For many, Alfa Romeo has always been more than just an automaker. Its extraordinary cars, defying conventions, evoke memories of the “Golden Age” of motor racing.
Alfas breathe enthusiasm and passion. Cars of this brand awaken passion, appealing not to reason but to the heart, preserving the spirit of endless roads and adventures, perfectly combined with speed and beauty.
The history of the Alfa Romeo brand is associated with the joy of driving. Cherishing its heritage, their stylish sports cars still reflect their racing pedigree.
The birthplace of this Italian icon was the crucible of motorsport. The company began participating in auto races in 1910, from its founding.
The Rise of Alfa Romeo
“Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili” (A.L.F.A. for short) sent its cars from the factory in Milan straight to the racetrack, with victories contributing to increased sales. After the start of World War I, ALFA merged with a group of companies led by industrialist Nicola Romeo.
Thus, “Alfa Romeo” was born. After the war, Nicola decided to assemble a team of talented designers, pilots (racers), and engineers to take the company to a new level.
In 1923, the head of his racing team, Enzo Ferrari, managed to poach designer Vittorio Jano from Turin, who was working at FIAT. Together, they became the founders of a new era in the company’s development.
Having developed the “P2” model, Vittorio immediately made his contribution. The car was unbeatable for seven years, becoming a motorsport legend. Its first victory, this racing car with a supercharged eight-cylinder engine, was in 1924. Its average speed of 150 km/h seemed incredible to spectators.
Alfa Romeo continued to win victory after victory. The team won the “Targa Florio” race and the International Grand Prix of 1924-25, bringing the company the championship title.
The team’s racing pilots, continuing to win, became heroes. Achille Varzi, Antonio Ascari, Tazio Nuvolari, and Giuseppe Campari were as popular as modern movie stars. Nuvolari stood out particularly brightly. Ferdinand Porsche once said of him:
He is the best racer of the past, present, and future.
Jano’s subsequent models allowed the team to continue its series of victories. In 1927, the “8C 2300” was released, replacing the “6C.” Dominance in auto racing continued.
Alfa’s 6c and 8c dominance
These models are rightfully considered some of the best examples of the automotive industry of the early 1930s. Fast and distinctly responsive to the steering wheel, they achieved success in long-distance auto races.
They were equipped with supercharged inline eights, essentially representing two combined four-cylinder engines. Various chassis options were offered for different types of auto races.
Management was confident that victories in races would stimulate the growth of sales of production cars produced by the company. After a defeat in the 1931 “Mille Miglia,” Tazio entered the “Targa Florio” on his 8C.
His main rival was his former teammate Achille, who had moved to Bugatti. Varzi’s lighter car, with the fenders removed, immediately took the lead. Ferrari also reduced the car’s weight but, deciding that it would rain, removed only the rear fenders.
Enzo was right; the rain turned the track into a mud bath, and Achille had problems. Tazio easily passed him, taking the lead.
A series of victories followed again, and these cars took a dominant position in the auto races of that era. However, not all car enthusiasts acquired these cars for racing. Ice seller from Italy – Remaldi Giulio acquired such an Alfa, owning it for more than 40 years. He drove around the city with ice boxes installed on the car’s running boards (sills). After the owner’s death, this rare car was sold for $2 million 900 thousand.
Later, it was resold for a cheaper price due to the collapse of the collectible car market in the 80s. Today’s owner got it for $1 million 800 thousand. It is likely to increase in price as connoisseurs are increasingly investing in legendary cars, enjoying driving them.
P3 Victory at 1935 German Grand Prix
In 1932, a new Alfa Romeo model, the P3, began its dominance, which most consider Jano’s triumph. Only 6 copies were assembled. Already in the first race in Monza, on July 5, 1932, the model became another total success. Then, the Italian, French Grand Prix, Coppa Ciano and Coppa Acerbo were won. The company’s cars were extremely successful, and Alfa decided that it could rest on its laurels; the company left racing.
In 1933, the team continued to compete under the emblem of the prancing horse, the symbol of Enzo Ferrari. Nuvolari won 7 races, but the team suffered a tragedy, losing 2 of his partners. The elegant “P3” cars were full of technical innovations invented by Jano. Ferrari intended to continue stamping victories using these race cars, and soon everyone had to reckon with Enzo. The “P3” won the Mille Miglia and the Le Mans race, but the cars gradually began to yield to the technology of German teams with serious funding – Auto Union and Mercedes.
