Turning 70 this year, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta remains a beloved icon in automotive history, widely regarded as “Italy’s sweetheart.” Here is a brief history of the pretty coupe.
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Unveiled to the public on April 21, 1954, at the Turin Motor Show, the Giulietta Sprint coupé quickly captured the hearts of car enthusiasts. Within the first few days, the model garnered around 2 000 orders – an impressive feat for that time. The Giulietta holds a special place in Alfa Romeo’s history becoming the first model to bear a woman’s name. It became a symbol of Italy’s post-war economic boom, and its success led to the production of over 100 000 units at the Portello plant in Milan. To commemorate this milestone, Giulietta Masina, Federico Fellini’s muse, was present for the roll-out of the 100 001st Giulietta sedan.
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From its inception, the Giulietta set new standards for high-performance compact coupés, boasting a 1290-cc twin-cam four-cylinder engine made entirely of light alloy—a groundbreaking feature at the time. Its top speed of approximately 170 km/h and numerous victories on tracks and roads across the globe solidified its reputation.
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To mark the 70th anniversary of the Giulietta, Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile designed a special celebratory logo, supporting a series of global events organized by car clubs and enthusiasts. The official celebration took place on the 2nd of June, at the Alfa Romeo Museum, featuring a parade of Giulietta cars, a Backstage lecture on the model’s history, and the opening of an exhibition titled “Giulietta, Fidanzata d’Italia” or Giulietta, Italy’s Sweetheart. The exhibition traces the various versions of the Giulietta, showcasing how this iconic model transformed Alfa Romeo into a significant player in the automotive industry.
The celebration extends beyond the museum, with the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo hosting the third edition of RealAlfa, a restoration and conservation competition dedicated to Maurizio Tabucchi. The event also marks the conclusion of the “70th Anniversary Tour,” where a convoy of 70 Giuliettas circled Lake Garda and made stops at various historic locations.
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