Alfa Romeo History

Alfa Romeo produces some of the most luxurious cars in the planet. This private company was found in 1910 in Milan, Italy. The headquarters are in Turin, Italy. Although the company makes cars for the luxury models market to sell worldwide, it has been racing cars since 1911. The company that was founded as Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID) by the French Alexandre Darracq became part of Fiat in 1986 - later, in 2007 a part of Fiat Group Automobile of S.p.A. However, the company did not get its name Alfa (Anonima Lombarda Fabrica Automobili) until 1909. Later, in 1920 the name was changed to Alfa Romeo when the company became directed by Nicola Romeo. Nicola Romeo had turned the factory into a military hardware production company. The company had a rough start and eventually after Nicola Romeo left, the company was not doing well and the government had to rescue it (Benito Mussolini) in 1932. From there on, the company did better under government control. After WWII, the company started mass-producing small vehicles. However, the first official Alfa Romeo car was built in the 1920s - the Torpedo 20-30 HP.

It was not until the 1960s that Alfa Romeo started building some sporty cars; however, the government parent company Finmeccanica was struggling and had to sell it to the Fiat Group in 1986. Alfa Romeo became involved in racing and it contributed to the sport by building and supplying engines or by competing. It has made a name in racing, but also thanks to Enzo Ferrari who managed the Alfa Romeo team, but later became the founder of Scuderia Ferrari racing Alfa Romeo cars, until he developed the Ferrari company when Alfa Romeo stopped building the racing cars.

Today the company is selling around the world to Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and Oceania. The name Alfa Romeo is synonym of Luxury and Passion for cars. The company has always produced high performance engines more suitable for racing, but detuning them to suit road models better. However, the Alfa Romeo bodies is what takes car enthusiasts breath away, as this seems to be where most of the changes has been developed. Some of the most famous houses that have designed for Alfa Romeo besides their in-house designing center are Ghia, ItalDesign, Carrozeria Touring, Pininfarina, Zagato, Bertone, Vignale, OSE, Castagna, Viotti, Boano, and Allemano. The bold fiery designs speak of beauty, emotion, and passion besides of luxurious design.

Some of the most impressive cars that the company has manufactured are the 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750, the 1938 Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C 2900B, the 1950-55 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Cabriolet convertible, and one of the most known - the Alfa Romeo Giulietta - a masterpiece of beauty, performance, luxury, engineering, and excitement. Alfa Romeo cars are not for the faint of heart, neither for boring drivers.

Alfa Romeo competes out there with Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Jaguar; however, the Alfa Romeo's logo - a coat of arms with a cross - reminds us of power, of ancient conquers and victory, despite the many financial up and downs that the company has had throughout the years.