Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale

Infobox Automobile


name = Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
manufacturer = Alfa Romeo
parent_company =
aka =
production = 1967–1971
assembly = Carrozzeria Marazzi
predecessor =
successor =
class = Sports car
body_style = 2-door coupe
layout = Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
platform =
engine = 2.0 L V8
transmission = Colotti 6-speed manual
wheelbase = auto mm|2350|1
length = auto mm|3970|1
width = auto mm|1710|1
height = auto mm|991|1
weight = auto kg|700|0
fuel_capacity = Convert|94.7|L|usgal impgal|0|abbr=onCite web|url=http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/models/car/?car=42317|title=1967 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale|accessdate=2008-01-04|work=carfolio.com]
electric_range =
related = Racing car: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Concept cars: Alfa Romeo Carabo
Alfa Romeo 33.2
Alfa Romeo Iguana
Alfa Romeo Navajo
designer = Franco Scaglione

The Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is an extremely rare road car built by Alfa Romeo of Italy. Only 18 are reported to have been made, plus three design studies based on the 33 Stradale the 33.2, Iguana and Carabo.Cite web|url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/frame.php?file=car.php&carnum=968|title=Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale|accessdate=2007-04-26|work=ultimatecarpage.com] Cite web|url=http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/739/Alfa-Romeo-33-Iguana-Concept.html|title=Alfa Romeo 33 Iguana Concept|accessdate=2008-01-07|work=ultimatecarpage.com.]

The Stradale, first built in 1967, was based on the Autodelta Alfa Romeo T33 racing car. The car, designed by Franco Scaglione, and built by Carrozzeria Marazzi, made its debut at the 1967 Turin Motorshow.

Built in an attempt by Alfa to make some of its racing technology available to the public, it was the most expensive automobile for sale to the public in 1968 at US$17,000Cite web|url=http://www.italiaspeed.com/2007/events/retromobile/alfa_romeo/alfa_club_france/2602.html|title=News|accessdate=2007-04-26|work=italiaspeed.com] (when the average cost of a new car in 1968 was $2,822).Cite web|url=http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1968.html|title=1968|accessdate=2007-12-22|work=thepeoplehistory.com]

The Stradale is believed to be the first production vehicle to feature dihedral doors, also known as butterfly doors. Other vehicles which feature doors of this nature include the Toyota Sera, McLaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and the Saleen S7. The Stradale also features windows which seamlessly curve upward into the 'roof' of the vehicle.

The race-bred engine bore no relation to the mass-produced units in Alfa's more mainstream vehicles. Race engineer Carlo Chiti designed an oversquare (78 mm bore x 52,2 mm stroke) dry-sump lubricated convert|1995|cc|lk=on|abbr=on V8 that featured SPICA fuel injection,Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/mundoalfa/1967_Alfa33.htm|title=Alfa Romeo 33 Sport Prototipo|accessdate=2007-05-09|work=geocities.com/mundoalfa Es icon] four ignition coils and 16 spark plugs. The engine used four chain-driven camshafts to operate the valve train and had a rev-limit of 10000 rpmCite web|url=http://www.qv500.com/alfa33stradap1.php|title=Alfa Romeo 33 Part 1: 33 Stradale|accessdate=2007-12-22|work=qv500.com] . The engine produced 230 bhp (172 kW) at 8800 rpm in road trim and 270 bhp in race trim.Cite web|url=http://www.autozine.org/Classiccar/html/Alfa/Tipo_33.html|title=Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale (1967)|accessdate=2007-12-22|work=autozine.org] In another break from convention, Alfa used a six-speed transaxle gearbox by Valerio Colotti.

The car takes 5.5 seconds to reach 60 mph (96.56 km/h) from a standing start and has top speed of convert|260|km/h|mph|abbr=on.

Appearances in media

* Appeared in Sega GT 2002
* "Un bellissimo novembre" (That Splendid November - 1969) [Movie]

See also

* Ferrari Dino
* Lancia Stratos

References