Alfa Romeo Alfetta

280px 1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta at Wheels Of Italy
Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Parent company
Aka	Gold Leaf model was also sold as the Alfetta 159i in some markets
Production	1972–1987
Assembly	Arese, Milan, Italy Rosslyn plant, South Africa Brits, South Africa
Predecessor	None
Successor	Alfa Romeo 75 Alfa Romeo GTV (1995)
Class
Body_style	4-door sedan 2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Platform
Engine	1.6 L I4 1.8 L I4 2.0 L I4 2.0 L I4 turbo 2.0 L I4 turbodiesel 2.4 L I4 turbodiesel 2.5 L V6 2.6 L V8 (limited edition)
Transmission
Wheelbase	2510 mm 2400 mm (GT/GTV/GTV6)
Length	4270 mm
Width	1670 mm
Height	1435 mm
Fuel capacity	49 L
Ground clearance
Transmission	5-speed manual 3-speed ZF automatic
Weight	1000 kg (GTV) 1210 kg (GTV6)
Top speed
Related
Similar	Lancia Beta Peugeot 504 Audi 100
Related	Alfa Romeo Giulietta (nuova) FNM-Alfa Romeo 2300 (Rio)
Designer	Berlina:Giuseppe Scarnati GT:Giugiaro/Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo GTV redirects here. For 916 series GTV see Alfa Romeo GTV & Spider

The Alfa Romeo Alfetta was an executive saloon car and fastback coupé produced from 1972 until 1984 by Alfa Romeo. It was popular due to its combination of a modest design with powerful engines, selling over 400,000 units until the end of its production run, but in the final years its sales were down due to Alfa Romeo's reliability problems that plagued the company through the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Alfetta introduced a new drivetrain layout to the marque. Clutch and transmission were housed at the rear of the car, together with the differential for a more balanced weight distribution, as used on the Alfetta 158/159 Grand Prix cars. The suspension relied on double wishbones and torsion bars at the front and a de Dion beam at the rear. The Alfetta was renewed in 1979 with a revised frontend, new wheel rims and new lights, as well as a Diesel version.

It was available with two four-cylinder DOHC engines with two valves per cylinder and a turbo Diesel engine supplied by VM Motori. The 1.6 and 1.8 L base models had two double-barrel carburettors, while the 2.0 DOHC received fuel injection in 1979. The Diesel initially had 2.0 L, but was increased to 2.4 L in 1982.

A final facelift was added in 1984, when the company changed the car's name to Alfa 90, to conform to its new naming system, which included the Alfa 33 and 75.

The Alfa Romeo Alfetta became well known throughout the world since it was Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro's official escort car, when, in 1978, he was first kidnapped, then killed, by the Italian Terrorist left-wing organization The Red Brigades. A fictionalised account of these events was produced as a critically well regarded Italian film , The Advocate, which also heavily featured Alfettas of all types, from Caribieneri 'Short Nose . Round Light' through to the Prime Minister's own 'Long Nose Square Light' 2000 Super Saloon.

Version	Years	Produced
Alfetta	1972-74	104,454
Alfetta (RHD)	1972-78	2,011
Alfetta 1.8	1975-83	67,738
Alfetta 1.6	1975-83	77,103
Alfetta 2000	1976-77	34,733
Alfetta 2000 (RHD)	1977	1,450
Alfetta 2000 L	1978-80	60,097
Alfetta 2.0	1981-84	48,750
Alfetta 2000 LI America	1978-81	1,000
Alfetta 2000 Turbodiesel	1979-84	23,530
Alfetta Quadrifoglio Oro	1982-84	19,340
Alfetta CEM	1983	991
Alfetta 2.4 Turbo Diesel	1983-84	7,220
Total Note: Unofficial figures		448,417

Design and dynamics

The rear transaxle found on the Alfetta and derivatives- GTV, 90 and 75- provided these cars with excellent weight distribution. This resulted in excellent handling, which some experts believe these were among the best-handling saloon cars of their time. Unlike most rear-wheel drive cars, the transaxle meant there was no transmission tunnel linking the gearbox to the rear axle- thus helping interior space.

GT, GTV and GTV6

File:GTV6.jpg

1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6 at Wheels Of Italy

For information about the Current model GTV see Alfa Romeo GTV & Spider

The Alfetta was the base for the GTV, a fastback coupé version of the saloon, introduced in 1974 as Alfetta GT, initially available only with the 1.8 litre (1779cc) version of the Alfa DOHC four. For 1976, with the final phasing out of the earlier 105 Series 1.3 and 1.6 litre coupes (GT 1300 Junior and GT 1600 Junior) and the 2.0 litre 105 series 2000 GTV, the Alfetta GT became a range, also available with the 1.6 litre (1570cc) and 2.0 litre (1962cc) versions of the same engine as the Alfetta GT 1.6, Alfetta GT 1.8 and Alfetta GTV 2000. The GTV designation was initially reserved for the 2.0 litre top version.

In 1979, some minor revisions, including a revised engine with new camshaft profiles and a change to mechanical-and-vacuum ignition advance, saw the 2.0 litre redesignated the Alfetta GTV 2000L. Autodelta also produced a limited edition turbocharged model, named Turbodelta, for FIA Group 4 homologation. This version used a KKK turbo which pushed power up to 175 PS (129 kW). The car also received a modified suspension layout.

