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Roadster Life
Italy
Приєднався 19 бер 2019
I've been obsessed with cars for as long as I can remember, and I started drawing them the very moment I could hold a pen in my hand: this led me to pursue a career as a car designer, and that's been my profession for ten years.
With this channel, I want to create a space dedicated to the "Gentleman Car Enthusiast": a place to celebrate the culture and love for the automobile in the widest sense.
Please visit my website for more: roadster-life.com
With this channel, I want to create a space dedicated to the "Gentleman Car Enthusiast": a place to celebrate the culture and love for the automobile in the widest sense.
Please visit my website for more: roadster-life.com
Nobody's Favorite: Revisiting The 1980s Alfa Romeo Spider
Presented in 1966 and produced until 1993, the classic Spider enjoyed the longest production run in Alfa Romeo's history, during which the model changed remarkably little. But if you ask people about their favourite Alfa Spider, hardly anyone will mention the 1980s models.
Yet, due to these Spiders being those that were current when I was little, or probably due to the widespread 1980s influences that pervade pop culture lately, I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to these less-regarded Spiders.
The Spider "Aerodinamica" was presented in March 1983 at the Geneva Motor Show, but the idea behind the new Spider's more aggressive appearance originated from a prototype presented by Pininfarina nine years prior, at the 1974 Barcelona Motor Show.
With their upper surface sporting a satin aluminium finish, the Spider's new plastic bumpers added 150mm to the car's length. The tail panel was painted black on all models and complemented by a chunky plastic spoiler and larger taillight clusters. However, hardly anything changed under the Spider's skin: Alfa's twin-cam inline-four engines were carried over unaltered, together with the rest of the car's running gear.
#alfaromeo #classiccars #1980s
My articles on Medium: roadsterlifeweb.medium.com/membership
My automotive books:
Lancia Gamma Berlina & Coupé 1976 - 1984
ENGLISH: www.amazon.com/dp/B09TN45L8Q
ITALIAN: www.amazon.it/dp/B09YVJRKH6
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
www.amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Alfa 6 - La Storia 1979-1987 (ITALIAN)
www.amazon.it/dp/B0BHT3PCC7
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: www.amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 www.amazon.com/dp/1656632500
Yet, due to these Spiders being those that were current when I was little, or probably due to the widespread 1980s influences that pervade pop culture lately, I'm finding myself increasingly drawn to these less-regarded Spiders.
The Spider "Aerodinamica" was presented in March 1983 at the Geneva Motor Show, but the idea behind the new Spider's more aggressive appearance originated from a prototype presented by Pininfarina nine years prior, at the 1974 Barcelona Motor Show.
With their upper surface sporting a satin aluminium finish, the Spider's new plastic bumpers added 150mm to the car's length. The tail panel was painted black on all models and complemented by a chunky plastic spoiler and larger taillight clusters. However, hardly anything changed under the Spider's skin: Alfa's twin-cam inline-four engines were carried over unaltered, together with the rest of the car's running gear.
#alfaromeo #classiccars #1980s
My articles on Medium: roadsterlifeweb.medium.com/membership
My automotive books:
Lancia Gamma Berlina & Coupé 1976 - 1984
ENGLISH: www.amazon.com/dp/B09TN45L8Q
ITALIAN: www.amazon.it/dp/B09YVJRKH6
Six Appeal - The Story Of The Alfa 6
www.amazon.com/dp/1793931046
Alfa Romeo Alfa 6 - La Storia 1979-1987 (ITALIAN)
www.amazon.it/dp/B0BHT3PCC7
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - The Story 1977 - 1985
ENGLISH: www.amazon.com/dp/1983393746
ITALIAN: www.amazon.it/dp/B098GVJ7RK
Alfa Romeo Arna - The Full Story 1980 - 1987 www.amazon.com/dp/1656632500
Переглядів: 34 801
Відео
"X" Factor: The Curious Story Of How The X1/9 Got Its Name
Переглядів 5 тис.Рік тому
As you will probably know, the X1/9 moniker originated as the car's project code. Still, if you've ever wondered how that came to be and why, here's the story. Aiming to bring some order into the growing number of models and designs, Fiat's legendary technical director Dante Giacosa established in 1946 a simple three-digit numbering system, the first of which was to be 1 for passenger cars, 2 f...
Hero Of Two Worlds: The Beautiful Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Переглядів 30 тис.Рік тому
With a production run spanning almost two decades, during which nearly 200.000 units were made, the 124 Spider is a beloved Fiat classic that enjoys a strong following on both sides of the Atlantic. Yet few people know that the timeless lines of this most Italian of automobiles were actually penned by an American for a Corvette. Welcome to the story of the Fiat 124 Spider... #history #classicca...
