Old Alfas are like film stars. They wait until the sunset hour to go out and parade on the strada, basking in the adulation of the cognoscenti (and the occasional paparazzo) and using the dimming light to their advantage. We’ve had a look at these before on CC, but this moss green early model Super appeared before me, on a fine Sunday afternoon, so we’re going to get to know Miss Giulia in a bit more detail.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Tipo 105/115 (i.e. with the famous DOHC 4-cyl. engine, either in 1.6 or 1.3 litre guise) berlina was made in a bewildering array of trim variations, in quite large numbers (about 475,000 units) and for a relatively long spell (1962-77).
There were many related models, including the slightly larger 1750 / 2000 saloon, the scrumptious Bertone coupé and the immortal PF Spider, the latter lasting until the mid-‘90s. But you’ll have to click on the links if you want to know more about those, or read Roger Carr’s comprehensive piece on this family of cars. This post will focus on the standard berlinas, as there’s plenty to pick at on those alone.
The Giulia came on the heels of the Giulietta, which was Alfa’s first foray in the mid-range market (mid-range for ‘50s Europe, that is) and showed that there really was no reason to leave the huge demand for sexy, sporty and sophisticated Italian compacts to Lancia.
The Giulietta’s basic recipe was spruced up for the ‘60s, but kept pretty much the same: the famous 4-cyl. mated to superb a 5-speed manual, driving a coil-sprung live rear axle (to keep costs down, unlike those mad engineers over at Lancia), wrapped in a stylish unit-bodied four-door saloon. The styling was very different, moving from the modestly-finned, high-beltline Giulietta to the decidedly boxy and deceptively slippery Giulia. Disc brakes, initially only on the front wheels, completed the package.
The ‘50s influence is still present in this early ‘60s design, though. As this essential Paul-penned post perceptively pointed out, the Alfa’s rear end and C-pillar seems to echo the 1959 Edsel. Actually, it’s more of a called-down carbon copy in some ways, but it works quite well on the much narrower Italian car thanks to the tasteful rectangular taillights and less contoured flanks.
It seems the chap in charge in Milan was Giuseppe Scarnati, head of Alfa Romeo Centro Stile from 1957 to 1975; credit for the Giulia saloon should go to him. The boxiness of the berlina’s styling, aside from being a fairly fashionable choice after the Googie ‘50s, also improved cabin and boot space. The Giulia was born as a 1600cc car and, compared to its European rivals, was still on the smaller side, though it was a lot bigger inside than the Tipo 101 Giulietta it replaced. Early cars even had a column change that enabled them to be rated as a six-seater.
Sportiness ended up commanding that the gear stick migrate down to the floor, where it stayed for the rest of the car’s life. The handbrake similarly moved to the floor in the late ‘60s, but our feature car still has the umbrella-handle type under the dash. This Giulia even has an aftermarket A/C under there! The ambiance of this cabin is quintessentially mid-‘60s, in the most pleasurable way. Alfa interiors of this era were nothing short of sublime.
Legroom is none too generous, back here – the 98-inch wheelbase is a little on the limited side, and those biscuit-coloured seats are rather plump.
I’ll admit to a few lingering misgivings about the Giulia’s overly boxy exterior, though it has been growing on me these past few years. But one look at that gorgeous interior and I’m back under the Giulia’s spell. This one is particularly well restored, though the lack of seat belts is the one stock shortcoming I would address if this were my car.
As indicated previously, there were a lot of variants – a confusing array of overlapping trim levels and series that is hard to summarize in anything but a table (like this one). The specific trim we have here is the Giulia Super, which appeared in 1965 as a deluxe twin carb version of the 1.6 litre model and was made, in two distinct series, until 1973. Series 1 cars (1965-69) like our CC were made in just over 77,000 units, making it the most popular of the 1600cc models. With 98 hp (DIN) under the hood to push around 1000kg of Alfa, the Giulia Super is also a spirited performer. I guess it’s redundant to call an Alfa Romeo a “spirited performer,” but there are some clichés that are hard to pass up.
The first Giulia saloon was the TI, which was made from 1962 to 1967. From 1964 onwards, a junior model sporting the Giulietta’s 1300cc engine always accompanied the 1600 range. The 1.3 litre cars were extremely popular on the domestic market, eventually selling even better than the 1.6 litre cars. In 1974, a major facelift provided a distinctive plastic grille; the henceforth Giulia Nuova Super went on until 1977, even gaining a Perkins Diesel version in the last couple of years.
Even with its black nose and smoky tailpipe, one can imagine how outdated the Giulia must have seemed by the mid-‘70s, sharing the same dealership forecourts as Alfasuds, GTVs and Alfettas. Nevertheless, the old Giulia was surprisingly hard to kill, especially on its home market, as it became better value in its advancing years and kept the Alfa mystique – and that jewel of an engine – until the very end.
Still, the earlier cars like our CC are definitely the better ones of the breed. A lot of detailing changed over the years, both inside and out, and the mid-‘60s ones, with their cool chromed nose, period-perfect cabin and nifty rear longhand script. The green paintwork seals the deal – I realize some of our distinguished CCollaborators (looking at you, Roger!) are of the opinion that Alfas Must Be Red, but on this we may have to agree to disagree.
Ready for your close-up then, Miss Giulia? Che bella!
