa story and photos courtesy of Fiat Group Press, *Photo used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2