For several years now, Alfa Romeo has been reconnecting with its rich sporting past, and intends to make it known.
As a prelude to a return to F1, which will include six consecutive seasons in the premier class from 2018 to 2023, Alfa Romeo has been marketing exclusive models with a strong character and names evocative of its history since 2007. The magnificent 8C preceded the 4C, which was followed by the Giulia Quadrifoglio and a wild version, the GTAm.
More recently, the Italian firm has created a surprise by entering a field where it was perhaps not expected.
Like the Phoenix rising from its ashes, the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale returns in 2023 as a supercar.
In order to assert the exclusivity that is the very essence of a true supercar, as much as to pay homage to its illustrious ancestor, the automaker made a strong choice in deciding to produce only 33 units of the new Stradale. Each one, hand-built and customized to the customer's specifications, will be an almost unique model.
To cater for all tastes and applications, the new-generation 33 Stradale offers a choice between a 3.0l twin-turbo V6 developing 620 hp, and an electric motor. Both options are based on the same aluminum chassis.
It's a safe bet that the performance of the noble ancestor will be pulverized, while offering the astonishing ease of driving typical of modern supercars.
Logically, the lines of the new 33 Stradale are unequivocally inspired by Franco Scaglione's original design, created by coachbuilder Marazzi for the 1967 33.
The voluptuous curves of the rear wings, the curved side windows, the enormous air intakes, the huge headlamps (present only on the 33 Stradale no. 1) and the Elytra-shaped doors opening in the same kinematics are all there.
The interior plays a similar but even more skilful role. The simplicity of the era's competition cars is reproduced and achieved by simplifying shapes and trim, and concealing controls. Flat, sober surfaces. Discreet switches on the ceiling or center console. Classic-style steering wheel without controls. A single multifunction display in the instrument cluster. The racing atmosphere is restored, with comfort to boot!
But young people have no respect for their elders! And the new 33 Stradale has no qualms about ridiculing its forebear in terms of performance, while allowing itself to joke with the numbers.
Judge for yourself:
The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 2023 is rated at 333 km/h.
From 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3 seconds.
As for the reverse exercise of 100 km/h at a complete stop, it is announced in... 33 m.
Alfa Romeo leaves nothing to chance and pays tribute to its rich past with this new supercar. So, to better understand it, what better way than to go back to the origins, when it all began.
Founded in 1910, Alfa Romeo is a key player in motor sport. From its beginnings to the present day, the company has competed as a manufacturer and engine builder, with countless successes in all categories.
In 1950, Alfa Romeo became the first manufacturer to win the newly created Formula 1 World Championship. On the strength of its supremacy, the brand repeated the feat the following year.
However, the '50s and a forced return to profitability forced Alfa Romeo to refocus on the design and production of a production model that would concentrate all the company's energy. This was to be the small, sporty Giulietta, followed by the Giulia, from which numerous competition versions were derived.
It wasn't until the mid '60s that a project led by Carlo Chiti and Autodelta (Alfa Romeo's racing department) gave birth in 1967 to the first Alfa Romeo designed entirely for competition in 20 years, the Tipo 33.
It was a prototype, a real racing car, with no elements taken from production Alfa Romeos.
The engine, a 2-liter, 4-overhead cam V8 delivering 270 hp at 9,600 rpm, sits centrally on a tubular chassis and is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The whole unit weighs a mere 600 kg!
The complex and necessary fine-tuning of a competition car soon led to the birth of the more reliable and efficient T33/2. This version's victory in the 2-liter class at the 1968 Daytona 24 Hours earned it the eponymous nickname.
In the meantime, and in a move that was as unusual as it was surprising, it was decided to develop a road-going, civilian version of this genuine racing car. A version intended for the public, of course, but a necessarily restricted audience.
Designed by Franco Scaglione, the 33 Stradale (Italian for "road version of a racing car") is considered one of the finest creations of its era. Its supple curves, combined with the elytra doors and the engine on display, are spectacular. It's also unbelievably low, culminating at less than 1 meter! The 33 Stradale uses the same V8 as the 33 Stradale, but in a slightly toned-down and simplified version, giving 230 hp at 8,800 rpm, more than enough to deliver the best acceleration of any car produced in 1968, aided by its featherweight (approx. 700 kg!).
On the other hand, its selling price is one of the highest on the market. Combined with the impractical road-going aspects of a racing car that has retained most of its features, sales will remain confidential.
The figure of 18 Alfa 33 Stradales built is sometimes put forward, based on the known sequence of chassis numbers. But it would appear that not all the chassis in question were built. In addition, 5 of them received special bodywork, such as Bertone's Carabo, and the prototype had a different numbering. The figure of around ten 33 Stradales assembled is not conclusive. In any case, this is one of the rarest road cars in the world.
Since 1969, and with the exception of the TZ3, which was based on a Chrysler Viper, Alfa Romeo had not ventured into the realm of totally non-standard cars. Now, with the new 33 Stradale, Alfa Romeo has done just that, and done it in style.