Underrated: Why I Love Nobody's Favorite Lancia
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Work on the Gamma began shortly after Fiat's takeover of an ailing Lancia in late 1969. The firm needed new models quickly, and precedence was given to the smaller Beta, which came out in 1972 and was intended as Lancia's volume seller for the Seventies. #lancia #classiccars #history Launched in 1976, the Gamma was to be the brand's new flagship, replacing the Flavia 2000 sedan and coupè, whose...
Iso Rivolta: The Coolest Cars You've Never Heard Of
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Several boutique European manufacturers have exploited the "American muscle in a coachbuilt body" formula over time, with varying degrees of success. But if there's been a company that, perhaps above all others, truly mastered the art of blending new-world horsepower with old-world sophistication, that's Iso Rivolta. Active between 1962 and 1974, Iso's luxurious GTs powered by American V8s were...
CEM: Alfa Romeo's Forgotten Engineering Triumph
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Cylinder deactivation technology is quite common in modern cars, especially those equipped with larger engines. But what if I told you that Alfa Romeo was a pioneer in this field and that over four decades ago, you could have bought an Alfetta that seamlessly switched on and off half its cylinders according to driving conditions? The Alfetta's classic 1962cc inline-four twin-cam became the plat...
Fiat's Forgotten Experimental Safety Vehicles
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The ESV, or Experimental Safety Vehicle program, originated in 1970 and was implemented through bilateral agreements between the government of the United States and those of several other countries, including Italy. About 4.5 Billion Italian Lire, roughly equivalent to 35 Million Euros today, went into the design, construction, and subsequent destruction in various crash tests of 47 examples of...
Too Fast To Race: Lancia's Awesome ECV Prototypes
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Presented in 1988, the unique Lancia ECV2 prototype represents a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been the evolution of rallies if the mighty Group B cars had been allowed to continue racing. And here's its story. #lancia #history #rally #1980s #classiccars Early into the 1986 season, while Lancia's fearsome Delta S4 battled with the Peugeot 205 T16 for the World Championship, work at A...
5 Reasons Why The Lancia Stratos Is The Greatest Rally Car Of All Time
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2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the World Rally Championship, and with such a diverse array of vehicles to choose from, the answer to what may be the greatest rally car of all time largely depends on who you ask. But if you asked me, I would pick the legendary Lancia Stratos, and here are five reasons why. #lanciastratos #worldrallychampionship #rallycar #history One: The first purpose-b...
Autobianchi: The Most Important Italian Automaker You've Never Heard Of
Переглядів 11 тис.Рік тому
Unless you're an Italian over the age of 40, you're unlikely to have ever heard about the Autobianchi brand. Although it may be easy to dismiss it as a mere footnote, the Milanese firm's role in automobile history is actually far from inconsequential. #history #classiccars #fiat #autobianchi During the 1960s, Fiat still enjoyed almost complete control of the Italian car market, and the role of ...
The Amazing Story Of The Spectacular Alfa Romeo 33 Dream Cars
Переглядів 8 тис.Рік тому
The gorgeous Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale from 1967 is rightfully considered among the most beautiful and desirable automobiles ever produced. Yet, despite the model's legendary status today, just 13 examples were ultimately constructed between 1967 and 1969, including two prototypes. Finding itself sitting on five more unused 33 Stradale chassis, Alfa Romeo lent them to Italy's most preeminent desig...
