Alfa Romeo

The origin of a legend

The legend started in 1910, when Cavalier Ugo Stella acquired the shares of Darracq Italiana. The first plant was in the north-west outskirts of Milan, the company was called "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili" - hence the acronym A.L.F.A. The first car - the 24 HP, designed by Giuseppe Merosi - was made the same year. ALFA was acquired by Neapolitan industrialist Nicola Romeo in 1915 after Italy entered World War I. The Alfa Romeo emblem was styled by merging two symbols of the city of Milan - the grass snake of the Visconti family coat of arms on a blue background and the red cross of the city banner on a white background - all enclosed in a metallic ring with the words "Alfa-Romeo Milano".

Alfa Romeo Milano badge 1915-1925

The racing adventure

Alfa Romeo won its first World Championship award in Monza 1925 with Gastone Brilli Peri behind the wheel of a P2. The finish line witnessed a magnificent Alfa "four of a kind", with the fifth car coming in 45 minutes later. Racing was resumed after World War II with the Gran Premio Tipo 158 "Alfetta". Compared with other racing cars, the 158 was small, nimble and light. In 1946 Alfetta 158 won the Grand Prix des Nations in Geneva. Until 1951, the subsequent "159" was fitted with the most powerful, advanced engines and reaped many prestigious racing victories: in 1950, the 158 won the First Formula 1 World Championship driven by Giuseppe "Nino" Farina, and in 1951 the Alfetta 159 won the Second Formula 1 World Championship driven by Juan Manuel Fangio.

1950 Farina finishes first at Silverstone in an Alfa 158

The four-leaf clover emblem, the symbol of winning Alfas

Alfa Romeo driver Ugo Sivocci carried a lucky four-leafed clover symbol on the deep red bodywork of his Alfa Romeo RL as he lined up for the 1923 Targa Florio. It must have worked… because he won. Ever since, the cloverleaf has symbolised the sporting heart of Alfa Romeo, recognised and celebrated by Alfisti throughout the world.

Giulietta, "Italy's sweetheart"

Designed by Bertone and introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1954, the Giulietta Sprint was the beginning of a legend. The first car with a woman's name, it is an amalgam of technology in all its versions: Berlina, T.I., Spider, Sprint Veloce and Spider Veloce, finally Sprint Speciale by Bertone and Sprint Zagato, with a racing spirit.

1923 Alfa RL TF Cloverleaf 1954 Alfa Giulietta Sprint

The "Duetto" legend is born

The Alfa Romeo as a success symbol was epitomised in the 1600 Spider "Duetto". With its sleek, cuttlefish shape, it was produced for 26 years and also holds the record of being the model made for the longest time. Mike Nichols' film starring Dustin Hoffman made the car famous also in the USA, where it was nicknamed "The Graduate".

Sportiness and beauty for the modern world

Alfa Romeo’s racing successes continued in the 1990s with the 155, with a new mechanical set-up and the typical sportiness and performance of an Alfa Romeo. The GTA versions won the first Italian Superturismo Championship and the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meistershaft) in 1993 with Nicola Larini, BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) in 1994 with Gabriele Tarquini and CET (Campeonato Español de Turismo) with Luis Villamil.

1966 Alfa Duetto 1992 Alfa 155 DTM

The 8C legend in the forefront

The legend of the historical "8 cylinders" hit the road with the Alfa 8C limited edition. Sporty tradition, Italian passion, technical research: the values that made the Alfa legend were perfectly integrated in this extraordinary car made by Centro Stile. The 8C Spider was voted as Top Gear’s ‘Most Beautiful Car of the Year’ in 2009.

The Giulietta legend makes a comeback

Style, design and future technology meet and complement the everlasting values of Alfa Romeo. Here is Giulietta, Alfa's most recent model. With a splendid shape, the bonnet conceals a masterpiece of power and perfection. And above all the soul and passion that made the name of Alfa Romeo great worldwide.

2007 Alfa 8C Competizione 2010 the new Alfa Giulietta

"ALFA… the first letter of the Greek alphabet, symbolises the starting point, that which is commencing, a new developing life." [From a magazine, 1910]

Alfa Romeo is not a simple car factory… It is like an obsession, something that defies definitions. Its elements are like those irrational traits of the human spirit… It is all about sensation, passion, all things that are more to do with the heart than with the brain." [Orazio Satta, 1970]

About 2600: "An everyday car can have many virtues but is nothing like this magic carpet." [John Belster, 1962]

"Whenever I get in and turn it on, the boredom of everyday life disappears and everything becomes fresh and new again". [Pat Braden, secretary of the Alfa Romeo Owners of America Club, 1961, about 1750]

"When I see an Alfa Romeo go by, I tip my hat" [Henry Ford]