The Alfa Romeo Navajo is a concept car designed and built by Bertone on the chassis of an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale and introduced at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. It was the last of six concept cars built on the 33 Stradale chassis by various coachbuilders, and it is kept today in the Alfa Romeo museum.
Alfa Romeo Navajo at a glance
| Builder | Bertone, on a 33 Stradale chassis (number 750.33.117) |
|---|---|
| Shown | 1976 Geneva Motor Show |
| Body | light fibreglass, 1970s wedge design |
| Wheelbase | 2,430 mm (the 33 Stradale frame lengthened in the centre) |
| Engine | 2.0 L (1,995 cc) V8, four overhead camshafts, SPICA mechanical injection |
| Power | about 230 PS (169 kW) at 8,800 rpm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual, mounted behind the rear axle |
| Layout | mid-engine, longitudinal |
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 Navajo
The Navajo was the last of six concept cars that coachbuilders built on the chassis of the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and this one was Bertone’s. It was built on chassis number 750.33.117 and introduced in Geneva in 1976. After taking part in various shows it became part of the Museo Alfa Romeo collection, where it still stands together with the other prototypes based on the 33 Stradale.
Design and features
- Body: the 33 Stradale frame was lengthened in the centre to 2,430 mm to carry a light fibreglass wedge body; the tapered front is balanced by a large rear end topped by a trapezoidal wing whose angle changes with speed.
- Active aerodynamics: an active front splitter adjustable with speed, a feature that went into production almost ten years later on the Bertone-designed Alfa Romeo 90.
- Headlights: retractable lights that extend horizontally from the fenders instead of rising from the bonnet.
- Interior: two fibreglass seats and a tubular dashboard with a digital instrument panel and control levers instead of buttons.
- Mechanicals: the 33 Stradale running gear with a 2.0 L V8 giving about 230 PS and a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Alfa Romeo Navajo versions
- 33 Stradale (1967): the road car whose chassis the Navajo uses.
- Other 33 Stradale concepts: five more concept cars were built on the same chassis by other coachbuilders.
More Alfa Romeo concept cars are in our Alfa Romeo collection, for example the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the BAT concepts and the Nuvola.
Alfa Romeo Navajo questions and answers
What is the Alfa Romeo Navajo?
A concept car by Bertone on the chassis of the 33 Stradale, shown at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show.
What engine does the Navajo have?
The 2.0-litre V8 of the 33 Stradale with mechanical injection, around 230 PS at 8,800 rpm.
Where is the Navajo today?
In the collection of the Museo Alfa Romeo, together with the other 33 Stradale prototypes.
What was special about its aerodynamics?
A trapezoidal rear wing with variable angle and an active front splitter adjustable with speed.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo Navajo, English Wikipedia: history, specifications
