Alfa Romeo 1900

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Alfa Romeo 1900
File:Alfa Romeo museum - Alfa Romeo 1900.jpg
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 manufactuer 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][dead link] The car was introducesd 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.

200px
1956 1900 Super
200px
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]

File:110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais -Alfa Romeo 1900C Series 2 Sprint Coupé - 1954 - 003.jpg
110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais--1900C Series 2 Sprint Coupé - 1954 - 003
File:110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais -Alfa Romeo 1900C Series 2 Sprint Coupé - 1954 - 008.jpg
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]

File:1955 Alfa Romeo BAT 9.jpg
1955 BAT 9
File:1956AlfaRomeo1900SSZagato.jpg
1956 1900 SS Zagato
File:1956 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint berlinetta by Touring - fvr.jpg
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][better source needed]
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

File:2015-03-03 Geneva Motor Show 3579.JPG
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]

File:Disco volante.jpg
Disco volante
Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva Goodwood

Engines

Model Displacement Power Top speed
1900 1,884 cc 80-90 bhp 103 mph (166 km/h)-106 mph (171 km/h)[31][32]
TI 1,884 cc 100 bhp 170 km/h (110 mph)[33]
Super 1,975 cc 90 bhp 160 km/h (99 mph)[34]
TI Super 1,975 cc 115 bhp 112 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

  • 1900 SS Ghia (1954)

  • Alfa-Romeo 1900-Sprint.JPG

    1900 C Super Sprint Touring (1954)

  • Alfa 1900.jpg

    1900 C Sprint Touring Superleggera

  • Alfa-Romeo 1900-SS.JPG

    1900 Super Sprint

  • Alfa Romeo 1900C SUPER 1956.jpg

    1900C Super (1956)

  • Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS GTS 6 green v TCE.jpg

    1900 CSS Zagato

  • ALFA ROMEO 1900 SS ZAGATO.jpg

    1900 SS Zagato

  • 55 Alfa Ghia modified.jpg

    Ghia Speciale 1900 CSS

  • 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900C Berlinetta.jpg

    1900C Berlinetta Touring Superleggera (1952)

  • Alfa Romeo 1900C 1954 Bristol.jpg

    1900C Touring 1954

  • Alfa Romeo 1900 L (1952).jpg

    1900 L Victoria Cabriolet 1952 Stabilimenti Farina

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Garcia 1983, p. 85.
  9. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 92.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 74.
  13. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 75.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Garcia 1983, p. 78.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Garcia 1983, p. 80.
  18. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 82.
  19. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 84.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Garcia 1983, p. 86.
  21. ↑ Garcia 1983, p. 88.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

« previous — Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A., a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2014, car timeline, 1950s–1970s — next »
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Small family car Dauphine Alfasud
Compact executive car Giulietta (750/101)
Giulia Giulietta (116)
Executive car 1750 Berlina Alfetta
2000 Berlina Alfetta 2000
1900 2000 2600 Alfa 6
Coupé Giulietta Sprint GT Junior Alfasud Sprint
Giulia Sprint GT/GT Veloce Alfetta GT and GTV
1900 Sprint 2000 Sprint 2600 Sprint
Cabriolet 1900 L Giulia GTC
Spider Giulietta Spider Spider
2000 Spider 2600 Spider
Roadster Gran Sport Quattroruote
Sports car 6C 2500 Montreal
33 Stradale
Racing car TZ GTA
158/159 Tipo 33 177/
179
Off-road Matta
LCV Romeo Romeo 2 Romeo 3 F11/F12/A11/A12
AR8
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Alfa_Romeo_1900&oldid=4295997"