1960 Alfa Romeo 2000

Alfa Romeo returned to automobile manufacture fairly quickly after World War II, but it was not until 1950 that they introduced an all-new design. It was called the 1900 and it was a unit-body sedan powered by a twin overhead cam 1,884cc four-cylinder engine. This was the first Alfa Romeo built on a real production line. The prior vehicles had been largely hand-built. These were also the first Alfa Romeos built with left-hand drive. With the production line, annual out rose from 400 units annually to an increase of nearly tenfold.

A larger 1,975cc engine was introduced in 1958, called the 2000. The engine had duplex-chain-driven twin overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, and a pair of side-draft Solex carburetors. It delivered 131 horsepower and gave the Touring-bodied roadster a top speed that exceeded 100 mph. Braking was controlled by large Alfin drum brakes. Body styles included a 2000 Spider designed and built by Touring, and a 2000 Sprint Coupe done by Bertone (introduced in 1960). Spider and Sprint production comprised nearly half of all 2000 sales – 3,443 examples of the Spider were produced, and 700 of the more expensive Sprint Coupe.

Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider by Touring
The coachwork applied by Touring of Milan used their Superleggera (Superlight) method of body construction, though now the panels were machine-pressed rather than hand-beaten, greatly speeding up production. This enabled Touring to manufacture bodies in greatly increased volume, though this was still far from mass production.

Styling of the Spider included twin-bonnet vents, four chrome-lined vents behind both front wheels, and a split front bumper. The styling of Spiders destined for Europe differed from those being sent to the United States, particularly in regards to the bonnet scoop and chrome trim. The scoops of the European cars were positioned apart from each other; U.S.-destined cars had scoops that were positioned together but separated by a chrome piece. The European examples had twin chrome strips along the lower bodysides, while the U.S. cars had a single strip.

In keeping with Alfa Romeo's tradition, the 2000 was a comfortable, long-distance touring car that successfully combined style and performance.

Mechanical Specification
The Berlina had a 107.1-inch wheelbase, the Sprint measured 101.6 inches, and the Spider's wheelbase was 98.4 inches. It was built using unibody construction with the engine placed at the front and powering the rear wheels.

The suspension remained much as the last of the 1900s, with independent front suspension, live rear axle, and all round coil springs and telescopic dampers. Stopping power was provided by hydraulic drums. The Pirelli Cinturato CA67 tires measured 165HR400.

Engine and Transmission
The twin-cam 1,975cc inline four-cylinder engine combined elements of the superseded 1900 and new Giulietta, retaining the former's cast-iron block and separate cam covers, with the latter's bucket-and-shim method of valve adjustment. The Berlina had 8.25:1 compression and a single downdraft Solex carburetor, producing 104 horsepower at 5,300 RPM. A pair of Solex-sidedraft carburetors and a higher compression ratio (8.5:1) increased output to 113 horsepower at 5,700 RPM in the Sprint and Spider. The engine was paired to a five-speed gearbox, with synchromesh on all forward gears. The 2000 Sedan had a column-mounted shifter for its five-speed transmission, while the Sprint and Spider had the floor-mounted gear shift.

The Berlina had a top speed of approximately 100 mph; the Spider and Sprint had a top speed of around 110 mph.

Production
- The four-door Berlina was manufactured by Alfa Romeo and 2,799 examples were built from 1958 to 1962.
- The Spider was built by coachbuilder Touring and 3,443 units were constructed from 1958 to 1961.
- The Sprint was built by coachbuilder Bertone and 704 examples were built from 1960 to 1962. The Sprint was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of his first creations.
- Coachbuilder Vignale built approximately 15 coupes to a design penned by Giovanni Michelotti. Designated as chassis type 102.02, production began in 1958 and ended in 1961.

The Alfa Romeo 2000
The Alfa Romeo 1900 models had saved Alfa Romeo after World War II, but they were sober and conservative (albeit, apart from the two-door examples from Italian coachbuilders such as Zagato and Ghia). With stability returned, Italy was ready for some fun, and the new 2000 models brought fresh new styling, lively performance, relaxed high-speed cruising, and excellent smoothness, yet they were often overshadowed by the smaller and more affordable Giulietta. Offered in various body styles, the Berlina was a transatlantic baroque creation, rivaling motorcars from Detroit with its angular lines, tai fins, and chrome trim. The Spider by Carrozzeria Touring was elegant and fairly affordable when compared with the creations of Maserati and Ferrari. The Sprint by Bertone was sporty and comfortable, and with production just cresting 700 units, it was exclusive and something different.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2019