This Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Is A Proper Family Treasure | Vintage

18 October 2021 Redazione News, Stories, Vintage, Your Cars

ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA SPIDER

Words Remigio Camilla / Photos Alessandro Marrone

The name Giulietta (or Juliet) immediately evokes the feminine image created by Shakespeare, one of the most famous love stories in the world and I believe that no other name could have been more apt for a car. Yes, because let’s not forget that the automobile is a woman. When the first cars appeared on the streets at the beginning of the last century, there was a great debate to clarify what the gender was. Futurists wanted it male because it was made of steel, strong, powerful and roaring, but in the end the illustrious Gabriele D’Annunzio, lover of cars, engines, speed and beautiful women, called her Female, for the beauty of her shapes, for the elegance and the charm she could transmit. It will also be for this reason that the car has been the most desired and loved object of man since its invention until today, so the Alfa Romeo Giulietta – as a car – could truly represent the archetype of perfect love for gentlemen drivers.

But how did Alfa Romeo come to define this name for the new model put into production in 1955? There are some hypotheses, which however do not have a direct link with the Shakespearean work. One of the anecdotes told refers to a dinner offered by the French dealer at the Paris Motor Show, to a group of Alfa Romeo executives on the occasion of the presentation of the Giulietta to the public. That evening, in the room where the dinner was served, an impoverished Russian prince performed with a pleasant humorous verve. It seems that on that occasion, seeing the group of managers, all men with a serious and imperturbable attitude, he had poetically pronounced the following sentence: “I see eight Romeos, but no Juliet”.

On their return to Italy, the executives present at the dinner, during the meeting to define the commercial name of the new car, told the episode and the choice was immediate – Giulietta (Juliet) – inspired not by the Shakespearean masterpiece, but by the fallen Russian prince. Another anecdote could be related to the name of the first owner of Alfa Romeo, Eng. Romeo, in this case romantically united with the famous Shakespeare’s character.

With the Giulietta, the Arese manufacturer came out of a still artisan production and was launched into an industrial dimension that allowed a production of about 200 cars per day. It was a car much loved by the Italians in all its versions, for the engine of just 1,300 cc which guaranteed great performance, low fuel consumption and impressive cornering skills, alongside sportiness and excellent braking. It was also very reliable, so it was equipped with first-rate quality. Today, among classic cars enthusiasts, the Giulietta still remains a highly sought after and coveted model. Among the various versions made, I believe that the one that best expresses the concept of femininity due to the elegance and charm of its shapes, is precisely the Spider by Pininfarina.

The beauty of its line is the work of Franco Martinengo, Pininfarina Designer who finds inspiration in the Lancia Aurelia B24 which he had collaborated on for the realization. The most recognizable elements, albeit with different dimensions and proportions, can be found in the four portions of the car, in the sides, in the tail section – which remains the most recognizable and imposable element – and in the front. The initial prototype was very much connected to the B24 first series, as it was a roadster, with the wraparound front windshield, with no glass on the doors – except for the sliding ones – as well as the dashboard which originally featured a raised circular central instrument placed on the horizontal layout of the dash and painted in the same color as the bodywork.

The final version abandons the wraparound windshield and does not yet add deflectors, even if some examples of the first series are equipped with them, while the doors have descending glass. In 1956 it is possible that Pininfarina, starting its production, decided to modify the B24 with these characteristics by eliminating the wraparound front windshield and adopting the doors with descending glass, stylistically aligning with the new Giulietta Spider. The first series without a deflector is also defined as short wheelbase, differing from the second series, defined as long wheelbase, as it is increased by 50 mm, meeting severe criticism at the time. Today, if you are not aware of this detail, it is difficult to realize it and the only element of recognition is the presence of the deflector. The increase in wheelbase was necessary to conform to the two new versions, Bertone’s Sprint Speciale and Sprint Zagato, which joined the models already on the market.

