Alfa Romeo Cars and Autos

The Alfa Romeo motor car company
This section provides access to the cars and autos manufactured under the name of the Alfa Romeo motor car company. An online guide for auto enthusiasts covering old and new cars and autos. If you like car talk then you will love this website! A free, online resource with facts and company information about the cars and autos made by the Alfa Romeo motor car company.

What is mission statement of Alfa Romeo?
The mission statement or vision of Alfa Romeo is:

"Industrial design of vehicles with state-of-the-art mechanics and engineering, featuring contemporary lines and shapes, that embody the concept of design in motion and emphasise the qualities of comfort, sportiness, elegance and power intrinsic to the Brand."

Founding of the Alfa Romeo motor car company
Alfa Romeo was founded in 1906 as a Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq by Alexandre Darracq and some Italian investors as French automobile firm. An aristocrat called Cavaliere Ugo Stella from Milan became the chairman of the Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq the 1909. The company was set to build its factory in Naples, but before that happened Darracq decided late into 1906 Milan would be more suited. So in the suburb of Milan, Portello was to be the home of Alfa Romeo with a track of land acquired of 6700 square metres.

History of Alfa Romeo motor car company
The first car built by Alfa was the 24HP in 1910 designed by Giuseppe Merosi. Giuseppe Merosi was hired to design suitable cars for the Italian market in 1909. After the 24HP Giuseppe Merosi then designed the more powerful 40HP and the 60HP. In 1911 Alfa ventured in to the Targa Florio race with Franchini and Ronzoni both racing with 24HP. In 1914 the GP1914 was built, a Grand Prix race car featuring double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, with 4 cylinders and twin ignition. Though with the onset of world war one all production cam to a stand still for three years.

The factory was converted in August 1915 to produce military hardware for allied Italian war efforts. This was achieved by Neapolitan entrepreneur Nicola Romeo. The factory was vastly expanded during the war with the company tools such as compressors and generators used to make the engines being used to make munitions, aircraft engines and other key components. Nicola Romeo used all his war profits to invest in acquiring locomotive and railway carriage plants in Saronno, Rome and Naples when the war finished. These became part of his Alfa  empire. Car production resumed in 1919 as parts for completing 105 cars were stored in the first Alfa workshop from the 1915's. The company name was changed to Alfa Romeo in 1920. The Torpedo 20-30 HP was there first car to have the new badge. In 1920 came there first success with Giuseppe Campari wining at Mugello and wining second place at Targa Florio by Enzo Ferrari. The company carried on producing solid road cars designed by head designer Giuseppe Merosi along with successful racing cars including the 40-60HP and the RL Targa Florio.

Fiats Vittorio Jano was lured away in 1923 to become Alfa Romeo's new head designer with the help of a persuasive Alfa Romeo racing driver, Enzo Ferrari. The P2 Grand Prix car was to be Vittorio Jano first car witch also won the inaugural world Championship Grand Prix car in 1925. As for the road cars, Vittorio Jano created a 4,6 and 8 cylinder in line engines based on the P2 design, these created the classic design of Alfa Romeo's engines. Light alloy construction with hemispherical combustion chambers, two rows of overhead valves per cylinder bank also dual overhead cams and centrally mounted spark plugs. All these aspects meant the engine was both reliable and powerful.

Enzo Ferrari became team manager as he was much better at that than a driver, the factory team was then privatised and then became Scuderia Ferrari. Enzo Ferrari then left and went on to build his own cars. Prior to World War 2, Tazio Nuvolari often drove for Alfa Romeo winning many races.

Defence contracts ran out in 1928 as well as Nicola Romeo leaving Alfa Romeo, consequently Alfa Romeo became broke. The government then rescued Alfa Romeo in 1932 witch meant they basically had control over the company. Alfa Romeo then became a national emblem to Mussolini's Italy. During this period of time Alfa Romeo's cars were built for the wealthy so were bespoke vehicles. The bodies normally being built by Touring of Milan or Pinin Farina. During this time the Alfa Romeo 2900B Type 35 racers became legendary.

