Interest in the Alfa Romeo SZ and its ragtop sister RZ has been steadily increasing over the last few years, with asking prices for the finest examples edging into six figures territory. Yet hardly anyone wanted these cars when new… — …Welcome to the story of the Alfa Romeo SZ, perhaps better known as “il Mostro.” A new beginning Our story begins in the immediate aftermath of Fiat’s takeover of Alfa Romeo, which ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity on the 31st of December 1986.

Automobile history is littered with the broken dreams of enthusiastic entrepreneurs whose ventures fizzled out after having built just a handful of cars. And that’s very much the case for the LMX Sirex, the sexy Italian GT you’ve never known existed. — Humble beginnings Our story begins at the fiftieth edition of the Turin motor show, held in November of 1968. Or rather, in its parking lot. That’s where a rather striking coupé built by a company in Milan called Limaplas made its first appearance, in a rather crude but certainly cost-effective experiment to…

Few automobile brands enjoy a following as large and passionate as Alfa Romeo. Yet few people know the history behind its ornate and colorful emblem, and probably even fewer have ever noticed its subtle evolution over the years. — At least, until now. Founded in 1910 as “Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili” (which translates as “anonymous Lombard automobile factory”) in Milan. …

Few people know that Bertone once built five of its X1/9 sports cars from aluminum, on behalf of a Canadian mining company and aluminum producer. Here’s the story… — This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Fiat X1/9, which was presented in Sicily in November of 1972. Much has been written about Fiat’s brilliant mid-engined sports car, including this and this article from Yours Truly. Still, I believe one of the most intriguing facets of X1/9 history is…

Alfa Romeo’s history spans over a century, yet it ceased to exist as a corporate entity almost four decades ago, following Fiat’s 1986 takeover. But Fiat wasn’t the only option on the table: this is the untold story of Ford’s attempt to buy Alfa Romeo… — Quite a few older, hardcore Alfa fans still consider anything designed afterward as somewhat unworthy of the badge. However, I believe that, even though things could certainly have gone better, plenty remains to be happy about in the last few decades.

Automobile enthusiasts all tend to have a “Dream Garage” of their own: an immaterial, imaginary temple inhabited by a small number of carefully selected vehicles. And I’m certainly no exception. — Such selection is usually subject to near-daily changes, depending on the state of mind, but following this recent piece by Will G, I feel compelled to share with you all the contents of my “Dream Garage” as of today August 30, 2022.

Tap “Italy” into a Google image search tab, and it won’t take long for a Fiat 500 to appear among the country’s various picturesque, dreamy landscapes. Here’s the story of what’s perhaps the most “Italian” automobile of all… — Yet the irresistibly cute 500 is much more than a rolling national stereotype: it is an industrial design masterpiece, one of just a few automobiles to be included in the MoMA’s permanent collection in New York.

Spoiler alert: more than you probably think. Is it worth it? — According to a Harris poll commissioned by toymaker Lego in 2019, a surprisingly large chunk of young kids aspires to become Vloggers/YouTubers. Well, I guess I qualify as one, given that my channel Roadster Life is (at the time of writing) right on the cusp of netting 20k subscribers and…

Launched a quarter of a century ago, the Alfa Romeo 156 saved the brand from oblivion thanks to its gorgeous design and lusty engines. Alfa’s “golden days” aren’t as far back in time as many believe, after all… — 156: a magic number in Alfa Romeo’s history and, coincidentally, also the number of kilometers that once separated the former Fiat Group’s Mirafiori headquarters in Turin from Alfa Romeo’s design studio in Arese, near Milan.