Being able to express an opinion on a brand as prestigious as that of Alfa Romeo, it is certainly not every day and probably would require much more space to give the right recognition to the "story of the biscione", the brand that was born in the 1910 right in the city symbol of the biscione, Milan. Knowing the chronology of his sporting history does in fact understand the reason for certain mechanical choices that led to the creation of Alfetta.
Having to overlook some important aspects will bring me a bit of athletic embarrassment but being, I admit, an ally, all in all the guilt I can hold it.
Why is the name Alfetta?
Alfetta was the nickname with which engineers, testers, mechanics and pilots called the biscuit competitions. "The Anonymous Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili" (whose acronym was ALFA) was a very uncommon society and everyone knew each other, so friendly and friendly nicknames were a custom among the workmen who, with great seriousness and commitment , they brought to the highest level their common passion, the engines. More or less a kind of family-run business led by 1918 by engineer Nicola Romeo who, after purchasing it, combined his name with the ALFA brand.
ALFA ROMEO wears the uniform
After the exclusion of Alfa Matta from the ministerial announcement, won by Fiat Campagnola, the great qualities of the 4X4 of the Alfa house did not go unnoticed and the prototype was built in series for both civilian use and for the police, then all military. In the 1950, the Alfa Romeo enters the Carabinieri Army by delivering its first vehicle, an Alfa Matta 1900 military green and with the EI inscripts on the license plate.
But let's make a quick leap for twenty years later ... The strong and strategic point of Alfa Romeo resided outside the races, in producing series-derived racing vehicles, and the mythical 1962 CC engine would coincide with 130 horses mounted on the Alpha was a prestigious application. In the 70 years, Alfetta took up service in the Arms of the Carabinieri, becoming a little associative vehicle of the Benemerite and of the Police Corps; its performance and quality are far superior to foreign competition. In France, for example, cars were more designed to respond to functionality and convenience schemes rather than sportsmanship, and only a few models of Renault and Peugeot responded to interesting performance. In fact this was a bit the philosophy of Italian automakers, who preferred the layout, steering precision, transmission gear ratios and clearly the horsepower of the engine with the same displacement.
Alfa at the cinema Maybe someone will remember the 70 X-Men movie movies with Franco Nero or Maurizio Merli where, beyond the dramatic nature of the films that reflected the crime of that period, the spectator's interest was in a sense more focused on Giulia Super and Alfette engaged in spectacular pursuits on the plot.
The flagship Alfetta in its innovation was a status symbol in the 70 years, in fact it was reserved for the bourgeoisie of the period (in the 72 it cost more than two million lire) but it was also the car preferred by the robbers.
Many may come to think of Marshal Armando Spatafora and his Ferrari 250 Gte.
Differences between Alfetta, Giulia and 1750
Giulia, 1750 and 2000, had the same brilliant engine of the Extractor barrel, but the gearbox was positioned on the engine bell, and for optimum balancing were lowered behind, where there was an obsolete rigid bridge, and this allowed a Driving to the limit even though tail reels were frequent but controllable, indeed very useful for tight corners. The pendulum maneuver for those who know it. Giulia and 1750 devoted and greatly expanded the trajectories, offering in this context time to the driver to compensate with steering wheel and accelerator. The sleigh was a real and courageous innovation in the concept of a sports sedan, compared to previous production.
Operability; albeit like Giulia and 1750, the Alfetta was a car that was docile and suitable for the family, but the older law enforcement officers were no longer a "workmate". The feeling of solidity of the structure and autonomy made the marriage between the biscuits and the police officers winning.
The roadholding was enviable and the 116 project (the Alfetta) was completely innovative compared to the previous Giulia, which only shared the engine base designed in the 54. The ready braking (with dry disc brakes) and the tendency to overrun on the climb or, conversely, in the more burning accelerations was the norm for this kind of car. But everything was controllable and predictable (especially on the dry) to such an extent that it was often attempted to bring the car to these extremes to carry out subsequent maneuvers. His defects were attributable to the carburetion that needed a good ear to optimize it and the gear synchronizers that made it slow and impinged; however, this was compensated beyond the double of preventive accelerated major changes in order not to miss the start.
The Alfetta was produced in the 1.8 cc versions with 120 cv and 2.0 with 130 cv but there was also the 1.6 from 109 cv which in performance terms was still very good. There was also in the 2.0 (1995 cc) diesel version and the 2.4 Sofim, the same engine mounted later on the VM '90. The engines were initially with two double-carburetors (one per cylinder) and then the electronic injection was inserted to optimize performance and fuel consumption. The basis for Alfred's success comes from formula one, with the adoption of the "De Dion bridge" for the back deck. A choice that divides the masses at the 50% before and after. The solution gave it a neutral setting with a rear differential and rear differential and providing a "ballast to the ground". The Alpha was in fact attached to the asphalt under all conditions, but the tires were Pirelli, Good Year or Michelin, the standard ones in short. I maintain that this kind of car drives more with the accelerator than the steering wheel but in fact it is a "slim" statement that is understood after so many roads.
