Factory photo of an Alfa Romeo 1600 Duetto.

    June 24 marks the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, the legendary builder of Italian sports cars. Originally, however, it was known as A.L.F.A., which stands for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company).
    In 1915 A.L.F.A. was taken over by Neapolitan entrepreneur Nicola Romeo, who converted the Milan factory to produce munitions, aircraft engines and other military hardware for the Italian army in World War I. Romeo had no interest in building automobiles after the war, but did authorize completion of 105 cars in 1919 just to get rid of parts that had sat around the factory for four years. Their sales success meant the company was back in the automotive business. Its name was changed to Alfa Romeo in 1920, with the Torpedo 20-30 HP becoming the first car to be badged as such.
    Like so many other automakers, Alfa Romeo struggled financially during the Great Depression and was taken over by the Italian government in 1932. It was acquired by the Fiat Group in 1986.
    Alfa Romeo has a long history in motorsport, dating back to 1913. Alfas won many Grand Prix events in the 1920s and ’30s with cars driven by such greats as Tazio Nuvolari and Louis Chiron. It dominated the Mille Miglia from 1928-38 (losing only in 1931) and was first in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1931-34.
    Alfa won the first two Formula One championships in 1950 and 1951 and competed on that circuit, either as a constructor or engine supplier, from 1950-88.
    The company turned its attention to touring car racing in the 1970s and has won many major championships.
Over the years Alfa Romeo has made a wide variety of models, from compacts and roadsters to big sedans and coupes, all of them with a sporting nature. Famous models from the past include the Guiletta (1954-65), Sprint GT Veloce (1963-68) and Alfetta (1972-87). But it is the Spider, built from 1966-93, that is best remembered on this continent. Made famous in Dustin Hoffman’s 1967 film, The Graduate, the Spider 1600 Duetto was succeeded by the Spider 1750 Veloce and reached cult status in Canada and the U.S. So much so, in fact, that a “Graduate” version was marketed here in the 1980s.
    I have especially fond memories of test driving a Spider Veloce in 1976, not so much for its speed or handling prowess but for the burble from the dual exhaust – surely one of the sweetest automotive sounds in all the world.
    The car has never lost its popularity and an online search found a good selection of Spiders from the 1980s and ’90s for sale in Canada in the $8,000-$15,000 range.
    Alfas were last sold on this side of the Atlantic in 1995, but earlier this year Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne said “there is a strong likelihood” the marque could return to North America by 2012. Not only that, he indicated the modern Chrysler assembly plant in Brampton, Ont. could play a role in Alfa’s return.
    A good fit for that plant, which builds the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 and Dodge Challenger, would be the new Alfa Romeo 169 sedan, said to be a competitor for the BMW 5-Series. Some analysts believe the first Alfa Romeo models could roll off the line in Ontario as early as late 2011.

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    Alfa Romeo will be the featured marque at the British and European Vintage/Collector Car & Motorcycle Show in Calgary’s Stanley Park on July 17. Open to all British and European cars, the show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. About 160 cars and motorcycles will be displayed and there is no entry fee to the public. Cars will come from Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C. and there will be awards for best marques; plus a long distance award. The entry fee is $15 before July 10, $20 thereafter. Please pre-register online at www.vsccc. For more information email Mike Coe at coefront@shaw.ca or phone 403-281-0363.

Write to Glen at glenwoodcock@canoemail.com