Ever wonder exactly what is involved in restoring a car to an award winning level? What kind of attention to detail it takes to get all the bits and pieces correct?

Well recently one of our AlfaBB.com site memebers George Kraus did exactly that. George documented and posted many photos of his restoration process. Recently his 1960 Giulietta Spider Veloce won a “First In Class” at the 2008 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance.

Here is a link to his wonderful thread covering some of the cars transformations.

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I was riding with my cousin in his Peugeot 306 on a June day when the topic of what car I drove came up. At the time, my daily driver was a 1988 Milano. I started to explain what an Alfa 75 looks like.

“A four door sedan, kind of boxy. You know, the ones the cops used in Italy in the early 90s. Does that help at all?”

“.. not one bit.”

I told him I’d show him a photo and with that, the subject was dropped in favor of us two taking turns pointing out how hot it was. Not five minutes later, I saw a worn out Alfa 75 2.4 TD parked at a shop and pointed it out to him. As we drove past, I noticed more Alfas—a 33, an Alfetta, a Super, a Spider and another 33. The second 33 had a trailer with the remains of a 2000 GTV on it. Thinking that GTV would be worth a look, I asked my cousin to turn around at the next roundabout. (more…)

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1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Berlinetta by Touring

100bhp 1,884 cc twin cam inline four-cylinder engine, downdraft Solex carburetor, four-speed floor shift manual transmission, coil spring and double A-arm independent front suspension, solid rear axle with longitudinal radius arms and triangular lateral locator, coil springs and tubular hydraulic shock absorbers, four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 98.5″ (2,500mm)

In 1950, Alfa Romeo introduced its first modern-era car to the public at the Paris Salon. The advanced 1900 model featured monocoque construction and a new, chain-driven, twin overhead cam engine and innovative suspension. Output was 90 brake horsepower at 4,800rpm. The resulting performance and handling were in the best sporting tradition, which was unique at the time in a roomy family saloon.

The higher-performance version of the 1900 engine, known as the 1900 TI (Turismo Internazionale) appeared in 1951. With larger valves and higher compression, the power increased to l00 brake horsepower at 5,500rpm and the maximum speed was elevated from 93 miles per hour to 105 miles per hour. It was this engine, in cars with the shorter wheelbase (2500mm) that produced the 1900C (Sprint). Alfa Sprints performed exceptionally well in competition (capable of 112 miles per hour in race trim), driven by legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1952 Mille Miglia and notably achieving an impressive overall result along with a 1-2-3-4-5 class win in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race. (more…)

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This year edition of the Master was organized with the partnership of Alfa Romeo’s Styling Center (Arese, Milan).

The theme for the final thesis was “Imagine the new Alfa Romeo flagship model”, i.e. a possible successor for the Alfa 166.

The nine final projects were presented in the presence of Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Design for Fiat Group Automobiles and Maserati.

The project were supported by the supervision of Mario Favilla (Centro Stile Alfa Romeo), and developed by the team of SPD teachers and 15 international students, who tried to combine in every vehicle styling elements from the brand’s tradition with a contemporary design language.

Alfa Romeo Camenae by Ryu Seung-Wook (Korea)

In ancient Roman Mythology, Camene where the goddesses of springs. Fluidity is the chosen design language for the Concept by its author Ryu Seung-Wook.

The car surfaces are crossed by flowing lines that become smoother and smoother towards the rear end.

The vehicle is dynamic and features an elongated front-end which allows for a greater interior space. (more…)

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Concorso Italiano is pleased to introduce a new chapter in the long history of this wonderful event. Earlier this year after learning that the on-going hotel and golf course construction at Bayonet Black Horse would restrict our ability to hold the event in the space it requires, or at the caliber it deserves, and cause our guests to park off-site, we began searching for a new and long-term home.

After reviewing many different sites on the Monterey Peninsula, we are very excited to announce our decision. This year will be the beginning of a wonderful new era, as Concorso Italiano moves to the Marina California Airport – just 10 miles north of Monterey itself.

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The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races are the largest event held during the renowned classic car weekend in Monterey California. More than 40,000 visitors worldwide annually attend the Historic Races.

The Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races are a tribute of motor racing history, historic automobiles and the people who made them. Each year, more than 375 of the finest historic race and sports cars are entered in 14 race groups that span nearly every era of motorsports history. (more…)

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As reported earlier, BMW and Fiat will be teaming up on a new front-wheel-drive, small car platform that will underpin the next MINI and future Fiats and Alfa Romeos. Now comes word from Automotive News that the partnership will also include the two automakers collaborating on Alfa Romeo’s return to the States in 2010 and the introduction of a new model, code-named “project 940.”

Fiat’s statement included the line, “as part of a possible cooperation, BMW Group will provide Fiat Group Automobiles with support in launching the Alfa Romeo brand in the North American market.” Furthermore, a Fiat spokesperson told AN, “MINI U.S. dealers would have the possibility to also sell Alfa Romeo cars.” (more…)

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If you think the new Alfa Romeo MiTo looks good now, wait until the seriously sporty GTA version is launched. Representing the most powerful model in the range with the GTA designation, the MiTo is expected to arrive following the standard MiTo’s launch in summer 2009. The top range hot-hatch will produce 230hp from a 1.8-liter turbocharged engine with direct injection and variable valve timing.

Although the image above is rendered speculation from the fine folks over at Progetto955.it it looks tantalizingly good with the over sized rims on low-profile tires which fill in the air gap of the bulbous wheel arches quite nicely. The body kit is eccentric, but still, tastefully done. (more…)

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Alfa Romeo once again unveils its new models onto the world market at the Geneva event. Indeed, following on from the Alfa 159 and Brera in 2005, the 159 Sportwagon and Spider in 2006, and its Personalisation Programme going by the name of “Alfa Unica” in 2007, it is now the turn of the alluring Alfa 8C Spider.

Undisputed centre stage on the stand, this new car inherits its coupe sibling’s winning formula that shook the motoring world. Put together by Alfa’s Centro Stile and production limited to 500 cars, this new open top immediately entices with that unmistakable “Italian elegance”, a unique and inimitable style that hints at its typically sporty Alfa handling.

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