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Alfetta sedan

Practical Classics at the NEC Birmingham, UK

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Sud Super sorta sums it all up.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

After the perceived glamour of Retromobile Paris, it was time for a trip up the M40 to the NEC in Birmingham for the ‘Practical Classics Magazine’s Classic Car and Restoration Show’, an event that is more boiler suits than Armani suits but just as enjoyable. Unlike other classic car shows such as Retro, at the Practical Classics show the attendees manning the club stands are welding spanners rather than just drinking tea and chatting, while in Paris they sip wine; it is all very hands on and grass roots.

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The Mortal Alfa Romeo Alfetta

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By Pete Vack
Photos from Alfa Brochures

The Alfetta Sedan and GT

The Alfetta series—which are roughly defined herein as any of the front engined, de Dion transaxle cars made from 1973 to 1992, were created to replace the existing solid axle Alfas, and to significantly improve the highly praised handling characteristics of the Alfas produced up to that point.

The Alfetta took its name from the famous 158/159 Alfa Romeo Grand Prix cars, raced from 1939 to 1951. These unbeatable race cars featured a similar transaxle layout, and were called the small Alfa, or Alfetta, because of the 1500cc displacement. However, a major difference was that the Grand Prix car left the clutch at the engine end, a difference that as we shall see, meant a great deal. All in all, the Grand Prix car was one of the most successful and perfect front engined Grand Prix cars ever constructed; the Alfetta series was not, and the name as applied to the production car didn’t last long. which was probably a good thing.

A fantastic idea in concept, but keeping that long driveshaft vibration free as it turned at engine speed was difficult to achieve. However, the 50-50 weight distribution made the Alfettas and their successors a joy to drive.

Still, we had hope. The Alfetta was conceived under the technical direction of Rudolph Hruska, who had been recalled by Alfa to replace the great Dr. Orazio Satta Puliga. In every way, the conception, the idea, the dream of the new Alfetta was thoroughly commendable, and held great promise. [Read more…] about The Mortal Alfa Romeo Alfetta

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