Alfa Romeo 1900

Alfa Romeo 1900

1950 Alfa Romeo 1900
Overview
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Production 1950–1959
Assembly Portello, Milan, Italy
Nessonvaux, Liege, Belgium (S.A. Imperia 1953–1954)[1]
Body and chassis
Body style
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related
Powertrain
Engine 1.9 L tipo 1306 DOHC I4
2.0 L tipo 1308 DOHC I4
Transmission 4- and 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase Berlina/Sprint
2,630 mm (103.5 in)/2,500 mm (98.4 in)
2,500 mm (98.4 in) (1900C)
Length 4,400 mm (173.2 in)/4,400 mm (173.2 in)
Width 1,600 mm (63.0 in)/1,630 mm (64.2 in)
Height 1,490 mm (58.7 in)/1,350 mm (53.1 in)
Kerb weight 900–1,100 kg (2,000–2,400 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Alfa Romeo 6C 2500
Successor Alfa Romeo 2000

The Alfa Romeo 1900 is an automobile produced by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1950 to 1959. Designed by Orazio Satta, it was an important development for Alfa Romeo as the marque's first car built entirely on a production line and first production car without a separate chassis. It was also the first Alfa Romeo offered with left-hand drive.[2] The car was introduced at the 1950 Paris Motor Show.[3]

1900 Berlina and Sprint

The 1900 was offered in two-door or four-door models, with a new 1,884 cc (bore 82.55 mm (3.3 in), stroke 88 mm (3.5 in)), 90 bhp (67 kW), 4-cylinder twin cam engine. It was spacious and simple, yet quick and sporty. The slogan Alfa used when selling it was "The family car that wins races", not-so-subtly alluding to the car's success in the Targa Florio, Stella Alpina, and other competitions. In 1951 the short wheelbase 1900C (c for corto (Italian for short)) version was introduced. It had a wheelbase of 2,500 mm (98.4 in).[4] In the same year the 1900TI with a more powerful 100 bhp (75 kW) engine was introduced, it had bigger valves, a higher compression ratio and it was equipped with a double carburetor. Two years later the 1900 Super and 1900 TI Super (also 1900 Super Sprint) with 1975 cc engine were introduced (bore increased to 84.5 mm (3.3 in), stroke unchanged). The TI Super had two double carburetors and 115 bhp (86 kW). Transmission was a 4-speed manual on basic versions and 5-speed manual in Super Sprint version, the brakes were drum brakes. The 1900 had independent front suspension (double wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers) and live rear axle.

1956 1900 Super
1954 1900 Super

Production at the company's Milan plant continued until 1959: a total of 21,304 were built, including 17,390 of the saloons.[5]

The chassis was designed specifically to allow coachbuilders to rebody it, the most notable of which was the Zagato designed, 1900 Super Sprint coupé, with an improved engine and custom body design. The Alfa Romeo 1900M AR51 (or "Matta") is a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle based on the 1900-series.

Coachbuilt versions

Iginio Alessio, then general manager of Alfa Romeo, was concerned for the viability of the independent Italian Coachbuilding industry–the avant of the unibody chassis design was threatening to put the carrozzerie out of business. Alessio was also a personal friend of Gaetano Ponzoni co-owner of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera,[6] thus from 1951-1958 Alfa Romeo built five different variations of the 1900 unibody chassis specifically for independent coachbiulders.[7]

Alfa Romeo gave official contracts to Touring to build the sporty 1900 Sprint coupé and to Pinin Farina to build an elegant four seat Cabriolet and Coupé. The availability of a suitable chassis led to many other coachbiulders to build versions of the 1900.[8]

110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais--1900C Series 2 Sprint Coupé - 1954 - 003
110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais--1900C Series 2 Sprint Coupé - 1954 - 008

Carrozzeria Zagato built a small series of coupés with the unofficial designation of 1900 SSZ, designed for racing with an aerodynamic lightweight aluminium body and Zagato's trademark double bubble roof.[8]

One-off specials where numerous from the famous Bertone BAT series of aerodynamic studies, to an infamous sci-fi like Astral spider designed by Carrozzeria Boneschi for Rafael Trujillo the dictator of the Dominican Republic.[9] There was a Barchetta or "Boat Car" made by Ghia-Aigle in Lugano Switzerland designed by Giovanni Michelotti at the request of a wealthy Italian who had two passions: the 'Riva' boats and a woman, his mistress, the car has no doors or windscreen wipers.[10][11]

1955 BAT 9
1956 1900 SS Zagato
1956 1900C Super Sprint berlinetta by Touring

Bellow is a sortable list of coachbuilt Alfa Romeo 1900s.

