Alfanatics

As Alfanatics, when we think of the epitome of both performance and looks relating to Alfa Romeo, 3 letters stand out above all others…G…T…A.  Here is a short history of the GTA’s, including the different models that were produced.

Alfa Romeo has always been very active in motor racing.  In the mid 1960’s the racing division of Alfa Romeo, Autodelta, was tasked with the development of a competition car that closely resembled the road going version of the Giulia Sprint GT (Series 105). These cars were the original GTA’s, with the A standing for “Alleggerita” (lightweight).  The first ever racing outing of the Giulia GTA was in 1965 at the hill climb race of Trento-Monte Bodone, a race in which the GTA won its class on debut. Read the rest of this entry »

During the period of the Second World War, the Quadrifoglio (Cloverleaf) was the symbol attributed to Alfa Romeo Racing cars. The Quadrifoglio first made its appearance in 1923 when Ugo Sivocci- racing driver for Alfa Romeo driving in a three-man works team,

1923 - Ugo Sivocci

presented to his team a Quadrifoglio at the start of the 14thTarga Florio- an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo, as a token of good luck.

As a result of this action it stamped itself as the symbol for Competition Alfas, indicating higher performance and prestige.

Post this era, modern Alfa Romeo models also differentiate between standard variants and performance variants using the Quadrifoglio Symbol (Green four leaf clover on a white background) as can be seen on the 145, Mito, GT and Giulietta.

These Quadrifoglio models are usually higher specked, performance based variants with larger engine capacities that push out higher outputs than their normal siblings. – Some variants of blue on white have also been witnessed.

Alfetta - Quadrifoglio Oro

Variants including the Alfettas in the 1980s sold a few, top of the range models including: the “Silver Leaf” and “Gold Leaf” (Quadrifoglio Oro).
This badge was the Alfa Cloverleaf in Gold or Silver to indicate the specification level on the Alfa.

Modern variants including the Mito and Giulietta have the Quadrifoglio Verde ‘Green Cloverleaf’ branding and also trace their heritage back to Ugo Sivicci and the Alfa Romeo Racing cars all those years ago.

If you are interested in motoring then you will know that the life of cycle of a new vehicle begins with a concept. Alfa Romeo has, over the years, delivered many of these concepts to stimulate our taste-buds and keep us wanting more. I discovered some of these and wanted to share them with our fellow Alfanatics out there.

These concepts range from years 1953 to 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

While browsing the net late at night I came across these videos which detail the Racing History of Alfa Romeo. I suggest making a bowl of pasta, putting your feet up and enjoy everything Italian.

http://youtu.be/LCwre21m6HU

http://youtu.be/Fbg59R5tHnw

http://youtu.be/3GmsxPHofKU

http://youtu.be/JTcefAXXvS8

http://youtu.be/6dIgLQgeLe4

http://youtu.be/CWKTD0ddEIY

There have been many Alfa Romeos that have graced our Roads over the years. The table below shows a List of  both the Alfa Romeo Road cars and Racing cars that have been produced:

In 1910 a draughtsman named Romano Cattaneo was given the job of coming up with a badge for a new Milan-based company, ALFA. The story goes that as he was waiting for a train at the Piazza Castello terminus in Milan, he gained inspiration from the red cross and off the coat of arms and flag of Milan and the Visconti family’s biscione (human child-bearing serpent) coat of arms emblazoned over the great door of Castello Sforzesco:

Visconti family’s biscione coat of arms

In 1918 after the company was purchased by Nicola Romeo, the badge was redesigned with the help of Giuseppe Merosi, including now the City of Milan’s emblem and that of the Visconti family in a circular motif, bordered by a dark blue metallic ring containing the inscription “ALFA — ROMEO” and “MILANO” separated by two Savoy dynasty knots to honour the Kingdom of Italy.

Milan Coat of Arms

After the victory of the P2 in the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, Alfa added a laurel wreath around the logo.

In 1946 after the victory of the Italian Republic Savoy knots were replaced with two curvy lines. The name “MILANO”, the hyphen and the Savoy knots (lines) were eliminated when Alfa Romeo opened the factory at Pomigliano d’Arco, Naples in early 1970s.

Photographic images of each major badge evolution, with a brief description follow below:

Size: 65mm in diameter.  Note the absence of the word ROMEO, and the acronym style representation of the word A.L.F.A.

Size: 65mm in diameter.  Nicola Romeo has now acquired the ALFA company and reorganised it after the First World War, adding his own surname to the badge, whilst removing the acronym style of the word A.L.F.A

Size: 75mm in diameter.  To commemorate the Alfa Romeo P2 winning the first World Motor Racing Championship, the Alfa Romeo badge was surrounded by a laurel wreath in respousse metalwork.  In 1930 the diameter of the circle was reduced to 60 mm and this remained unchanged until 1945.

Size: 54mm in diameter.  When the Italian monarchy was abolished, and the country became a Republic, the Savoy dynasty bows were exchanged for two wavy lines, and the badge’s diameter reduced to 54 mm.  In 1950 a new badge in enamelled brass but with the same diameter was introduced – please see top of page. In 1960, the same badge design, directly above, began manufacture in plastic.

Size: 75mm in diameter.  Since the build of the Alfasud factory in Pomigliano, near Naples, the word MILANO has not appeared on any Alfa Romeo badge – although it still retains its two famous Milanese symbols, surmounted by the words ALFA ROMEO.

Source’s - http://www.wheelsofitaly.com & http://www.alfalegend.com