Curbside Find: 1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider: Blue Sky Thinking

What a difference a few years make. If you were an Italian car enthusiast circa 1950, Alfa Romeos were a complete Everest. They were strictly made in chassis form, powered by an aristocratic DOHC straight-6, had a sophisticated suspension and cost a fortune. By 1955, Alfa Romeos had become affordable, now featuring a DOHC 4-cyl., more basic suspension and series-made bodies.

Out of the blue, the very essence of Alfa Romeo was transformed. Well, maybe not its essence, as there was still a clear family link with the more bespoke and luxurious models of the ‘30s and ‘40s. But whenever I see an early Giulietta like this one, I like to remind myself that it must have had quite an impact on the automotive world at the time.

Alfa Romeo’s transformation into a large carmaker started with the 1900, their first series-made 4-cyl. car (launched in late 1950), but it was only achieved by the Tipo 750, a.k.a the Giulietta. Launched at the 1954 Turin Motor Show, initially in coupé form, Alfa’s first small family car sported a 1.3 litre engine that was a veritable jewel of technology and sportiness.

Well, it was to be become sporty, i.e. when the Veloce twin carb version came out in 1958. But in early cars like this, the 1290cc DOHC 4-cyl. only delivered 65hp. But at least it looked fast, right?

Alfa’s US distributor clamoured for a drop-top, which the Milanese firm was only too happy to oblige, provided the body could be farmed out. Pininfarina won the contract and the car was unveiled at the 1955 Paris Motor Show to general praise.

By the time series production cars came out in early 1956, the Spider had wind-down windows and a floor shifter. Perfection attained – especially once the 80hp Veloce engine was added to the mix.

But then comes the slightly more vexatious question of the colour. I’d say a good 80% of the Giulietta Spiders one can see in my neck of the woods are red. Which I get, it’s an Alfa, it’s a sports car, it’s the default setting. There are a few white ones, and at least one in black – that one is gorgeous, but then I do have a weakness for black cars in general. And then, there’s this one, in a striking light blue.

I could not find a 1956 colour chart for Giuliettas, but here’s what it looked like in 1958. Spiders could be white, red, black, dark blue or sky “Celeste” blue and that last one is what I believe we have here. It’s apparently a difficult colour to reproduce with today’s water-based paints, and cars can look very different depending on lighting conditions too.

Shooting this one on one of Tokyo’s famously sunny winter days just added a bit more blue to the mix, I guess. It would not necessarily have been my choice, but this unusual colour actually works great on the PF Spider. It makes it look like a new car again. Almost divine, in a way, as if it came down from the heavens. Nel blu, dipinto di blu, as they sang back then.

Related Reading

Curbside Classic: 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta (101) Spider PininFarina – Stepping Into The Modern Age, by T87

In Motion Outtake. 1959-65 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, by Don Andreina