German cars were a formidable force, combining powerful engines, streamlined design, and the engineering capabilities of two major automakers seeking dominance in the “Grand Prix.” Mercedes and Auto Union seemed invincible, and race attendance skyrocketed when these two teams took control of the “Grand Prix.” More than 300,000 people gathered for each race (now even 60-80 thousand is considered a high figure).
The most important race was the German Grand Prix. It was assumed that Auto Union or Mercedes would win the home Grand Prix of 1935. Nuvolari decided to oppose the cars of the two strongest teams with his own skill; he was like the tortoise from Aesop’s fable, who refused to yield to the fast-footed German hares. A huge audience did not believe that Tazio and his teammates, on 3 outdated Alfas, had a chance to bypass the mighty Germans.
Nuvolari, from the very start, “sat on the tail” of the race leader, Manfred von Brauchitsch, who could not shake off the stubborn Italian. The race continued, and it seemed that von Brauchitsch would bring Germany another victory, but in the last kilometers of the final lap, the German slowed down due to a flat tire. The “tortoise” Nuvolari passed him and was the first to see the checkered flag. This victory is considered one of the greatest in racing history.
Ironically, Tazio Nuvolari later moved to Auto Union, but fans remember him primarily for his victory in the 1935 German Grand Prix. Although the Germans dominated the Grand Prix, Alfa continued to forge its glory in racing; it did this in the sports car class thanks to the new “8C 2.9” model introduced in 1935.
8C 2.9
The “2.9” model became the pinnacle of Alfa’s pre-war developments; its victories amazed the imaginations of boys around the world, including Phil Hill, who later became a racing legend. After reading exciting stories in magazines and books, he wanted to acquire an Alfa Romeo 8C 2.9.
Although these cars and their predecessors dominated European sports car races in the 1930s, any fan could buy the same car directly from the factory and challenge a professional. You just needed to buy a car. You could participate in races without being a racing guru. However, if you were a good driver, you could even overtake the factory teams. This is exactly what happened to Phil Hill. Piero Dusio, like Phil, longed to own the “2.9” model.
He bought it on June 18, 1937, and quickly prepared it for racing (Dusio was known as a big fan of racing cars). Later, he founded the “Cisitalia” car company. It became famous for its sports and racing cars in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but he started with the Alfa Romeo “2.9.” In his debut race, Dusio’s Alfa came in second, between two cars from the Alfa factory team. Then he competed in the thousand-mile Italian “Mille Miglia” race. The car came in third, behind two factory Alfas. A little later, it overtook these cars in “Hillclimbing.”
Then Dusio stopped racing this car and ordered a body for it at the Pininfarina studio.
The long hood, short rear, and elegant pontoon fenders created a harmonious and balanced look that appealed to most automotive experts.
Alfa released only 37 copies of the “2.9” Pininfarina-model, and this unique car with a racing past was sold at a Christie’s auction for more than $5 million. For many, the Alfa “2.9” remains a dream car to this day.
Alfa Romeo during World War II
When the war started, there was no place for simple joys of life like racing. Italy, like the whole world, was drawn into World War II, during which Alfa, like most automotive companies, switched to military production. The war destroyed the country and its industrial complexes; many people died, houses and factories were destroyed, and it took years to rebuild everything.
After the war, all companies struggled to get back on their feet. Racers like Phil Hill competed in pre-war Alfa cars. He finally managed to acquire the “2.9” model he had dreamed of, which was the car that won the Mille Miglia race in 1938.
He raced it at the California Pebble Beach race in 1951. He had raced in the previous year and won it on a Jaguar, but he believed that the 13-year-old Alfa was more perfect; it was more powerful and gave the impression of a real racing car.
Today, this rare car is estimated at $5-6 million (in 1951, Phil sold it for $4,000).
The company also resorted to its pre-war cars and in 1946 competed in races on the “158” model, which debuted in 1938. The “158” was affectionately called Alfetta; it was a small but maneuverable car with an elegant design. Alfetta helped Alfa lure Juan Manuel Fangio. He started by competing in Monaco, winning 8 victories in that season. A 9-car crash on the first lap split the peloton in two, but Fangio managed to slip through and win the race.
