The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand
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The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

Alfa Romeo is an Italian car manufacturing company. The headquarters are located in the city of Turin. The company specializes in a diverse nature, it specializes in the production of cars, buses, locomotives, yachts, industrial equipment.

The company's history dates back to 1906. Initially, the name itself was not as harmonious as the current one. The first name did not sound as favorable as the current one. The company was created by Alexandre Darracq, an influential French industrialist who created the SAID company in Italy to produce licensed Darracq cars. The first models began to be in great demand and Darrac decided to make a production expansion and set up a factory.

Over time, the company suffered a financial collapse and was bought out in 1909 by Italian entrepreneurs led by the new leader Hugo Stella. The production structure was reorganized and a new name was given to the Alfa plant. The first released car was equipped with a powerful engine and had good dynamic data, which served as a good start for the creation of subsequent models.

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

Literally after the creation of the company, the first car model was created, and soon an improved version took part in racing events. And it was decided to put cars on the international market.

In 1915, a new director of the company, scientific professor Nicola Romeo, appears, changing the name of the company to the modern Alfa Romeo. The vector of production was aimed at creating products for military purposes, from aircraft power units to equipment. He also acquired factories that produce locomotives.

The production process was imposed after the war, and in 1923 Vittorio Jano took over the position of design engineer of the company, in the process of which a series of power units was designed.

Beginning in 1928, the company suffered significant financial outlays and was almost on the verge of bankruptcy. At the same time, Romeo left her. But after a couple of years, the company's business improved, the price of cars fell, and the models began to be in demand, which brought good profits. A sales division was also established, as well as many branches were opened in many countries, mostly in the European market.

The company is developing rapidly and more improved models are being produced, but the outbreak of World War II forced the development of the company to stop. After recovering from significant bombing, in 1945, production was gradually established, and the company produced power units for aviation and naval purposes, and a little later, auto production was also established.

Since the early 1950s, the company has shown sporting potential in the creation of high-tech sports cars and off-road vehicles. Cars are gaining popularity not only for good technical performance, but also for the appearance of the car, which has extravagance.

In 1978 Ettore Masachese became the head of Alfa Romeo, and also entered into a partnership with Nissan. But after a couple of years, the company's business began to decline.

In the early 90s, an extension with an increased modernization process is planned. Models with relatively innovative styling characteristics are produced, as well as large-scale modernization of old cars of a new generation.

Founder

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

The founder of the company is Alexander Darrac, but the company reached its culmination under Nicholas Romeo.

Alexander Darrac was born in the fall of 1931 in the city of Bordeaux into a Basque family. Initially trained and worked as a documentary scribe. Then he worked in the production of sewing machines. The sewing machine he created was awarded a medal of concern.

In 1891, the engineer creates a bicycle company, which he soon sells for a significantly large sum.

He had a growing interest in automobiles and motorcycles, which led to the founding of the Societa Anonima Italliana Darracq (SAID) automobile manufacturing company in 1906. After the first brilliant success in the market, the company began to actively expand its production. Soon after, with the arrival of Nicolas Romeo, the company changed its name to the current Alfa Romeo.

After World War I, Darrak made the decision to resign.

Darrac died in November 1931 in Monte Carlo.

The second founder, Nicholas Romeo, was born in the spring of 1876 in Italy.

He received an education and a degree in the specialty of engineer, received the second more qualified education in this specialty in Belgium.

Upon returning to Italy, he opened his own company for the production of industrial equipment.

In 1915 he acquired a controlling stake in Alfa and after a while became the sole owner. He also carried out a large-scale reconstruction of production and changed the name to Alfa Romeo.

In 1928 he left the post of the owner of the company.

Nicholas Romeo died in the summer of 1938 in the city of Magrello.

Emblem

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

The graphic design of the Alfa Romeo emblem is original and allows you to instantly distinguish the cars of the brand.

The emblem itself is made in a rounded shape filled with blue and silver structure, inside which there is another circle in which there is a red cross with a gold outline, a green snake with the same outline that eats a person and the inscription in the upper part of the Alfa Romeo circle in upper register. Unfortunately, it is not known why the emblem looks like this. The only plausible version was the coat of arms of the very influential Italian Visconti family.

History of Alfa Romeo cars

The first model was the 24 1910HP equipped with a cast iron four-cylinder power unit, and the improved 24HP immediately took part in the racing event.

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

The next models were 40/60 HP civilian and sports type. The powerful power unit of the sports car made it possible to reach a speed of 150 km / h and take prize-winning racing places. And in 1920, the breakthrough was the Torpedo 20HP, which also gained fame through won races.

To prove the superiority of the company's sports cars, the 8C 2300 was created in 1930, equipped with a powerful 8-cylinder power unit of specially developed light alloy construction.

 Beauty and speed were intertwined in the modernized 8C 2900. The model has acquired the title of the fastest beautiful car in the world.

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

The Alfetta 158 came out in 1937 with an original body and design. She also earned special distinctions thanks to the small power unit and won racing competitions in the world F1 twice. (The second time was due to this modernized version of the 159).

The 50s and the Guiletta also proved their enormous sporting potential. 1900, equipped with a 1900-cylinder power unit, and it was also the company's first car with a total assembly line.

The AR 51 was an all-wheel drive off-road vehicle and was released in 1951.

The history of the Alfa Romeo car brand

The high-speed Guiletta was produced in two sports car models, the SS and the SZ, which had a powerful powertrain.

The Alfa 75 was a sedan-bodied sports car and saw the world in 1975.

The 156 was the new standout model thanks to its newest styling and was also recognized as a machine a year later.

Questions and answers:

How does Alfa Romeo translate? Alpha is not the first letter of the Greek alphabet, but an abbreviation (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) - Lombardy Automobile Joint Stock Company.

What does the Alfa Romeo sign mean? The snake that eats man is a symbol of the Viscontia dynasty (protector from enemies), and the red cross is the coat of arms of Milan. The combination of symbols hints at the legend of the murder of a Saracen (Bedouin) by one of the founders of the House of Viscontia.

Whose car is Alfa Romeo? Alfa Romeo is an Italian company founded in 1910 (June 24) in Milan. At the moment, the brand belongs to the FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) Italy concern.

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