Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. has been producing vehicles in Italy for 100 years. The company was formed in 1910 when a number of car enthusiasts and inventors joined together to purchase a struggling car factory near Milan. The group called themselves Anonima Lomarda Fabbrica Automobili – ALFA for short. The first ALFA – the 24HP - was launched within a year, and was praised by the industry for its impressive speed. ALFAs released over the next few years featured even more powerful engines and enjoyed great sporting success, but couldn’t prevent the financial troubles that plagued the company in its early years. ALFA was saved from collapse by Italian engineer and entrepreneur Nicola Romeo in 1915, and the company was rebranded as Alfa Romeo. In 1920, the Torpedo 20-30 HP became the first car to bear the Alfa Romeo badge. After a brief period of further racing success, the company found itself in trouble again – this time it was the government to the rescue. The company, now under the Italian government’s control, suddenly found itself hailed as a national emblem. The Giulietta, first released in 1954, became an icon of European motoring. Alfa Romeo continued to assert its dominance in car racing after World War II, quickly becoming known as ‘the car to beat’ in Grand Prix events. The Tipo 33 models were particularly competitive in the 1970s, earning Alfa Romeo the World Championship for Makes title in 1975 and the World Championship for Sports Cars title in 1977. Under new owners the Fiat Group, the Alfa Romeo 156 was released, a highly popular model and multi-award winner. The 156 was voted Car of the Year in 1998 – the first Alfa Romeo to win the prestigious prize. The beauty of the Alfa Romeo design has made the brand a star of film and television, making prominent appearances in a range of films including The Graduate (1967), and The Italian Job (1969), as well as three James Bond movies.