When you build a brand as powerful and as aesthetic like Alfa Romeo, you have some advantages.
One of them is that the worlds best coach builders like Pininfarina, Vignale, Touring, Bertone line up to build your cars. The result is some of the most beautiful masterpieces ever created. I am warning you: What you are going to see below will blow your mind away. Each and every single car below is a true masterpiece. They are really sculptures rather than cars and when people often discuss cars being pieces of Art- well this is probably what they mean.
I hope you enjoy the cars below as much as I did upon viewing them.
Before seeing these one- off design masterpieces lets view them from far.
Alfa Romeo built an unbelievable museum and really thought of everything. The design was as great as the cars found within and just as Henry Ford tipped his hat off to an Alfa Romeo when he saw one on the street (so the legend has it) – I tip my hat off to the design team who designed this incredible museum.
Lets start off with the 1900 Disco Volante. This car was built by Colombo in 1952 and represented a marvel in design and engineering at the time. The car has a straight four engine with two twin choke carburettors – producing about 158 bhp, not bad for a car that only weighed 735kg.
The car is simply stunning from all angles. Once again the design was made by, who else, Touring. Only one spider was produced in this configuration.
Lets take a step back and look at from further away. What a dream car.
Notice the emblem of the four leaf clover which is the symbol of Alfa Romeo racing.
The Disco Volante is beautiful from almost any angle.
Next up we move to my personal favourite car that Alfa ever made. The 2000 Sportiva made by Bertone in 1954. Only four cars were made as the model was deemed too expensive.
The car is a design marvel. Look at the back and how the back windshield is designed and curved. Also notice the outside fuel cap and how it is curved. Alone this design is a piece of art.
The car is masculine from the side. What a masterpiece.
The sportiva was powered by four cylinders producing 138 bhp – not bad for a car only 900kg heavy. The back of the car reminds me of the 250 TDF Ferrari.
Yes indeed Bertone designed the car as can be seen from the logo on the sign.
Lets take one last look from the front. What a dream design. The covered headlights remind me slightly of the 275 GTB Ferrari.
Lets move on to another beautiful car. The Giulia Sprint Speciale Prototype. Only one of these was ever made in 1965. Reminds me strongly of Aston Martin V8 vantage from the 1970s. It is a masterpiece in my view. Just breathtakingly beautiful.
The car is equally beautiful from the back. Bertone was another master of design no doubt.
Lets look at this car from a slightly different angle now. Aggressive. Powerful. Simply fantastic.
I would like to go back in time now with the fabulous ALFA Aerodynamica from 1913! It is best viewed from far.
Imagine this car was made over 100 years ago – it looks so futuristic.
This ALFA was made by Castagna – a coach builder from Milan. It had 70bhp and was powered by 4cylinders. As you might guess from the body paneling this car was made of alloy and thus only weighed 1250kg (relatively little given its huge size). Notice the badge that says only ALFA and Milano – correct given its one of the earliest ALFAs ever made.
The next is somewhat more modern: The Carabo. A V8 car that reminds us of the countach but this car was made long before in 1968!
The car also has style elements of the Miura – especially from the back and side with the black vents.
For 1968 I would say this car is very avant-garde! Fantastic.
Lets finish off with one of the greatest designers that ever lived: Pininfarina. It is best to view the car from far first (yellow one).
Lets admire the car from the side. A masterpiece in styling.
This Alfa is also a one off prototype made in 1969 called the 33/2 Speciale based on the 250 P5 Ferrari and was capable of 260bhp and weighed only 720kg!
The car reminds me strongly of the P series Ferrari on which the car is based. Again notice the four leaf clover – the symbol for Corsa Alfa.
Our last picture takes in most of the cars in this post from a different angle. So you can admire the beauty. Because sometimes you have to take a step back to take it all in!
In part III we are going to concentrate on cars from the 1930s. Dream Alfa Romeos like the 8C 2900 Lunga.
For the history of Alfa Romeo and Part I please see our first post here.