World War Two brought about the bombing of Alfa Romeo's factory due to it making Macchi C.202 Folgore engines. After this Alfa Romeo struggled to be profitable after the war. Smaller mass produced cars were built and the big luxury cars were out. This began in 1954 with the new Giulietta series of berline, open two seaters and coupes. These three cars shared the overhead twin cam four cylinder engine that would become a classic for Alfa Romeo, it began with the 1300cc and eventually  a 2 litter 2000cc engine built rite up until 1995.

After World War Two motor sports soon resumed with Alfa Romeo being the car to beat in the Grand Prix events. Also began the world of Formula One, for single seater racing cars, this provided a good setting for Alfa Romeo, using the Tipo 158 Alfetta being an adapted Voiturette. In 1950 Giuseppe Farina won the first Formula One world championship in the 158. In 1951 Juan Manuel Fangio secured Alfa Romeo's consecutive championship win.

1952 brought about Alfa Romeo experimenting with front wheel small compact cars producing a Project 13-61. It had the same spec as most modern front wheel drive cars with a transverse-mounted, forward motor lay out. In the late 1950's they had a second attempt called the Tipo 103. The Tipo 103 also resembled the Giulia. Though the Tipo 103 was never produced due to financial difficulties in post war Italy. The Mini became the first  Modern front wheel drive car.

In the 1960's Alfa's production based cars such as the GTA were there main concern for competing in competitions. The GTA consisted of an all aluminium body based on the design of the Berton coupe and also a twin plug setup engine. In 1966 the GTA was to win the inaugural sports car club American Trans Am championship. Alfa then concentrated on developing there prototype sports cars in the 1970's. The first being the Tipo 33 being victorious early in 1971. In 1975 the Tipo 33TT12 became world champion of makes for Alfa Romeo then in 1877 the Tipo 33C12 became world champion sport car.

Alfa Romeo was again in financial trouble by the 1970's with the Italian government company Finmeccanica bowing out in 1986 with Fiat buying in creating a new group called Alfa Lancia Industrial S.p.A. During the 1990's cars such as a GTA version of the 147 hatchback, using both Alfas traditional avant-grade styling and sporting panache with economical benefits. Also the 8C Competizione, a high performance exotic car and the Brera designed by Giugiaro.

Early in 2007 Fiat Auto S.p.A was recognised and four more companies were created including Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. 

Timeline

• 1906: Alfa Romeo founded.

• 1910: 24HP first car to be built followed by 40HP and 60HP.

• 1914: GP1914 Grand Prix race car was built.

• 1915: Factory converted to produce military hardware.

• 1919: Car production resumed.

• 1920: Torpedo 20-30 HP introduced.

• 1923: Vittorio Jano became Alfa Romeo's head designer and designed the 4.6 and 8 cylinder in line engines.

• 1928: Nicola Romeo left Alfa Romeo. Alfa Romeo then became broke.

• 1932: Government rescued Alfa Romeo. The 2900B Type 35 racers became legendary.

• 1952: Project 13-61 with experiments with front wheel drive compact cars.

• 1954: The Giulietta series of berline was introduced. Built until 1995.

• 1960's: The GTA were there main concern for competing.

• 1966: GTA wins the inaugural sports car club American Trans Am championship.

• 1971: Introduction of the Tipo 33.

• 1975: Tipo 33TT12 became World champion of makes.

• 1986: Company Finmeccanica left Alfa Romeo and Fiat bought in and called the company Alfa Lancia Industrial S.p.A.

• 1990's: GTA version of the 147 hatchback and an 8C Competizione were produced.

• 2007: Fiat Auto S.p.A was recognised and four more companies were created including Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A.

What models and types of cars and automobiles does the Alfa Romeo motor car company produce?
The models and types of cars and automobiles produced by the company include those detailed on the following list. Whether you enjoy comparing cars and autos, want to conduct some research before you buy a new car or a used car or finally an automobile enthusiast who loves fast, cool, new, old, vintage, classic, antique, sports, top, muscle or exotic cars we have the info you are searching for! Select the automobile you are interested in and click the link for access to an online overview of this Alfa Romeo vehicle with car guides, online facts, information, statistics, specs, specifications, design details and ratings of cars and autos.