In 1981, the GTV received a restyling, with grey plastic bumpers and all matt-black trim replacing bright stainless steel, the 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre versions were discontinued and the Alfetta 2000 GTV became the base coupé model as the Alfa GTV 2.0. The Alfetta name was dropped, but the two-litre coupé retained its type designation of 11636 for left hand drive and 11637 for right hand drive. 15 inch alloy wheels were now standard, as opposed to the earlier cars' 14 inch pressed steel or optional 14 inch alloy.

Later in the same year, the GTV6, a version of the GTV with the SOHC V6 2.5 L engine from the Alfa 6 luxury sedan, was released. As a result the hood received a bulge to clear the top of the intake and became its most pronounced feature. With Bosch fuel injection instead of the six downdraught Dellorto carburettors in the early Alfa 6 installation, the V6 was much easier to start and retained its state of tune much better. The V6 received rave reviews from the motoring press, which had previously lambasted the same engine in the Alfa 6 because of the carburettor problems. It found its true home in the GTV6 where it could stretch its legs better than in the less sporting Alfa 6 sedan, including winning the European Touring Car Championship an unprecedented four years in succession (1982-85), the British Touring Car Championship in 1983 at the hands of Andy Rouse, as well as many other racing and rallying competitions. The fuel injection installation eventually made it into the second series of the Alfa 6 as well. The GTV went through a number of revisions, including a new gear ratios and an updated interior in 1984.

Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT engine bay

South African models were assembled in Fiat's Uitenhage plant. South Africa was one of two markets to have a turbocharged GTV6, with a Garrett turbocharger and a NACA intake. An estimated 750 were assembled before all production ceased in 1986. The South African market also introduced the 3.0 L GTV6, predating the international debut of the factory's 3.0 L engine in 1987. Approximately 200 were built in South Africa for racing homologation. To this day, the GTV6 remains the quintessential Alfa Romeo for South Africans.

Reeves Callaway, founder of Callaway Cars and famous for his various modifications of Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes, modified about thirty GTV6s to Callaway Twin Turbo specification for Alfa Romeo Inc., the North American importer.

Alfetta GT and GTV Racing Versions by Autodelta

Recing versions of the Alfetta GT and GTV were built by Autodelta, initially with the normally aspirated engine from the earlier GTAm racer based on the 105 series coupe, for homologation under FIA Group 2. In this form they were rallied with moderate success in 1975, winning the Elba and Costa Brava rallies overall, as well as winning the Group 2 category in the World Rally Championship's Corsican event. The next year Autodelta shifted its focus to circuit racing the Alfettas, which won the under 2.5-liter Group 2 division of the European Touring Car Championship, scoring a remarkable second place overall at the 24 hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, as well as an overall win in the ETC race at Vallelunga. Despite such results, Autodelta's efforts with the Group 2 Alfetta were desultory, and ended prematurely. At a single rally at the end of the 1975 season, Autodelta also rallied an Alfetta GTV with a 3.0 litre V8 engine, derived from the 2.6 litre V8 of the Alfa Romeo Montreal coupé and sharing the same mechanical fuel injection by Spica. It had been suggested to produce 400 roadgoing versions of this model for homologation but this plan was abandoned as well.

In 1980 the Alfetta GTV Turbodelta was already homologated in FIA Group 4, since the required number of production cars had been built. A racing version was campaigned in rallies, but once more the effort was abandoned after a single season, despite scoring a win at the Danube Rally.

External links

• AlfaGtv6.com Alfa GTV6.com
• Swiss Alfetta GTV site, including racing versions
• Historical Racing Website

Bertone Designs

Abarth: 1952 Abarth 1500 Coupé | 1958 Abarth 1000 GT Coupé | 1965 Abarth OT 1000 Spider Alfa Romeo: 1953 Alfa Romeo BAT-5 | 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider | 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva | 1954 Alfa Romeo BAT-7 | 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint | 1955 Alfa Romeo BAT-9 | 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale | 1962 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint | 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint | 1962 Alfa Romeo GTA | 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale | 1964 Alfa Romeo Canguro | 1967 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior | 1967 Alfa Romeo Montreal | 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo | 1976 Alfa Romeo Navajo | 1978 Alfa Romeo Alfetta | 1980 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2000 | 1983 Alfa Romeo Delfino | 2003 Alfa Romeo GT ASA: 1962 ASA Coupé Bertone: 1970 Bertone Berlinetta | 1992 Bertone Blitz | 2003 Bertone Birusa Ferrari: 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso | 1974 Ferrari 208/308 GT4 | 1976 Ferrari Rainbow Fiat: 1967 Fiat Dino Coupé | 1968 Fiat 850Sport Spider | 1978 Fiat Ritmo/Strada | Fiat X1/9 ISO: 1962 Iso Rivolta | 1965 Iso Grifo | 1969 Iso Lele Lamborghini: 1967 Lamborghini Marzal | 1967 Lamborghini Miura | 1968 Lamborghini Espada | 1970 Lamborghini Urraco | 1971 Lamborghini Countach | 1974 Lamborghini Bravo | 1980 Lamborghini Athon | 1988 Lamborghini Genesis | 1990 Lamborghini Diablo Lambretta: 1968 Lambretta Luna line: Lui, Vega & Cometa | 1969 Lambretta GP/DL Scooter Lancia: 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero | 1972 Lancia Stratos | 1978 Lancia Sibilo Maserati: 1972 Maserati Khamsin | 1974 Maserati Quattroporte II