14.05.2004 To mark the 50th anniversary of the ALFA ROMEO Giulietta Sprint a long series of events and exhibitions with the aim of reviving the history of an extraordinary legend iS planned

This short history of the Giulietta ends in June 1962 when the model changed its name and cylinder capacity. The Monza race track was the site chosen for the launch of the Giulia 1600 Sprint, i.e. a version of the Giulietta Sprint with a 1570 cc engine developing 92 bhp at 6200 rpm that could achieve a top speed of 172 km/h.

The Giulia Sprint 1600 could be said to be a perfect marriage between a new, more powerful mechanical configuration and the evergreen shape of the Giulietta.

The differences between this and the second series of the Giulietta Sprint were few: for example, a new design for the bonnet and side turn signals, now rectangular, while the door panels were entirely trimmed in imitation leather and the brake drums were oversized. The wording 1600 of course appeared on the sides.

Inside, the facia was almost fully redesigned, trimmed with imitation leather and completed with new temperature and air adjustment controls. The seats were also new and more comfortable and the brand had a new steering wheel which was still in black bakelite but with three aluminium spokes. From the first half of 1963, the instrument graphics were changed to feature a striking black face.

The Giulia Sprint 1600 remained in production up to 1964 by which time more than 7100 units had been produced.

The Giulietta's history also includes a truly rare departure for the field of motoring. When production of the Giulietta Sprint was already completed, Alfa Romeo restarted production to assemble more than 1800 units to the end of 1965.

The car introduced for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in 1964 was known simply as the 1300 Sprint, i.e. the name Giulietta was missed out.

But the shape, cylinder capacity and two-spoke steering wheel were unmistakably taken from that glorious model. This particular version borrowed from the Giulia 1600 Sprint its distinctive row of instruments and also side turn signals plus the same brake configuration with discs on the front end. The wording 1300 also appeared on the sides and bonnet.

The 1300 Sprint was the final homage to one of the most important Alfa Romeo models in motoring history and the inspiration for another great car: the 'Giulia Sprint GT', of which 225,000 examples were produced.