5 Weird Little Fiats You Didn't Know Existed
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5 Weird Little Fiats You Didn't Know Existed
The Unsung Italian Genius Behind The First V6 Engine
Переглядів 8 тис.Рік тому
The Unsung Italian Genius Behind The First V6 Engine
Alfa Romeo's Secret Rotary Engine Project
Переглядів 70 тис.Рік тому
Alfa Romeo's Secret Rotary Engine Project
5 Weird Alfa Romeos You Didn't Know Existed
Переглядів 6 тис.Рік тому
5 Weird Alfa Romeos You Didn't Know Existed
Scarabeo: The Secret Alfa Romeo Project You've Never Heard Of
Переглядів 35 тис.Рік тому
Scarabeo: The Secret Alfa Romeo Project You've Never Heard Of
Arna: The Story Of The Most Unloved Alfa Ever Made
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Arna: The Story Of The Most Unloved Alfa Ever Made
The Legendary Lancia Rally 037 Group B
Переглядів 14 тис.Рік тому
The Legendary Lancia Rally 037 Group B
2000 Sportiva: The Sexiest Alfa NEVER Made
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2000 Sportiva: The Sexiest Alfa NEVER Made
The Story Of The Awesome Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ
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The Story Of The Awesome Alfa Romeo SZ and RZ
LMX Sirex: the sexy Italian GT you didn't know existed
Переглядів 5 тис.Рік тому
LMX Sirex: the sexy Italian GT you didn't know existed
The Secret Story Of The Alcan Aluminum Bertone X1/9
Переглядів 17 тис.Рік тому
The Secret Story Of The Alcan Aluminum Bertone X1/9
The Untold Story Of Ford's Failed Takeover Of Alfa Romeo
Переглядів 12 тис.Рік тому
The Untold Story Of Ford's Failed Takeover Of Alfa Romeo
Amazing stuff, I had no idea they built these aluminum cars, I had one in the 80s and I still love them, super little baby Ferraris🇮🇹👍
Wait the 164 is LESS boxy than the 75? Umm... To me they are 100% obviously part of the same family, even if a generation apart
I just bought one 2.0 jtdm, rosso, most beautiful car in my part if town, ok there's Giulia rosso but he's a guest, not resident 😊 Everyone is turning when I pass by. Alfa should reconsider making a Brera mk2 honestly and no deals with GM or anyone else, also needs to be much lighter
They kept the prototype X denomination because the X1/9 greatly fitted the futuristic styling. Spaceship X 1/9.
Я помню Жигулей как вчера. That's the first car I was allowed to drive back in 70's! 😍
It was planned with a 3 rotor Wankel. Just imagine a CX Prestige with a 700 HP 10000 RPM Mazda 20 B! UUUUÄÄÄÄHH !!
Underrated? By whom? “The Graduate”, “Tequila Sunrise”, “Fletch Is Alive”, “See Nothing, Hear Nothing”, “The Woman in Red”, "The Godfather III" and a bunch of Hollywood dramas, comedies, series where these beauties constantly appear. As a kid, I remember every other issue of Playboy (which I read in secret from my parents) with ads of Spiders and sometimes GTV6 (with a lottery for tickets to Milan). In a certain sense, this beauty is one of the Italian automotive symbols of the 80's. Along with Testarossa, Countach and Quattroporte (bad guys' car)
Underrated compared to the other iterations of the Spider, as I said right at the beginning of the video.
@@Matteo_Licata Maestro, when you gonna come back? I miss your videos. And I'm not the only one, to be honest
Reminds me of the first BMW 7series by Paul Bracq!
Yeah, they do look quite similar indeed
Should have given it to the Brazilian Dardo clone.
Finally a video that mentions South Africa's homologation special GTV 🔥
I've watched so many Italian car chases. I see that if the bad guys don't drive Italian, they often drive BMW. Bit like Jags being driven by the bad guys in the UK. As for my favourite, l love them all.
Yeah, that happened quite often in Italian movies, but it wasn't a fixed trope: there were just as many movies where the bad guys drove Giulias or Fiat 124s... Just as they did in real life at the time!
p0rn is not allowed on youtube
How much is a sandblaster mashine?like this one?
Citroën died after the last Xantia rolled off the assembly line. The C5 was ok too, but not like the older models
You should mention the amazing zf engine mounted gearbox. Meaning a more responsive drive than the gtv6 ( I owned 2 GTV6 since 1986.) I'm busy mating a 262 5speed CR getrag gearbox to the 2.5 sedan flywheel/pressure plate with my bellhousing. I swapped the zf for a getrag because the gearshift is better positioned than the 90 zf box. I believe the 90 could have been sport upgraded hugely with widened wheel arches, 3-piece split rims etc and become much more popular in the right hands. Just like the later gtv 24v with those stupid headlight holes. I wish someone here would make a mould off one of the latest alfa and create a sexy integrated bonnet/ f/bumper in carbon fibre for a 24v cabriolet gtv 3L. The way mini did. 4 holes in the bonnet....Yuck!
I used to drive a silver SM (ODP 591M) in the West End of London back in the late 70s. A wonderful car to drive and a real head turner.
My flatmate had one, and killed it through neglect. I did an engine and trans transplant on it. A bit fiddly, but it was a fun car to drive when it was finished.
Bel concentrato di notizie sulla 33!!!! La coupé mi mancava ❤️🇮🇹🍀💪🎉
Grazie!!!
