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The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Alfa Romeo celebrates 70 years of Giulietta moniker
Just over 70 years ago, on April 20, 1955, Alfa Romeo took the wraps off a car that would become a cornerstone of both the brand's history and Italy's post-war economic renaissance. Looking for a new or used set of wheels? Find it here with CARmag! Revealed at the Turin Motor Show, the Giulietta Berlina represented a renaissance for the Italian automaker, encompassing elegance, affordability, and brimming with advanced engineering. The compact saloon also played a crucial role in Alfa Romeo's leap into an era of industrial-scale production and mass-market success. Related: Road Test Figures: BMW M3 Touring While Alfa's post-war comeback began with the 1900, it was the Giulietta that truly democratised the brand's sporty DNA, bringing it to middle-class driveways across Italy. As Roberto Giolito, head of heritage at Stellantis, puts it, the Giulietta Berlina 'brought Alfa Romeo's sporty DNA to the everyday lives of Italians… a symbol of progress and rebirth in post-war Italy'. The debut of this car came only five years after Giuseppe Farina and four years after Juan Manuel Fangio won with the Alfa Romeo SpA constructors team. These were the first two seasons of the modern Formula 1 format still followed today. Continuing with the history, it wasn't the Berlina that launched first. In a bold break from convention, Alfa Romeo revealed the Giulietta Sprint coupé a year earlier in 1954. Penned by Franco Scaglione for Bertone, the Sprint combined good looks with a high-revving engine under 1.5l. The response was electric and Alfa's dealers were swamped with orders, prompting the company to fast-track the saloon. When it debuted in 1955, the Giulietta Berlina brought that same performance spirit to a four-door package — what Alfa proudly called 'the family car which wins races'. At the heart of the Giulietta was a technical tour de force: a 1.3l aluminium twin-cam engine producing 53hp (40kW), giving the featherweight 870kg saloon a top speed of 140km/h. It sounds meagre and insignificant today, but back then proved to be revolutionary because no other mass-produced compact could match its mix of lightweight construction, advanced valvetrain, and sporty dynamics. Its chassis featured independent suspension all around, a gearshift on the steering column, and drum brakes cast using Alfa's own process. It was a saloon that didn't drive like one, and many was the predecessor to what is regarded as the progenitor of the sport saloon segment; the Giulia. What it did for Alfa's production capabilities was vast since its arrival transformed Alfa Romeo's Portello plant from a boutique operation into a modern industrial facility. Under the guidance of engineer Rudolf Hruska, the factory's output surged from 50 to 200 cars a day. Related: LONG-TERM WRAP-UP: Ford Territory 1.8T Trend AT And Italians embraced it and it became a pop culture icon before monikers like the Mustang existed. The Giulietta starred in films alongside screen legends like Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren. It graced the first cover of Quattroruote magazine and 1965, Alfa sold nearly 178 000 Giuliettas across a range of body styles, including the Spider by Pininfarina, the Sprint Speciale, the Zagato-bodied SZ, and even a station wagon called the Promiscua. Once the original Type 750/101 Giulietta ran its course, the second iteration with code Type 116 was spawned. It continued but only as a four-door saloon based on the Alfetta chassis, and was made from 1977 to 1985. Finally, the third Giulietta (Type 940) arrived in more recent memory as a front-wheel drive hatchback, produced from 2010 to 2020 that got a potent Quadrifoglio Verde model that rivalled the likes of the Golf GTI. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles with CARmag! The post Alfa Romeo Celebrates 70 Years of Giulietta Moniker appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Alfa Romeo Giulietta: The Italian icon celebrates 70 years
