Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale was the road-going manifestation of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 racing programme — a direct transfer of motorsport technology into a car that could be registered and driven on public roads. “Stradale” means simply “road-going” in Italian. Carlo Chiti’s Autodelta built the first prototype in 1967 at the Settimo Milanese workshop alongside the racing Tipo 33 “Periscopica,” and 18 chassis were constructed in total between 1967 and 1969.
The engine was the same 1,995 cc 90° V8 used in the racing Tipo 33, mid-mounted behind the driver, producing 230 hp at 8,800 rpm — giving the 700 kg car a top speed of around 260 km/h (161 mph). The wheelbase was lengthened by 10 cm from the racing car to improve occupant comfort, but the architecture was otherwise racing-derived. Upon introduction, the 33 Stradale was the most expensive production automobile in the world, at approximately US$17,000 in 1967 equivalent.
The body was the work of Franco Scaglione — the designer who had earlier produced the B.A.T. aerodynamic concept cars for Bertone (the direct conceptual ancestors of the Giulietta Sprint) — built by the small specialist coachbuilder Carrozzeria Marazzi in Milan. Scaglione’s design is a flowing berlinetta of extraordinary elegance: voluptuous curves over a compact mid-engined structure, with a low roofline and butterfly (dihedral) doors — the first production car to feature such doors, preceding the McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo, and Lamborghini concepts that would later adopt them. The windows curve seamlessly upward into the roofline.
Of the 18 chassis built, 6 were supplied without bodywork to coachbuilders — Bertone produced the Carabo concept on one (1968, Marcello Gandini), Pininfarina another; Italdesign/Giugiaro used at least one further chassis. The 12 complete Scaglione/Marazzi cars are among the rarest and most valuable Alfa Romeos in existence. The 33 Stradale is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful automobiles ever created.
Connections
- Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 — racing_car_source; Stradale is road-going derivative, source: wikipedia.org
- Carlo Chiti — Autodelta technical director; oversaw Stradale programme, source: wikipedia.org
- Autodelta — built Stradale alongside racing programme, source: wikipedia.org
- Alfa Romeo — manufacturer/brand, source: wikipedia.org