The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is a mid-engined sports car built by Alfa Romeo and derived from the Tipo 33 sports prototype. Eighteen examples were made between 1967 and 1969, and it was the fastest commercially available car for the standing kilometre when it was introduced.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale at a glance
| Production | 18 examples, 1967–1969 |
|---|---|
| Design and body | Franco Scaglione; built by Carrozzeria Marazzi |
| Debut | Paris Salon de l’Auto, 5 October 1967 |
| Engine | all-aluminium 2.0 L (1,995 cc) V8, dry sump, SPICA injection, 78 mm × 52.2 mm |
| Power | 230 PS at 8,800 rpm (270 PS in race trim); torque 206 N·m at 7,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed by Colotti |
| 0–100 km/h | under 6 seconds |
| Top speed | 260 km/h claimed; 252 km/h measured by Auto, Motor und Sport in 1968 |
| Price (1968) | US$17,000 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only, so the figures could not be cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The 33 Stradale was based on the Autodelta Tipo 33 racing car. It was designed by Franco Scaglione, built by Carrozzeria Marazzi and made its debut at the Paris Salon de l’Auto on 5 October 1967. Alfa announced a batch of 50 Group 4 cars, but did not reach the number needed for homologation, even after it was lowered to 25 in 1969.
The first prototype was built at Autodelta’s workshop in Settimo Milanese next to the Tipo 33 “Periscopica” race car. Marazzi claims to have built 18 chassis: five of them were used for six concept cars by Pininfarina, Bertone and Giugiaro/Italdesign, and eight for production cars. In 1968 the car was the most expensive automobile on sale to the public, at US$17,000.
Design and features
- Doors: considered the first road-going production vehicle with forward- and upward-opening butterfly doors, with side windows curving into the roof.
- Construction: most cars have an aluminium body on an aluminium tubular chassis, built by hand so that each differs in details.
- Engine: related to the V8 of the Montreal but smaller and more powerful, with chain-driven camshafts and a flat-plane crankshaft, with Carlo Chiti as the engineer.
- Performance: in 1968 Auto, Motor und Sport measured 252 km/h and 24.0 seconds for the standing kilometre, the fastest of any production car at the time.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale versions
- 33 Stradale (1967–1969): the road car, 18 chassis.
- Concept cars: six concept cars were built on 33 Stradale chassis, including the Carabo and the Navajo by Bertone.
More Alfa Romeo cars of the era are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the Carabo and the Navajo.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale questions and answers
How many 33 Stradale were built?
Eighteen examples between 1967 and 1969, according to Wikipedia.
What engine does it have?
A 2.0-litre all-aluminium V8 with 230 PS at 8,800 rpm.
How fast is the 33 Stradale?
A claimed 260 km/h; Auto, Motor und Sport measured 252 km/h in 1968.
Who designed it?
Franco Scaglione, with the body built by Carrozzeria Marazzi.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, English Wikipedia: history, engine, performance
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