Alfa Romeo

THE COMPANY

The firm "Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili", A.L.F.A. was founded in 1910, in the ill-fated industrial complex built by Alessandro Darracq at Portello in Milan in 1907. Under the direction of Cavalier Ugo Stella, Alfa produces a series of models that soon help it to become competitive on the market and stand out for their performance and drivability: the 24 HP, the very first car to be called an ALFA (at a cost of 12,000 lire); and the various models derived from it, the 40-60 HP models with more powerful engines.
Alfa's adventure in the world of competition resumes - having been interrupted in 1915 with the company's involvement in producing military hardware - and it joins the group of companies controlled by Nicola Romeo. At the end of the war, in 1919, car production begins again and 1920 sees production of the very first car with the Alfa Romeo logo: the "Torpedo 20-30 HP". Competitive racing starts again.

The story goes that Henry Ford used to doff his hat when he saw an Alfa Romeo pass, and that on the day he managed to beat the Alfas, Enzo Ferrari cried like a baby.
The company has come through a century of history, contributing many memorable pages to the history of the motorcar.
There are icons that have always been part of the collective global image of Alfa Romeo: its 'cuore sportivo' or sporting heart, indomitable vitality, the sound of the engine, the elegance of the forms, and Italian design. So we have prepared a journey through time linking all the various images of the Alfa Romeo legend from its origins to the present day.The contents of this section are organized chronologically, along a timeline, marked by the key dates in Alfa Romeo's history from its origins to today.
The themes that make up the history of Alfa Romeo are:

Passion : From 1910 to today: the evolution of a brand that has always been unmistakable. The perception of Alfa Romeo in a parallel journey through the evolution of Italian and international customs. Alfa Romeo in books and films, as an object of desire, a status symbol, an image of beauty and Italian expression.

Cars : From the Torpedo to the Duetto by way of the Giulietta. They are the UNFORGETTABLES: "technological masterpieces" from the epic age of the motorcar that captured the imagination of car lovers all over the world.

Races : Alfa Romeo has taken part in competitions since the first months of its existence: by vocation, by necessity, by conviction. An extraordinary run of success on the track, all signed Alfa Romeo.

Personalities : In memory of all the greats who have contributed to the creation of the Alfa Romeo legend, from Tazio Nuvolari, the "flying Mantuan", to Ferrari, Fangio, engineer Merosi, and designers Jano, Pininfarina, and Zagato. The company. More than simply the story of the company as an institution, but also Alfa Romeo's long adventure, from the early years of the last century to the present day, in a historical journey full of colour, facts and personalities.

About Alfa 164

The recovery model. Launched in September 1987, the Alfa 164 is the first car produced under the aegis of the Fiat-Lancia group and soon becomes the winning card for the new-look Alfa Romeo. The design is by Pininfarina, who gives the car the look of a distinguished saloon, which is at the same time aggressive and powerful. Initially the engines are those used on the 75 range, with some improvements, but from 1990 the range is widened by the versions equipped with a 3-liter 6-cylinder catalytic engine for the US market.In 1992 the 164 embarks on a new life-cycle, with six models divided into two ranges. The so-called "Super" range, with three different engines (V6 24v, V6 TB and TD), joins the 164 Twin Spark and 164 TD. Aesthetically the trim on the Super differs from the standard trim for the new front with poly-elliptical lighting clusters and a redesigned Alfa Romeo shield, more pronounced front and rear bumpers, the new side bumper strips with progressive shading, the black side member covers and the new aerodynamic side mirrors. The entire rim of the body is trimmed with an anodized aluminum molding. The standard fittings are particularly impressive, including an anti-pollen filter, 4 electric windows, cruise control, driver's side airbag and a new external finish. In 1994 the range is completed with the showpiece 164 Quadrifoglio 4, combining the 3.0 V6 24v engine with a sophisticated permanent four-wheel drive system with active electronic traction control and a Getrag 6-speed gearbox.