ALFA ROMEO (Italy) 1910 to date

Originally founded in 1906 as a branch factory of the French Darracq, the works were sold in 1909 to an Italian group (Anonima Lombardo Fabbrica Automobili) led by Ugo Stella, which produced 2400cc and 4100cc four-cylinder models with side valves engines.

Another pre-1914 Alfa was the big 6100cc ohv version, built in very limited numbers only. In 1915, Nicola Romeo took over and added his name to the "Alfa". A superb engineer and a racing enthusiast, his cars became known all over the world. Famous models of the early 1920s were the Merosi designed 2916cc and 2994cc ohv six- cylinder models, followed by Vittorio Jano's 1991cc six- cylinder and 1987cc eight-cylinder cars with superchargers, which won many big races. Other Jano designed sports cars had 1487ec, 1752cc and 1920cc sohc and dohc engines. The 2236cc, 2632cc and 2905cc Tipo "B" eight-cylinder dohc racers, including some monopostos, were among the greatest in the world. Later some were built with 3160cc and even 3822cc engines and all were supercharged.

Larger cars, including a 4492cc VI2 and the Bimotore with two eight- cylinder engines, were built and also raced. Until 1938 Enzo Ferrari headed the racing department; "Alfa Corse", run directly by the works. It was then headed by the Spanish designer Wilfredo Ricart, but it was Gioachino Colombo who created, together with Ferrari, the superb Tipo 158 racing 1.5 litre car which also won many races after World War Two. Among touring and sporting Alfa power units were dohc 2309cc and 2443cc sixes and also "detuned" 2905cc Tipo "B" racing engines.

Well known after the war were 1997cc, 2995cc and 3576cc "Disco Volante" models and the Alessio designed 1884cc and 1975cc four-cylinder sohc cars as well as the fast 1290cc Giuliettas which eventually grew into the 1570cc "Giulias". The l962 season saw the birth of the 2595cc dohc six cylinder 2600: other models at that date were four-cylinders. Like all models, they were supplied with a wide range of bodywork.

In 1970 the 200 bhp 2593cc V8 "Montreal" with a coupé body by Bertone was introduced. Alfa-Romeo, owned since 1934 by the Italian Government built a big new factory in the impoverished south of Italy in the early 1970s for the manufacture of small cars. The result was the first "Alfasud" of 1971, with an ohc 1186cc flat- four and front-wheel-drive.

1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Freccia d'Oro
1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider
1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Sprint
1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Bertone
1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
1976 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1979 Alfa Romeo GTV
1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT
1984 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1986 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1988 Alfa Romeo Spider Graduate
1993 Alfa Romeo Spider
1994 Alfa Romeo 164 LS