Seventy years ago, on April 20, 1955, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Berlina was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show, a car that would indelibly shape the Italian automotive landscape and capture the hearts of enthusiasts globally, including in South Africa. This elegant, technologically advanced, affordable and sporty saloon swiftly symbolised Italy's post-war resurgence, inspiring a generation of Alfa Romeo devotees. In 2025, Stellantis Heritage and Alfa Romeo commemorate this significant milestone, acknowledging the Giulietta's crucial role in transitioning the brand from artisanal production to industrial manufacturing, a legacy admired by classic car enthusiasts in SA. Roberto Giolito, head of Stellantis Heritage, aptly stated: 'The Giulietta Berlina brought Alfa Romeo's sporty DNA into the everyday lives of Italians, making fine engineering and aspirations accessible to an emerging middle class. This model seamlessly blended the prestige of Alfa Romeo's sports cars with the practicality of a family vehicle, establishing itself as a powerful symbol of progress and rebirth in post-war Italy.' This blend of sportiness and practicality continues to resonate with SA classic car aficionados. In the early 1950s, buoyed by Formula One victories with the Alfetta driven by Farina and Fangio, Alfa Romeo aimed to broaden its appeal without sacrificing its distinctive style, advanced technology, and high-performance ethos. The Giulietta was conceived as a compact, modern and relatively affordable car that would retain the competitive spirit of the Biscione marque. Intriguingly, the Giulietta Sprint coupé, penned by Franco Scaglione for Bertone, debuted at the 1954 Turin Motor Show, preceding the saloon and generating considerable anticipation. Alfa Romeo strategically used the Sprint's sporty allure to build excitement for the Giulietta Berlina, initially intended for limited production. However, the Sprint's overwhelming popularity compelled Alfa Romeo to accelerate the saloon's development. Consequently, the Giulietta Berlina debuted on April 20, 1955, marking the first instance of such a potent compact model being offered as a family car. Building on the foundation of 1900, Alfa Romeo refined its concept of a sporty, yet practical saloon, marketed as 'the family car which wins races,' capable of achieving success in the hands of both amateur and professional drivers, with the memorable tagline 'mum also drives it.' This marked the beginning of Alfa Romeo's pioneering role in making sporty driving accessible to a wider audience, a concept appreciated by UK drivers seeking character and performance. The Giulietta arguably established a new benchmark for 1300cc vehicles in Europe. Remarkably, no other mass-produced saloons of the era could rival the Giulietta's sophisticated mechanics and impressive performance, solidifying its status as a true innovator. Technologically advanced for its time, the Giulietta incorporated cutting-edge features. Its 1290cc, twin-camshaft engine produced 40kW and achieved a top speed of 140km/h, impressive figures for its weight of 870kg. The engine featured an aluminium block (a first for a mass-produced car), along with aluminium gearbox and differential casings. The cylinder liners were made of press-fitted cast iron, and the valve system employed a twin overhead camshaft configuration – unique for a small engine at the time – supported by a five-bearing crankshaft. The rear-wheel-drive Giulietta also featured a distinctive steering column-mounted gear shift (a floor-mounted option became available in 1957) and a pull-on handbrake beneath the dashboard. The production of the Giulietta Berlina marked a significant industrial evolution for Alfa Romeo. While mass production began in the 1900s, the Giulietta was the catalyst for transforming the Portello plant into a modern, efficient manufacturing facility. The Giulietta transcended its role as mere transportation, becoming ingrained in the Italian cultural consciousness and an enduring icon of style and progress, a status that resonates with classic car enthusiasts in the SA who appreciate Italian automotive design. It appeared in films and was celebrated by cultural figures, further cementing its connection to Italy's identity. The name 'Giulietta' carries its own intriguing origin stories, adding to its legendary status. The Giulietta range expanded to include various body styles (1954-1965), such as the Pininfarina-designed Spider (aimed at the US market), the Bertone-styled Sprint Speciale, and the Zagato-bodied Giulietta SZ. Even a station wagon version, the Promiscua, was produced. In total, 177 690 Giulietta vehicles across all variants were manufactured, with over 130 000 being the beloved Berlina. Its legacy paved the way for equally iconic successors like the Giulia, which further refined the Giulietta's characteristics in terms of performance and innovation, carrying forward Alfa Romeo's tradition of crafting compelling compact cars for a discerning market. Source: QuickPic
