Alfa Romeo Alfasud

Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Manufacturer:	Alfa Romeo
Production:	1971-1989
Predecessor:	None
Successor:	Alfa Romeo 33
Body Style:	FF Hatchback, Estate and Saloon
Class:	Small family car
Similar:	Austin Allegro Citroën GS Fiat Strada Renault 14
Engine:	1.2 L H4 1.3 L H4 1.4 L H4 1.5 L H4 1.7 L H4
Designer:	Giorgetto Giugiaro

The Alfa Romeo Alfasud was a compact car made by Alfa Romeo of Italy from 1971 to 1989. It was considered one of Alfa Romeo's most successful models. A common nickname for the car is ’Sud.

History

It was built at a new factory at Pomigliano d'Arco in southern Italy, hence the car's name, Alfa Sud (Alfa South) and developed by Austrian Rudolf Hruschka.

It was shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1971 and was immediately praised by journalists for its styling (by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign) and handling. It featured a 1,186 cc Flat-4 engine.

Despite its two-box shape, it did not initially have a hatchback. The first production Alfasuds were four-door sedans, with a sporty two-door TI (Turismo Internazionale, or Touring International) model following at the end of 1973.

In 1974, Alfa Romeo launched a more luxurious model the Alfasud SE. The SE was replaced by the 'L' (Lusso) model in 1975. The Lusso model was produced until 1976, by then it was replaced with the new '5M' model, the first four-door Alfasud with a 5 speed gearbox. A three-door station wagon model called the Giardinetta was introduced for the 1975 model year.

In 1976, the Alfasud Sprint was launched. On the same platform, it was a lower, more angular sports model. The Sprint did feature a hatchback, a more powerful 1,286 cc 75 hp (56 kW) engine and a five-speed gearbox. The engine was later fitted into the standard Alfasuds, creating the 1300 TI models, and the five-speed gearbox found its way into the basic Alfasud, creating the 5M (5 Marce) model.

A 1,490 cc engine was soon made available to all body shapes, originally developing 85 hp (63 kW). By the end of the Alfasud's life, there was a tuned version of the engine developing 105 hp (78 kW) in the Green Cloverleaf model.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud

Despite strong engineering, Alfasud's (especially the early ones) had a strong reputation for suffering from rust, possibly due to sub-standard steel traded with the Soviet Union and/or the storage conditions of the bodies at the plant. The car was also imfamous for overheating easily in tropical climates. This was further worsened by the need for air conditioning systems in these environments.

All Alfasuds were upgraded in 1980 with plastic bumpers and other revisions.

A hatchback was added to the original shape in 1981. The Giardinetta was deleted from most markets around this time.

The Alfasud sedans were replaced by the Alfa Romeo Arna and 33 models in 1983. The 33 was an evolution of the Alfasud's floorpan and running gear, including minor suspension changes and a change from four-wheel disc brakes to rear drum brakes in an effort to reduce costs. The Alfasud Sprint was renamed into Alfa Sprint, this model was continued until 1989 by sharing the 33's running gear.

Engines

• 1971-1983 1.2 L (1186 cc) Alfa H4
• 1977-1983 1.3 L (1286 cc) Alfa H4, 75 hp (56 kW)
• 1978-1983 1.4 L (1350 cc) Alfa H4
• 1978-1983 1.5 L (1490 cc) Alfa H4, 85–105 hp (63–78 kW)
• 1987-1989 1.7 L (1712 cc) Alfa H4, 118 hp

Famous Alfasud conversions

Gian Franco Mantovani Wainer produced a one-off Bimotore version, with two 1,186 cm³ engines and four-wheel drive for rallying. Wainer also produced a turbocharged Turbowainer model in 1983.

Tech Data

• Driveline: longitudinal engine at front with front wheel drive
• Suspension
  • front : MacPherson strut with telescopic dampers and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
  • rear : dead beam axle with telescopic dampers and coil springs, located by Watts linkages and a panhard rod
• Wheelbase: 2455mm
  • • track (front/rear) : Berlina : 1392mm/1359mm
    • track (front/rear) : Giardinetta : 1384mm/1351mm
    • track (front/rear) : Sprint : 1380mm/1350mm (after 1980 : 1392mm/1359mm)
• Brakes: **front : discs, inboard mounted, 259mm diameter (late Sprints with ventilated discs outboard)
  • rear : discs, 234mm diameter (late Sprints with drums) handbrake operating the front callipers via cable (late Sprints on rear) dual hydraulic circuit with servo assistance
• Gearbox: 4 and 5 speed manual hydraulic clutch (180mm diameter plate)
• Steering: Rack and pinion 3.69 turns lock to lock
• Dimensions: 3-door, 5-door and giardinetta.
• Kerb weight: **1186cc (original 4 door) : 862kg
  • 1186cc & 1286cc TI : 838kg (63% front, 37% rear)
  • 1286cc Sprint : 890kg
  • 1.5 Ti Veloce : 914kg
  • 1.5 Sprint Veloce : 925kg (61.2% front, 38.8% rear)

Performance

model	max speed	0-60mph	in gear acceleration	standing ¼ mile	standing km
original 1186cc 4 door	94 mph	15.1 sec	19.5 sec (50-70 in 4th)	20.3 sec	37.7 sec
1186cc TI	102 mph	12.9 sec	19.1 sec (50-70 in 5th)	19.1 sec	35.6 sec
1286cc Sprint	102 mph	13.1 sec	13.7 sec (50-70 in 5th)	19.2 sec	36.7 sec
1286cc TI	102 mph	12.1 sec	12.8 sec (50-70 in 5th)	18.5 sec	34.8 sec
1500 TI Veloce	108 mph	9.9 sec	10.3 sec (50-70 in 5th)	17.4 sec	32.7 sec
1500 Sprint Veloce	106 mph	10.9 sec	10.8 sec (50-70 in 5th)	17.6 sec	33.0 sec

Famous Alfasud conversions

Gian Franco Mantovani Wainer produced a one-off Bimotore version, with two 1,186 cm³ engines and four-wheel drive for rallying. Wainer also produced a turbocharger Turbowainer model in 1983.

File:Alfasud trofeo.jpg

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Preceded by: No preceding model

Succeeded by: Alfa Romeo Arna Alfa Romeo 33

External link

• Alfa Romeo Alfasud web site
• History of Alfa Romeo, 1970–80 at official New Zealand site
• Alfasud bibliography, which usefully gives a model list
• The World Wide Alfasud Register, also with a comprehensive model list