Related posts:
Cohort Classic: 1969 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300Ti – Nice Alfa!, by Roger Carr
CC Twofer: 1968 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super / 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 – For Your Four Eyes Only, by T87
Alfa Romeo Giulia Design Inspiration Discovered (And Vice Versa), by PN
CC Outtake: Blue Jewel, by Robert Kim
Engine History: Alfa Romeo Twin Cam Four – A Pioneer, And As Beautiful As The Cars It Powered, by PN
Driving our 1500 CC Ford Cortina GT on the Autostrada in Italy in the late 1960s, I was passed many times by those Giulias, which I assume were the 1600 CC variety. 200KPH seemed to be no problem for them.
Speaking of these Giulias as old film stars, I don’t think there has been a classic Italian film from the ’60s that I’ve seen where a Guilia wasn’t the police car. Agree that these must have seemed passe by the mid-’70s. Fascinating to learn they were in production all the way through ’77.
But they was still good cotender in the mid-1970s for good car chases like the one in the Eurocrime movie “Violent Rome”(Roma Violenta).
That was awesome and hilarious at the same time…the Alfa guy nonchalantly kicking out the windshield, the mustache, the coat, the changeable weather. I liked the camera angle behind the front tire; it shows how well-designed the front suspension was. In an American car chase, that tire would be heeled over on the sidewall in high-speed turns.
Stéphane, I agree with Aaron – and thank you for posting this! Another movie I now need to watch.
Thanks also, Stephane. That was a big bunch of awful Euro-pudding film fun.
Though I must add, they really did properly belt the cars around for that genre, to the delight of enthusiasts, yes, but surely, to the between-fingers view of insurers and likely why we don’t see their like any more!
Such a beautiful car. Would be parked on the same aisle as my early 70s Datsun 510 and BMW 2002 in my fantasy post-lottery world, although it exudes way more class than those guys.
Would be a fantastic date car on this February 14th edition of CC. I’d certainly be proud to show up with my significant other riding shotgun in this sexy Italian.
That’s a winning color combination for me, and another marvelous Tokyo find, “The New Car Showroom That Time Forgot.”
Everything about it just looks so right, with nothing overdone or awkward. Just sublime. And far more appealing than either modern euro-monster fore and aft of it.
Perfect example of the breed. Always loved these, and not just because they suit my preferred dimensions: tall, boxy and narrow. But that certainly add to their appeal to me. I could see myself in one quite readily.
I love these. Perfect color combo on this one.
I want to add a Giulia Super to my garage in the worst way. Love the lines of the design.
If I wanted a sedan (which I never have) this would be the one. Same color. Same trim.
I used to drool over them while in Italy.
https://www.autobooks-aerobooks.com/product/alfa-romeo-giulia/
same writer has written a series of Alfa histories
I had no idea these remained in production for so long. But then nothing really replaced it, I guess; the Sud seemed smaller, the Alfetta larger.
How unusual to see one in “British Racing Green”! I think I’ve only ever seen them in red or white. A truly lovely car.
We can say that the Giulietta (Tipo 116) was considered its replacement as it came for 1978 😉
What a find for on-the-street parking! Great example of a great car, which one day Alfa will replicate in some form, we hope.
I even like the colour!
These cars really set the template for what we think Alfa Romeo caould do for an accessible sports saloon, to the extent that many, from BMW to Triumph and others tried to repeat it, some more convincingly than others, and that engine …….I just get weak at knees.
Too too cool!
A frowny Edsel met a small European, and their night of sin gave us this – a night to forget.
The delightful Italian vid above shows that the running result was a little ripper, capable in all the ways that matter and wantable for it, but it’s not acclaimable for its looks, surely. Whoever desired a tall skinny Edsel with a cranky face? Perhaps the owners of Renault R8’s, which, though an ugly suitcase for most, looked rather coherently severe to others – well, this other – for that was the origin of the Alfa? No, I don’t think so. (In truth, I think R8 owners only ever thought of economy and, apparently, brakes, but I digress).
No. It’s loved because it’s a reputedly a bloody good car, in fact undoubtedly is, but not because it looks like one.
The fact that this one’s now superbly verde and glossy and the chrome is shiny and the interior covetable – all admirable traits, of course – seems to have blinded you lot to the sheer boxy bog-ordinariness of the actual item. If it was the exterior of a ’60’s Japanese no-steer groan-mouthed bleed-out-handling nothing box, the comments would be at best coughlingly polite.
So, to Dr T, what a helluva specimen of an ugly little bastard you’ve found here. I have no doubt its mother loves it.
Fantastic example! When I was I child we (me and my family) had many trips with different Giulia Super (1.6 liter). I was fascinated by that car and the engine produced what I thought what a marvelous music. They are still in the streets in Italy, not so rare to find after all (the picture in attachment is from a couple of months ago in Rome).
Not able to attach the picture
Try reducing the file size. If the image is a max. of 1,200 pixels (in the bigger dimension), it’ll usually post.
Thanks, now it should be there
One more
The rear seats don´t have a lot of legroom but they have enough. I´ve sat in these cars and the thing is the seating is superbly comfortable – they hold you in place and cossett. It is rather like a Jaguar I suppose. Space is nice but the thing is Alfa Romeo knew how to design really good seats to make the most of the space and so the car can avoid being bulky just to make up another 10 cm for passengers who were mostly not there.