ALFA ROMEO Giulietta Sprint Veloce "Alleggerita"
Special Models for Special Drivers.
Milan, 1919. Nicola Romeo, new owner of the ALFA, decided to add his own surname to the name of the company and created the worldwide known ALFA ROMEO car company.
With great designers such as Giuseppe Morosi, Vittorio Jano and many others he produced some of the most exciting sport and racing cars ever seen.
With magnificent drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari, Enzo Ferrari, Fangio and Farina they won all the major races like the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans 24h and every grand prix they ever entered writing the history of the Lombard Car Company.
After WWII Alfa Romeo faced a delicate step and had to enter the world of mass production.
With Nuccio Bertone's Design Studio, one of the main and distinctive Italian Coachbuilder, Orazio Satta came up with the solution.
1954, Turin. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint was presented at the Turin Motor Show and had a great success. The Styling is by the great Franco Scaglione and the 1.3 L Twin Cam Four-Cylinder Engine was designed by Giuseppe Busso.
Internally called "Tipo 750", this car was for every man, woman and family.
24.000 Giulietta were produced in different variants but one of them had the honour to prove itself in competition. 600 models of those 24.000 were "sacrificed" for that scope and today less than 40 remain making this a rare and exciting sighting.
Here is one of them, even more Special.
Originally owned by a Swedish F1 Driver and Sport Car Racer in the 50s called Jo Bonnier, this Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce is not a common Alfa Romeo but a very special version of the Alleggerita, Italian for "lightened".
Aluminium has been used for doors, bonnet and boot and Plexiglas for the windows. It’s lightweight in just about every part, interiors included.
Its weight was crucial during races and combined with Alfa Romeo engineering and style allowed the Italian company to achieve unexpected targets.
Brescia, 1956. Jo, driving this exact model at the legendary race Mille Miglia, surprised everyone. With his Giulietta he achieved a position of 15th overall and entering in the first 3 positions of his category, dominated by Alfa Romeo. Absolutely stunning considering that they were racing against much more powerful cars and a massive German manufacturer. Porsche.
Even Henry Ford once said: "When I see an Alfa Romeo go by, I tip my hat".
So, Tip yours and enjoy.
