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ALFA ROMEOBy Carol Corliss |
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A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombardo Fabbrica Automobili), Milan, Italy 1910 - 1918 SA Italiana Ing. Nicola Romeo & Cia, Milan, Italy 1918 - 1930 SA Alfa Romeo, Milan, Italy 1930 - 1942 Alfa Romeo SpA, Milan 1942 to date The Company began life as A.L.F.A., (Societa Anonima Lomarda Fabrica Automobili) at Portello, near Milan and was founded in 1910. Single and twin cylinder Darracqs were built under licence there for the Italian market. Engine designer, Guiseppi Merosi was the Company’s first engine designer and they very soon started producing their own cars, the range of models was 15/20 h.p. 2413cc / 20/30 h.p. 4084cc/ 40/60 h.p. 6082 c.c. All of these being 4 cylinder side valve engines. The chassis plates even at this time depicted the four leaf clover (quadrifoglio) design, instantly recognised to this day as the Alfa-Romeo logo. The first racing ventures by the firm took place in 1911 and that year they took part in the Targa Florio, Sicily’s legendary mountainous road race. It was not until 1914 that one of their 20/30 machines won the Coppa Florio with Franelini / Campari at the wheel. An incredible history of racing success had begun. Nicola Romeo, a Milanese businessman who had built up a very successful mining machinery business and was himself a Civil & Electrical Engineer, bought the business and the Company continued to produce the rugged 4 cylinder cars with which they had achieved success and were continuing to do so but progress took the form of a new Grand Prix engine of 4 ˝ litre being built in 1914 and the first of the vee fronted radiatored cars was seen. In 1918 the name was changed to A.L.F.A. Romeo. Throughout the 20’s the Company continued to campaign with success The RL series was introduced in 1922. Sivocci won the Targa Florio in the 3.6 litre version of this, the model ever after to be known as the "Targa Florio". The Models available from the Company at this time were the G2, RL & P1; All 6 cylinder cars. Enzo Ferrari drove a Targa Florio very successfully and it was as a result of his popularity that the parents of a first world war fighter pilot, Francesco Boracca suggested that Ferrari adopted the badge that their son had used on his planes – a yellow shield with a prancing black stallion emblazoned upon it. He sported the badge from then on, it has become rather well known over the years. The great designer, Vittorio Jano joined Alfa Romeo from Fiat in 1923 and the first fruits of his genius were the P2 8 cylinder Grand Prix cars, driven in 1924 by Ascari, Campari and Wagner. The RL series was still being produced and a Supersport model was introduced in 1925 along with a 4 cylinder RMV which continued production through 1926. A great milestone for Alfa Romeo was the introduction of Jano’s masterpiece, the 6 cylinder twin-cam 1500 engine in 1927. This engine was the basis for the development of the 1750 (1929 / 2300 / 2600 / 2900 Some of the greatest racing cars ever produced and certainly regarded all time classics of engine design. The supercharged 6 and 8 cylinder engines are a delight to see, the finned, polished aluminium inlet manifolds from the blower are works of art in themselves. Other than Nuvolari, such great drivers as Campari, Varzi, Ascari and Guy Moll drove for Alfa Romeo at this time. These cars were produced through into the late 30’s and were amongst the most beautiful automobiles ever and great to drive too. They had an enormous amount of racing success which did their sales no harm at all. The Zagato and Touring of Milan bodied spiders are amongst the most sought after sports cars in the world of collectors and enthusiasts. Not all of the cars were bodied in sporting fashion and a number had coupe bodies, some built in England. Amongst others, James Young of Bromley, Kent produced many drophead coupes on the Supersport, Gran Sport and G.T. Chassis. The Monza was introduced in 1931 originally 2.3 litres it was, in 1932, made in 2.6 form. A superb car to drive, the Monza has all of the handling qualities of the 1750 with the extra power, a fabulous combination. Nuvolari owned a Monza, what better recommendation. The cars at this time were produced in rolling chassis form and the great names of coachbuilding queued up to body them. The price from the factory was in the region of 1,100 sterling – Quite a fortune in those days. A new 1900 was on sale in 1932. These were not intended for the competition and produced as touring cars. But if the 1900 was not a competition car, the 2900B (P3) certainly was. Whether Nuvolari made P3’s great or P3’s made him great is a matter for debate. Whatever the case, it was one of motor racing’s great partnerships and the success phenomenal . The Alfa Romeo catalogue of success continued through the 30’s with the 12 cylinder Vanderbildt Cup car, the 3.8 model, carrying on to the Grand Prix 158 (Alfetta) 2 staged supercharged car built for the 1938 season. The war intervened and it was not until 1951 that Alfas came into their own again with the 159 which with such drivers as Farina, Gonzales and Fangio dominated the Grand Prix circuits. However, the days of the supercharged cars were numbered and the unsupercharged cars gradually gained ascendance. Post war Milestones in the Alfa Romeo models are; 1952 - Disco Volante (Flying Saucer) 1997 cc 4 cylinder. Sports racing car
1954 – Giulietta Sprint (1290cc) Production road car 1958 – 2000 Spider – Sports Car 1960 – Giulietta Sprint Speziale – Bertone bodied coupe 1966 – TZ (Tubulare Zagato); Competition 2 seater racing coupe 1967 – T33 Sports Racing car V8 1995 cc 1971 – TT3 33 Sports racing car V8 2960cc 1973 – Montreal 2 seater GT coupe V8 2593 cc 1974 – TT12 Flat 12 Sports racing car. 2995 cc 1981 – GTV6 Road Sports Coupe 2492 cc The Company are of course still in operation, part of the Fiat family and still produce fine cars. The range is never without an open spider model and racing still plays a big part in the firm’s activities. There is an active Alfa Romeo Owners Club in Great Britain with a full calendar of activities for the enthusiast; Address is – P.O. Box 289 Sawston, Cambridge, CB2 4HH Bibliograhy: Great Designers and their Work, by Ron Barker & Anthony Harding, publised
by David & Charles, |
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Alfa
Romeo Tipo C 8C-35