Year Coachbiulder Model Quantity
1951 Touring Sprint 2+2.[12] circa 800[13]
– Pinin Farina 4 seat Coupé 1
1952 Zagato SSZ[14] 39[15]
1957 Zagato SSZ Spyder[14] 2[15]
1953 Touring Corto Gara[16] 11 (incl. 3 Stradale)
1955 Touring "tipo 55" coupé 2 seater.[17] 1
1955 Touring "tipo 55" cabriolet 2 seater.[17] 1
1956 Touring "1966 Series" Super Sprint 2 seater.[18] –
1957 Touring "1966 Series" Cabriolet 2+2[19] 1
1952 Pinin Farina Cabriolet 88[20]
1952 Pinin Farina Coupé 100[20]
1953 Pinin Farina Coupé 1[21]
1952 Pinin Farina TI Coupé 1-2[22]
1953 Boneschi Astral spider 2[23]
1955 Boano Primavera Coupé –
1955 Boano SS Coupé –
– Boano Coupé Tipo3 1
1952 Colli Coupé –
1952 Stabilimenti Farina Victoria Cabriolet 48[24]
1952 Boneschi Coupé –
1953 Ghia C coupé –
1953 Ghia SS coupé 1[25]
1954-55 Ghia 1900C Coupé Special 10[26]
1955 Ghia-Aigle Cabriolet (I)[27][28] 1
1955 Ghia-Aigle Cabriolet (II)[27][28] 1
1956 Ghia-Aigle Coupé[28] –
1956 Ghia-Aigle Barchetta "Spider Razza"[28] 1
1957 Ghia-Aigle SS Cabriolet[28] –
1957-59 Ghia-Aigle Coupé Lugano[28] –
1958 Ghia-Aigle SS Cabriolet[28] –
1958 Ghia-Aigle SS Coupé[28] –
1953 Bertone BAT 5 1
1954 Bertone BAT 7 1
1955 Bertone BAT 9 1
– Bertone Coupé –
1955 Worblaufen [29] SS Cabriolet –
1953 Vignale "La Fleche" Spider 1
1953 Vignale SS Coupé –

1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider

1900 Sport Spider at Geneva Motor Show 2015

In 1954 Alfa Romeo made two spiders and two coupés using similar chassis as the C52 Disco Volante. In Bertone, Franco Scaglione penned two unique aluminium bodies, a coupé and a spider. The coupé was known as 2000 Sportiva. It weighs 2,000 pounds (910 kg) and has 138 horsepower (103 kW). The acceleration is on par with most contemporary exotics and top speed is around 137 mph (220 km/h).[30]

Disco volante
Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva Goodwood

Engines

Model Displacement Power Top speed
19001,884 cc80-90 bhp103 mph (166 km/h)-106 mph (171 km/h)[31][32]
TI1,884 cc100 bhp170 km/h (110 mph)[33]
Super1,975 cc90 bhp160 km/h (99 mph)[34]
TI Super1,975 cc115 bhp112 mph (180 km/h)[32]

IKA Bergantin

Industrias Kaiser Argentina produced between 1960 and 1962 a car named IKA Bergantin in Argentina, the body and suspension was from the 1900 Berlina and engines were from the Willys line, the 4-L 151 cu in (2.5 L) and the 6-L 226 cu in (3.7 L).[35]

Gallery of models

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Les belles Nessonvautoises". motocollection.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  2. ↑ Conceptcarz: 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS - Conceptcarz, accessdate: 22. tammikuuta 2016
  3. ↑ "Alfa Romeo 1900 C Super Sprint 1956". sportscarauction.ch. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
  4. ↑ "1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint". sportscarmarket.com/Profiles/2004. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  5. ↑ Alfa Romeo Typenhandbuch, Alle Modelle von 1910 bis heute. ISBN 3-89880-114-4
  6. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 73.
  7. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 118.
  8. 1 2 Garcia 1983, p. 85.
  9. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 92.
  10. ↑ "Boat Car". bonhams.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  11. ↑ "Alfa Romeo Spider 1900 SS Ghia-Aigle 1956". stubs-auto.fr. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  12. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 74.
  13. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 75.
  14. 1 2 Garcia 1983, p. 78.
  15. 1 2 Adams, Keith. "Double bubble, no trouble". classicandperformancecar.com. Dennis Publishing Limited. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Corto Gara Stradale by Carrozzeria Touring". rmauctions.com. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
  17. 1 2 Garcia 1983, p. 80.
  18. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 82.
  19. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 84.
  20. 1 2 Garcia 1983, p. 86.
  21. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 88.
  22. ↑ Melissen, Wouter. "Alfa Romeo 1900 TI Pinin Farina Coupe". ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "Alfa Bulletin Board". alfabb.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  24. ↑ "1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Cabriolet Pinin Farina". imcdb.org. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  25. ↑ "1953 Alfa Romeo 1900". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 2013-06-17.
  26. ↑ "1954–1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Ghia Special". supercars.net. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  27. 1 2 Montowski, Lutzi. "1955 Relocation from Aigle to Lugano (Tessin, CH), Via Monte Boglia". ghia-aigle.info. Stefan Dierkes. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Carrosserie Ghia S.A., Aigle & Lugano". oldtimer.400.pl. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  29. ↑ "Worblaufen Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Cabriolet 1955". coachbuild.com. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  30. ↑ "1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider: Prototype for a supercar". autoweek.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  31. ↑ "Alfa Romeo 1900". motorbase.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  32. 1 2 "Alfa Romeo/Models/Alfa Romeo 1900". carsfromitaly.net. Archived from the original on 31 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  33. ↑ "1900 TI". geocities.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  34. ↑ "1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Berlina Super". carfolio.com. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  35. ↑ "Alfa Club News". blogs.consumeraffairs.com/alfa_news. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-08.

Bibliography

  • Döhren, H.-Jürgen (2012). Millenove—Alfa Romeo 1900, 1950–1959. Alfapoint. ISBN 978-3-00-037417-3. 
  • Garcia, Gonzalo Alvarez (1983). Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint. Milan, Italy: Edizioni della Libreria dell'Automoble. ASIN B003B5M3SI. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfa Romeo 1900.
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LCV Romeo Romeo 2 Romeo 3 F11/F12/A11/A12
AR8
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