I had a 1968 124 with the 1.2 liter engine. It was one of the most fun cars to drive I ever owned. I paid $150 US for it in 1976.
My dad owned a 1.2 124 too. It got stolen while he was in the cinema, watching the original Star Wars movie!
I'm here because of your visit to Lingotto with HubNut. Thank-you. / Sono qui per la tua visita a Lingotto con HubNut. Grazie.
4 piu bella
The 124 was a very good family car, then they were the Lada and also FSO Polski Fiats...
Nice !
I almost bought a used one in 1992, but didn't because I wanted something smaller. I ended up getting an AlfaSud Sprint Veloce 1.5 and fell in love with it instantly.
I miss my 75. I should have never let it go. It was great all around.
I owned a 1974 AR Spider 2000 Euro version, which I think was the prettiest with the headlight covers and small bumpers. In those days they were one of the most capable roadsters available.
Wonderful video. And a wonderful piece of Alfa Romeo history Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
he G.Cpuüe till looks futurutic ttoday! owned bea coupr, mzch later Thema. both totally reliable, good deigns.then the arque lef uk :(. pleae make electrc Gamma coupe and/or ,aller voncept coupe of 90's. please Lancia!
We need many designers like him to design for many automakers , every year new ugly or copy design cars coming out
Una delle auto più belle mai realizzate, è un peccato che non esista una continuazione di questo modello
I miss my 3L Verde and wish I had never sold it. It hurts. It was my favorite Alfa out of all 10L owned. Those Recaro seats were perfect, not more, no less.
Legend has it that the limited series 75 that featured in the video used up the stock of Recaro interiors leftover from the end of Milano production... But I agree, they look and feel great, way better than Alfa's standard chairs
Did they ever make multivalve heads for these engines?
No. Alfa in the 80s evaluated three and four valve heads but went with the Twin Spark head in the end.
Reminds me of Subaru, but the Alfas look better but rust too quick…pity
Very interesting and unusual topic! Thanks!
Thank you!!!!
Mon père avait acheté une 124 neuve en 1967. Il l’a gardé jusqu’en 1976. Je me souviens encore de l’odeur du neuf lorsqu’il a été livré. Je me souviens aussi des moindres détails du tableau de bord. Depuis j’ai toujours roulé en Fiat : 127, uno, punto, panda et 500 !
mom had had a 127 in sahara yellow. in 1978 we emigrated from czechoslovakia to switzerland in it. this car ride has changed my life forever ....
I bet it did! Thank you for sharing this memory with me!
Top
You're the greatest. I love prototypes and concepts, and have learned a lot here again.
Thank you!!!
Love this man. Tom, thank you for everything
I had three 33s and no regrets. A 1991 1.7 8V, a 1990 1.7 16V and for nine years I ran a 1991 1.7 16V (last year before catalytic converters) 137hp P4. Great fun. I moved on to a Cloverleaf 145 Twin Spark with 155hp. Even more fun, a complete go-kart with incredibly direct steering.
my brother had a gray Fiat 131 racing 2.0L ! he mounted the engine hood from the Rally car. The rear end light were from the Supermirafiori 1.6L TC sold in Swiss. Don't know if they had the same rear lights in Italy.
A bit sad seeing these legendaries, privilege, innovative beauties are stored in such as crowded facility. Government should support more, in order letting next next generation know all these genius designers craftsmanship. And be proud such as innovative for true automotive history.
My dad is Turkish he talked about his love of the Fiat 124 aka Murat so many times. The car is so much loved that car culture in Turkiye is centred on this particular Italian car that is loved by all.
I always thought it was such a beautiful sedan. It reminds me of the difference between an Alfa Romeo 75 and 164 where the latter had the room necessary to go head to head with the competition. The 75 was fine for us without kids and the occasional passengers. Ah, to have a Ghibly Cup, a Shamnal, and that Quattroporte in my dream garage!
Interesting. Like the idea in 2024, would keep up with the traffic!
Glad you enjoyed it. It's an interesting thought, but probably too much hassle for what it's worth. There are plenty of ways to make a 500 faster without having to install a Guzzi engine!
A very good presentation and review 👏
Thank you!!!
I'd love to see a Gt junior perform with this motor. There's a couple with busso motors... And they sound awesome. ❤💪👍
I believe that would be way too much power for a Junior, but it's fun to fantasize!
Un saluto da stupinigi, ti avevo visto in giro tempo fa...🎉🎉
In 2024, the Lancia Delta looks stunningly sexy! I want one!