Military training
Because of the historical period - the lead years - and the less traffic, the pursuits were an operative option that was used in good standing by prompt intervention and the military was particularly trained for any eventuality that could happen in those years; Among these, training for "fast driving" was an indispensable aspect.
Often alongside Alfa Romeo test drivers at the training centers (but also at ISAM), military instructor instructors were basically professionals and enthusiasts who were also trying to instill these qualities into their students. The courses were very tough and above all selective and aimed at evaluating first the guesswork and then the personal technical qualities. Perhaps the most advantaged ones in these courses were heavy-duty drivers with proven experience who knew how to handle the stress better by being more trained in perception of spaces and remaining quick and precise in driving movements.
The courses included slower and fast slalom around the obstacles, both forward and backward, sudden deviation of several obstacles on dry and wet asphalt, dynamic reverse reversal reversal, but also sudden entry into a perpendicular road, high speed on a circuit with obstacles and the running and downhill techniques operated by the vehicle. A brigadier years ago, he told me that in addition to the study of the trajectories, there was an exercise of climbing and braking with double and heel and toe, to be carried out within a certain time and without creating couple locks on the drive wheels.
"The double disengagement", the double, was the rule on Alpha, a maneuver that some believe to be only accelerating while scaling, was a bit like the distinctive and sporty sign of pure blood alfists. In fact, the maneuver requires disengagement of the clutch with crankshaft and acceleration equal to the number of turns that perception and ear would have with the inferior gear engaged. But the double was also made in the uphill race but in this case without a gas stroke. By overcoming the hard course, the military could be distinguished by the specialty badge.
The "dragons"
The Alfa was followed by a huge number of enthusiasts in Italy and around the world and in Milan there were so-called "dragons" a nickname actually cropped for the Lancia driver Sandro Munari, who knew all about Alpha and Alfette; Their friendships often meant that it was possible to exchange gearboxes between the 1.8 and 2.0 versions to get even more snaps and speeds, as well as review the crossover, advance and carburetion. The steering wheel steered forward with the "hand pass" considering the diameter, and the driving position was quite expanse of modern canons, a English guide in short.
The chills on the skin felt the lap of the Alfetta were part of the guide, especially when the rear was lowered with majesty towards the asphalt, pointing its 4 headlights straight towards the horizon.
But there is a bit of Alfetta also in Modena Lamborghini as well as electronic solutions Magneti Marelli and Bosch, especially on the "Countach" model, it is curious to note that the back lights of the Alpha are the same as the Countach model. At that time the automotive policy was different from today; in fact each car had its own body while now, for industrial optimization, the body is shared between several models. What instead switched was rather the outfits and the components. The Fiat Campagnola for example, mounted the door handles of the Fiat 127 / 128 and also the same steering wheel. The beginnings of the "unified skis" saw in the front of the 90, Saab 900, Lancia Thema and Croma, to mount the same front doors.
Where Alfetta Served It was a car used for the prompt intervention of the citizens, who just felt their powerful engine they felt already safer. Green to the 1975 and then blue / white for the PS, blue for the Carabinieri and GdF, an inspection light and one or two flashing rooftops on the roof, these in addition to its unmistakable "Alfa sound" were the distinguishing marks of our forces of the order that flickered during the interventions. But the job, given the versatility of this sedan, was also for the top of the state. Armed and admirable bodies had Alfette and maybe a carabiniere as a conductor. It also produced armored versions (b4 level) for ministerial needs and these do not dare to imagine consumptions ...
Bringing the change to the "institutional" Alpha has come a bit late, while the Alfa 90, despite being a good car, did not have a great success, because, at the same time, Alfa came out with the latest real a bomb that has shadowed the new "90", the Alfa 75, a car with all the advantages of Alfa Romeo's history. But the golden years of Alfa Romeo Alfetta and also of Giulia are not too late to arrive. Also appreciated by the Germans, the Alfa landed in America where its fans, overseas, remain enthusiastic for its sporting skills and performance far superior to their sportsmanship, the Corvette C3 from 5000 cc. The most sought-after versions were the GTV 2.5 series, Giulia GT, Spider and Alfetta "America". 3 catalytic converter, thicker crystals, bulb, reverse gear lock mechanism and increased bumpers distinguished the US range from the European one. The air-conditioner was piston-driven, like the buses, driven by the motor using a strap and not a cylinder with an elliptical rotor as is the case for modern cars. The ZF 3 automatic version of the Alpha 2000 was not a great success here in America and America, the sportsman who could afford it for the classic manual.
Curiosity Alfiste ...
The series produced after the 80 were longer than 10 centimeters on the front, to have more space in the engine compartment but above all to improve the CX aerodynamics.
Fidel Castro was a great fan of Alfa and owned some of them, Giulia Gt, Giulia and 1750.
The Alpha pedal was the first with the leverage coming from above, until before the support, pressing the pedal, disappeared beneath the body.
Some online statements, of well-known Alfa engineers, claim that BMW has had a "no-nonsense" role in the destiny of Alpha and that certain unclear choices in biscuit production were not shared by Milan's engineering staff.
(photo: web)
