History of The Giulietta
(Courtesy Wikipedia)

Production: 1954–1965

Assembly: Portello, Milan, Italy (Berlina), Grugliasco, Turin, Italy (Sprint, Bertone), San Giorgio Canavese, Italy (Spider, Pininfarina), East London, South Africa (Ti model 1960–1963, Car Distributors Assembly)

Body style: Berlina (sedan), Spider (convertible), Sprint (coupe)

Layout: FR layout

Engine: 1290cc DOHC I4

Transmission: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual (SS and SZ)

Wheelbase: Berlina/Sprint/Spider
2,380 mm (93.7 in)/2,380 mm (93.7 in)/2,250 mm (88.6 in)

Length
4,033 mm (158.8 in)/3,980 mm (156.7 in)/3,900 mm (153.5 in)
Width
1,550 mm (61.0 in)/1,535 mm (60.4 in)/1,580 mm (62.2 in)
Height:
1,405 mm (55.3 in)/1,320 mm (52.0 in)/1,335 mm (52.6 in)

Kerb weight: Berlina: 915 kg (2,017 lb), Sprint: 880 kg (1,940 lb), Spider : 860 kg (1,896 lb), Sprint Zagato: 770 kg (1,698 lb)

Designers: Franco Scaglione at Bertone (Sprint and Sprint Speciale), Pininfarina (Spider). Ercole Spada at Zagato (Sprint Zagato)

The Giulietta (series 750 and 101) was manufactured by Alfa Romeo from 1954 to 1965. The Giulietta was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1954 and almost 132,000 were built in the Portello factory in Milan.

The first Giulietta model was a coupé, the Giulietta Sprint, introduced in late 1954. This was followed by a sedan in spring 1955 and in mid 1955, the open two-seat Giulietta Spider, featuring convertible bodywork by Pininfarina. In 1957 more powerful Berlina version, called Giulietta TI (Turismo Internazionale) was presented with minor cosmetic changes to the hood, the dial lights and rear lamps.

Carrozzeria Colli also made the Giulietta station wagon variant called Giulietta Promiscua. 91 examples of this version were built.[5] Carrozzeria Boneschi also made a few station wagon examples called Weekendina.[6]

Restyling 1959

A new version of the Giulietta debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1959. The fuel tank was now incorporated in the right rear fender and was equipped with a door. The nose was redefined with more rounded wings, recessed lights, new headlights and grille rings revised with horizontal bars. The interior was much more organized and the dashboard instruments had an elongated bore including the tachometer. The series number was changed from 750/753 to the 101 series.

Restyling 1961

In 1961, the TI version was upgraded to 74 PS (54 kW). With this new engine the car could reach a speed of almost 160 km/h (99 mph). Production of the standard Berlina continued until 1963, whilst the TI continued for one year more. Production figures were:

Berlina: 39,057

TI: 92,728

Sprint: 24,084

Sprint Veloce: 3,058

Spider: 14,300

Spider Veloce: 2,796

Promiscua (Wagon ): 91

Giulietta engines

The Giulietta used an Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine of 1290 cc straight-4, with a light alloy cylinder block and an alloy cylinder head with twin overhead camshafts. The original Giulietta engine produced a power output of 62 hp (46 kW) in the sedan and 80 hp (60 kW) in the Giulietta Sprint. This was to be increased to 100 hp (75 kW) in later sporting models such as the Giulietta Sprint Speciale and the Giulietta Sprint Zagato. 1.3l engine had 74mm bore and 75mm stroke.

1962 Giulietta Twin Cam engine

Model Displacement Power Top speed

Berlina 1,290 cc 62 hp (46 kW) at 6,000 rpm 88 mph (142 km/h)[7]

Giulietta T.I. 1,290 cc 74 hp (55 kW) at 6,200 rpm 97 mph (156 km/h)[7]

Sprint 1,290 cc 80 hp (60 kW) at 6,300 rpm 88 mph (142 km/h)[11]

Sprint Veloce 1,290 cc 90 hp (67 kW) at 6,500 rpm 112 mph (180 km/h)[12]

Sprint Speciale 1,290 cc 100 hp (75 kW) at 6,500 rpm 120 mph (190 km/h)[10]

Sprint Zagato 1,290 cc 100 hp (75 kW) at 6,500 rpm 120 mph (190 km/h)[10]