The following year, Alfa upgraded the car and added power to the engine; now the model was indexed “159,” and Fangio drove it on the main world tracks. The British Grand Prix was marked by an amusing irony of fate. Former Alfa head Enzo Ferrari founded his own company, and his new cars outpaced Alfa Romeo in this race. Although Juan Manuel won the title in 1951, Alfa Romeo’s racing days were numbered.
In 1952, the Formula 1 regulations were changed. Alfa decided to withdraw from the “Grand Prix” to avoid developing a new engine.
Serial cars production
Fangio, like Nuvolari before him, continued to compete for other teams. Alfa focused its efforts on creating production cars. The company was nationalized, and the government wanted to direct all its capacity to the production of passenger cars, not racing cars. But all the cars that Alfa produced were still sporty, including the “1900” model, the first new post-war car.
The car had only a 4-cylinder engine, but with a volume of 1884 cubic centimeters, it was surprisingly powerful. The simple, functional design retained a number of classic Alfa features, such as the radiator grille.
The “1900” was popular and was produced in various bodies; there was even an off-road version. The sedans were interesting enough, but the driving force behind the development of the next model was the desire for sportiness.
In 1955, the “Alfa Romeo Giulietta” debuted; this small 2-door car revived Alfa’s former passion. Although it could not compete with Ferrari on the racetrack, it could hold its own in a design comparison. Italy’s best design studios, Pininfarina, Bertone, and Zagato, created memorable bodies for this car.
These cars always looked fast, even when standing still. The “Giulietta” had an important image significance for the company; it embodied the vibrant Italian spirit that demonstrated an unbridled joy for life. Whether in the city or on the open highway, this car called for the gas pedal to be floored. Its success showed that if you’re going to do something, do it stylishly. These exquisite cars are still popular with collectors—a good choice for those who want to experience the joy of driving an open-top car but don’t want to take out exorbitant loans.
In ’63, the “Giulietta” was replaced by the “Giulia”; this high-speed car formed the basis for several racing versions. The modified “Giulia TZ” left a noticeable mark in Gran Turismo racing.
Its 112-horsepower engine passed the F.I.S.A. cup test in Monza in ’63, the 12-hour race in Sebring, the 48th Targa Florio race, the 24-hour race in Le Mans, the Tour de France race, the Alpine Cup, and the Tour de Corse; it gave Alfa fans many reasons to rejoice. Its competitiveness showed that the “TZ” was ideal for both racetracks and road races, reminding of Alfa Romeo’s former racing glory.
In ’65, the “GTA” model appeared; its aluminum body by Bertone and the TZ2 ZAGATO are considered masterpieces, giving the car a modern look and significantly reducing weight. The lightweight body and 2-liter engine allowed the car to accelerate to more than 240 km/h. This speed secured Alfa victories in the European Challenge Series in ’66, ’67, and ’68.
Probably the most famous Alfa Romeo of the modern era, the “Duetto Spider,” attracted universal attention debuting at the ’66 Motor Show. The “Spider” preserved the legacy of the “Giulietta” and “Giulia” but pleased connoisseurs with a fresh design and lived a very long life.
Model production continued for another 26 years; its recognizable shapes became classic. Although the car underwent some design changes, it is what comes to mind when someone asks you, “What is an Alfa?” You immediately recall the opening scenes of the film “The Graduate,” where Dustin Hoffman drives an Alfa “Spider.” Classic shapes gradually gave way to more modern designs.
Unfortunately, this car’s strengths were not enough to save the company from acquisition.
Alfa Romeo and FIAT
In the 80s, FIAT Group offered a higher price for Alfa Romeo than Ford and added this legendary brand to its list of car brands, which includes Ferrari, the famous company founded by the former boss of the Alfa team. Although some mourn the sale, believing that Goliath somehow managed to defeat David, others are glad that the company managed to survive. This merger gave Alfa access to financial resources that allowed them to restart the assembly line.
New, good cars began to appear, earning positive reviews from the automotive press. These new cars preserve the legacy of classic Alfa Romeos, which have delighted fans since the appearance of the first models in 1910.
They still feel the excitement and desire to quickly and passionately race down the open road.
These are cars for people who value style and speed. But it is the classic Alfa Romeos that ignite the hearts of automotive connoisseurs who still dream of the exploits of desperate racers who once led these cars to glory. They close their eyes and see beautiful post-war cars, made for those who love life and the road stretching to the horizon. For such people, Alfa Romeo remains one of the greatest cars in the world.
