In 2020 I tackled a personal project on one of my favourite car brands: Alfa Romeo
Starting a month before the brand’s 110th Anniversary, I started illustrating and sharing one car a day from the marque’s history, trying to convey some of the most important vehicles they released, in a very stylised and simple way, while representing the essence of each one of them.
Today, six years have passed, and we find ourselves celebrating the 116th anniversary of such beloved brand. One you love and you don’t know why, and quoting myself from a Youtube comment from years ago in Frank Stephenson’s Alfa Romeo’s Three Greatest Designs video:
The biggest problem with choosing one's three favourite Alfa Romeo designs is that... it's just three.
I once described Alfa Romeo to my wife as a brand you like/love and you can't really pinpoint the reason. It's irrational. It's something more passionate. Like when you love another human being. You can pinpoint things that you like about that person, but if you love them, you just do.
There's no other brand I could have made 30 illustrations in 30 days for their 110th Anniversary while thoroughly enjoying and learning about the brand's history.
That's Alfa Romeo to me ❤️🍀
Here are the 31 cars that made the list
Disclaimer: if some of the following sounds like PR-speak, it probably is! I gathered these from an Alfa Romeo anniversary brochure back in 2020, and added some details here and there, as well as emphasis. But the main focus was on the art creation.
1. The one that started it all: A.L.F.A. 24 HP
A.L.F.A hired Giuseppe Merosi, a top-class engineer, who specialized in racing engines and worked for some of the most advanced companies at the time. The company developed the 24 HP, which today could be described as a sports sedan.
The vehicle offered a 4.1-liter engine and reached a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 kph), which at the time was a considerable speed.
During the first year a total of 50 units were sold and the vehicle was enrolled in the 1911 Targa Florio competition, where it led for most of the race until an off-road excursion ended its day.
At this time endurance races were the venue in which performance and reliability of new vehicles were tested.
2. A Time for Exploration: A.L.F.A. 40/60 HP “Aerodinamica”
The exploration on how to improve aerodynamics of the newly created automotive industry took place. While cars still resembled horse-and-carriage design, a few visionaries started to dream about more extreme and aerodynamic shapes.
The 40-60 HP “Aerodinamica” was commissioned by Count Marco Ricotti of Milan and built by Carrozzeria Castagna, based on an Alfa 40/60 HP vehicle.
The “Aerodinamica” was built entirely of metal, was completely enclosed and had circular windows. The vehicle achieved a top speed of 86 mph (139 kph).
3. The Post-War I Era: Alfa Romeo RL Super Sport
The Alfa Romeo RL, developed by Merosi, started production in 1922, becoming the first Alfa Romeo sport model after World War I. The vehicle had a straight-6 engine with overhead valves.
Many versions of the RL were developed – Normale, Turismo, Sport and Super Sport (the one pictured above) – and the model experienced great international success.
4. The Post-War I Era (II): Alfa Romeo RL Corsa/Targa Florio
To continue to build the brand, Nicola Romeo was keen to participate in racing. As a result, a race version of the RL was developed.
The RL “Corsa”, renamed Targa Florio after the 1923 victory, was much lighter than the original model and offered innovations such as double carburetors.
The brand also assembled a team of great drivers. The first factory racing team included Ugo Sivocci, Giuseppe Campari, Antonio Ascari and a legendary name in automotive history: Enzo Ferrari.
5. Early Racing Victories: Alfa Romeo Grand Prix Tipo P2
Romeo had replaced Alfa Chief Engineer Giuseppe Merosi with Vittorio Jano, who joined the company in 1923, partly thanks to the persuasion of young Alfa racing driver Enzo Ferrari.
Jano’s debut model was the Alfa Romeo Grand Prix Tipo P2, which was powered by Alfa’s first straight 8-cylinder supercharged engine with two carburetors placed after the compressor.
This car won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, and in total, it won 14 Grands Prix and major races including the Targa Florio and became one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the decade.
Jano’s engineering trademarks were small and efficient engines, balanced weight distribution and lightweight, precise onroad handling. These values remain at the core of today’s Alfa Romeo.
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