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1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Prototype news, pictures, and information | ||
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The vehicles were built with the engine in the front and powered the rear wheels. Most used a four-speed manual gearbox with front and rear drum brakes. The steering was worm-and-roller with the front suspension comprised of wishbones with telescopic dampers and coil springs with anti-roll bar while the rear was a rigid live axle with telescopic dampers and coil springs.
The first of the Giulietta's to be offered was the 2+2 coupe which featured a four-cylinder engine and bodywork by Bertone. The 1290 cc engine producing 65 horsepower, a respectable figure at the time. A year later the berlina version appeared, commonly referred to as a salon. This version brought a level of practicality, with its four doors and longer wheelbase. It featured the same mechanical components as the Sprint but the engine was not as powerful, producing a little over 50 horsepower.
The famous coachbuilder, Pininfarina, was tasked with designing a new prototype for 1955. What was created was the Giulietta Spider Prototype, first introduced to the public at the 1956 Turing Motor Show in production form. It sat atop a slightly shorter wheelbase than the Sprint but used the same mechanical components.
In 1956, the Veloce was introduced. This version was sporty, with its dual-cam 1300 cc alloy engine. Using dual Weber DC03 carburetors the vehicle was capable of producing 90 horsepower. The gas tank was enlarged to better prepare it for endurance racing while the larger front brakes provided excellent stopping power. By using Plexiglas rear and side windows and aluminum alloy doors, hood, and trunk lid the vehicle was able to shed weight, ultimately improving performance. The Veloce version was available on the Spider and the Sprint.
In 1957, the Giulietta Ti was introduced, outfitted with a salon body and powered by a Sprint engine. With the four doors and a 65 horsepower engine, this became the most popular Giulietta ever produced.
Modest changes were made in 1959 to correct reliability issues. There were few aesthetic changes, mostly to the exterior of the TI version.
In 1961 the berlina's received an updated grill and the Spider now shared the same wheelbase as the Sprint. The TI received extra power, an increase that brought total output to 75 horsepower.
In 1963, the production of the berlina ceased with the TI doing the same a year later. Throughout the production lifespan of the Giulietta, the TI was by far the most popular model with nearly 93,000 examples being produced. The closest to the TI was the berlina with a little over 39,000 examples. With nearly 2,800 examples produced, the Spider Veloce was the lowest produced version. There was a version dubbed the Promiscua that was a four door estate car and featured body work by Coli that was even more exclusive, with only 91 examples produced.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2011
| TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE | |
 | • TOPLINE COLLECTORS PLACE SPOTLIGHT on SPEED'S BARRETT-JACKSON BROADCAST FROM SCOTTSDALE • 'LOST' SHELBY DUAL PROTOTYPE, HAGERTY GIVEAWAY & SALON COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT 39 HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE The 42nd annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale (Ariz.) Collector Car Event, the first of four set for live coverage in 2013, kicks off the auction season in grand style as some of the world's most sought-after machines cross the block starting Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. SP...[Read more...] |
| 1963 Andre Simon/Lloyd Casner Maserati Tipo 151/2 | |
 | At a time when Maserati's financial picture couldn't have looked more bleak, it would be enticed to build what many would end up considering to be one of their finest sportscars ever. It would even be suggested it could have been one of the greatest of all time if Maserati had had the money to develop it. Unfortunately, the Maserati Tipo 151 forever lives in relative obscurity when it truly deserves to be remembered as much more. It is often remarked that for a race team to win a championship...[Read more...] |
| EXCEPTIONAL ROSTER OF PORSCHE RACE CARS JOIN THE STARTING GRID FOR RM'S EAGERLY AWAITED MONTEREY SALE | |
 | RM Auctions, the world's largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, has announced more star consignments for its highly anticipated Monterey sale, August 17–18, in California, this time a remarkable group of Porsches. Comprising twelve examples in total and spanning 48 years of production, the offering is headlined by an exceptional group of racing greats from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. Continuing RM's commitment to present the world's finest automobiles, ...[Read more...] |
| Buyers in abundance for another strong sale at Brooklands | |
 | Amidst some speculative recent market results, the heat was on Historics, but with Brooklands bathed in sunshine, the classic and sports car auctioneer again delivered another strong sale. In total 60 of 103 vehicles were seen away for a sale ratio of 58% and a final sale figure of £1,159,070. As pre-sale publicity predicted, Bentley's blazed a trail, with the star of the show an R-Type Coupé by Abbott of Farnham, which sold for £100,000. A 1937 4¼ litre Sports Special sold for £47,500, wh...[Read more...] |
| JAGUAR EXPANDS POWERTRAIN CHOICE WITH TWO ADDITIONAL FORCED-INDUCTION PETROL ENGINES | |
 | As Jaguar expands its product offer in key global markets it is introducing two additional petrol units to its range to enhance customer choice; the new 3.0-litre V6 Supercharged Petrol, and the 2.0-litre I4 Turbocharged Petrol. Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars, said: 'Jaguar currently has its strongest range of products for several decades. Our continued growth is dependent on two things; activating the awareness of the brand, and expanding our range to enable us to access...[Read more...] |
 1955
Alfa Romeo
models |
| Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS |
| Alfa Romeo 1900 SS |
| Alfa Romeo Giulietta Berlina Prima Jerie |
| Alfa Romeo Speciale 1900 CSS | 1955 Alfa Romeo Concepts |
| Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 9 |
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| Alfa Romeo: 1951-1960 |
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