Alfa Romeo Alfetta

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The Alfa Romeo Alfetta was an executive saloon car and fastback coupé produced from 1972 until 1984 by Alfa Romeo. It was popular due to its combination of a modest design with powerful engines, selling over 400,000 units until the end of its production run, but in the final years its sales were down due to Alfa Romeo's reliability problems that plagued the company through the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Alfetta introduced a new drivetrain layout to the marque. Clutch and transmission were housed at the rear of the car, together with the differential for a more balanced weight distribution, as used on the Alfetta 158/159 Grand Prix cars. The suspension relied on double wishbones and torsion bars at the front and a de Dion beam at the rear. The Alfetta was renewed in 1979 with a revised frontend, new wheel rims and new lights, as well as a Diesel version.

It was available with two four-cylinder DOHC engines with two valves per cylinder and a turbo Diesel engine supplied by VM Motori. The 1.6 and 1.8 L base models had two double-barrel carburettors, while the 2.0 DOHC received fuel injection in 1980. The Diesel initially had 2.0 L, but was increased to 2.4 L in 1982.

A final facelift was added in 1984, when the company changed the car's name to Alfa 90, to conform to its new naming system, which included the Alfa 33 and 75. The Alfa Romeo Alfetta became well known throughout the world since it was Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro's official escort car, when, in 1978, he was first kidnapped, then killed, by the Italian Terrorist left-wing organization The Red Brigades.

GTV and GTV6

The Alfetta was the base for the GTV, a fastback coupé version of the saloon, introduced in 1974 as Alfetta GT. The GTV designation was first reserved for the 2.0 L top version, but later became the base coupé model.

In 1979, Autodelta produced a limited edition turbocharged model, named Turbodelta, for FIA Group 4 homologation. This version used a KKK turbo which pushed power up to 175 PS (129 kW). The car also received a modified suspension layout.

In 1981, the Alfetta GTV received the SOHC V6 2.5 L engine from the Alfa 6 luxury sedan, resulting in the creation of the GTV6. As a result the hood received a bulge to clear the top of the intake and became its most pronounced feature. The V6 received rave reviews from the motoring press and found its true home in the GTV6 where it could stretch its legs better than in the less-sporting Alfa 6 sedan, including winning the British Touring Car Championship in 1983 at the hands of Andy Rouse. The GTV went through a number of revisions, including a new gear ratios and an updated interior in 1984.

South African models were assembled in Fiat's Uitenhage plant. South Africa was one of two markets to have a turbocharged GTV6, with a Garrett turbocharger and a NACA intake. An estimated 750 were assembled before all production ceased in 1986. The South African market also got a 3.0 L GTV6 that predated the debut of the factory's 3.0 L engine in 1987. Approximately 200 were built in South Africa for racing homologation.

Reeves Callaway, founder of Callaway Cars and famous for his various modifications of Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes, modified about thirty GTV6s to Callaway Twin Turbo specification for Alfa Romeo Inc., the North American importer.

AlfaGtv6.com