It was June 1910 when ‘Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili’ or A.L.F.A. was officially founded but the marque didn’t acquire its full name until 1915 when it was purchased by Italian businessman Nicola Romeo who renamed it Alfa Romeo. Thus was born one of the greatest marques in automobile history.
116 years has passed since Alfa’s birth, putting its legacy up there with the likes of Mercedes-Benz when it comes to carmakers of a similar vintage. Yes, Peugeot, Skoda and Opel were around long before but all of them began as bicycle manufacturers, only moving to cars much later in their respective lives. Back to Alfa Romeo, a brand who are often cited as one for true car enthusiasts, after all, it was a certain Jeremy Clarkson who said “you aren’t a car enthusiast until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo.”
And what a catalogue of vehicles the Italian marque has given us over the years! From its early days producing voluptuous masterpieces like the 6C & 8C Lungo to its revolutionary B.A.T cars of the 50s and then who can forget, the iconic Spider or the GTV which is still the ultimate Alfa for many. It may sound like the brand’s greatest days are firmly set in the 20th century but that isn’t quite the case! The 21st century has seen the delivery of the lightweight 4C sportscar, 8C and the legendary Busso engine’s swansong in the 147 & 156 GTA pairing. Although they are getting long in the tooth, Alfa’s Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV are still hailed amongst the most engaging offerings in their respective categories even after being on sale for close to a decade now!
Clearly, this is a car manufacturer that deserves its flowers as its been a source of inspiration for many a car enthusiast throughout the years. 116 years on, Alfa Romeo continues to be a flag bearer for great design but more importantly, it still upholds the lost art of treating driving as a form of self expression, a philosophy if you will, rather than just a means to an end.
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Words by Matthew D’Souza, media courtesy of Stellantis Media Alfa Romeo.
This article was entirely written without the use of AI.