In the very first Spider, as on the Sprint, the gearbox at the wheel is Borg-Warner, but the command will immediately be moved to the floor because considered more sporty, while the “Porsche Type” gearbox will only be adopted at a later stage. The Spider you can admire in these pages has already been protagonist of a previous publication in this magazine and belongs to the third series, registered in August 1961, an excellent month to fully enjoy its open top. She has just turned 60 and shows herself in splendid shape, being moreover rightly considered a family treasure.

Our previous article – which appeared in issue 14 (February 2014) – is a pleasant memory of Angelo, the previous owner, passionate about cars and engines who owned one at a young age. Then, with the marriage and the arrival of his two daughters, he is forced to sell it in favor of a car that could better meet the new family needs. The memory and love for his Giulietta Spider, however, have never left his heart and in 1997 he decided it was time to return to his youthful passion, to the satisfactions and pleasure that the Giulietta Spider had offered him and Marisa, his fiancée who later became wife. Together with his son-in-law Marco, who is also passionate about vintage cars and motorbikes, he decided to find one that could constitute a good basis for a good restoration. The search turns out to be very fortunate, because they find one in Albenga, not far from their place of residence. Thus began the long and meticulous restoration of the bodywork, the interior and the search for all those incorrect details in relation to the model, until the Giulietta was brought to its original splendor and obtained ASI approval in the year 2000.

Unfortunately Angelo has been able to enjoy it for a short time, but the Giulietta remains jealously kept, because the family is keen to reiterate – as in a famous advertisement – that passion is not a possession, it is guarded and then passed on. Angelo’s Spider has been protagonist and companion of important moments of life, becoming “Family History” and handed down through four generations. Marco accompanied his daughter to her wedding with the Giulietta Spider and today Angelo’s great-grandson began to sit on the driver’s seat, feeling the passion and love for this family treasure, thus ensuring its continuity.

Seven years have passed since the previous article and the Giulietta, as mentioned above, has turned 60 and for the occasion some special attention and care has been dedicated to her to ensure many more years of love and satisfaction. The most important interventions were addressed to the mechanics, the cylinder head with the valves have been redone in order to use the current petrol without problems, the double-barrel carburetor has been completely overhauled, as well as the dynamo. The shock absorbers were replaced and new tires were fitted, as well as the four drum brakes, in order to continue to guarantee safe journeys. Finally, for a touch-up to its beauty, the chromed wheel studs with the Alfa logo in the center on a black background were replaced and a thorough general cleaning was carried out.

At this point it seemed interesting to have Marco’s personal driving impressions. “The Giulietta is a real toy, easy to drive, very direct in reactions, important elements for having fun on the beautiful Ligurian roads, with sun and the air on your face. The steering wheel has a thin crown and it is convenient to use gloves while driving in order to have a firm grip, the lever brake is not of a conventional kind between the seats, but is positioned below the dashboard, making it a little uncomfortable because it forces you to lean forward to be able to operate it. The gearbox is quite precise, although the travel of the lever is long compared to modern cars, however, it is necessary not to place your hand on the gear knob in first and third position because in this way the gear is skipped. It is not particularly comfortable, the seats are small and not very padded, already in the 60s they were often replaced, while the suspension is rather rigid, like a true sports car. The trunk is not huge but allows you to accommodate a medium-sized suitcase and other small things, while the soft top is best left folded up, in the special compartment behind the back seats.

The Giulietta Spider is a friendly car, which offers sensations and emotions amplified by constant en plein air driving, ideal when you want to relax yourself on some scenic road. Despite an inclination to drive in souplesse, the Spider knows perfectly how to increase the adrenaline inside its cockpit, especially once you pull up to 4,000 or 5,000 rpm and the sound of the engine is able to fill the ears with the unmistakable tone of a 60-year-old twin-cam, with the possibility of a wagging tail when cornering bringing a huge smile on your face. It must be taken into account that often someone will come alongside or stop by to look at it: to the Giulietta, not to the driver of course, but I must admit that she has probably aged better than me”.