Thursday, July 20, 2023

Giugiaro's Alfa Romeo Giulia GT by Bertone

One of famed designer Giogetto Giugiaro's best designs when he worked for carrozzezia Bertone was the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Coupé, the subject of this post.

Although a 1960s effort, it was still in the tradition of classic late 1940s and 1950s Italian coachbuilding.  Moreover, its styling language derived from earlier Alfa Romeo coupés by Bertone such as mid-1950s Giulietta Sprints designed by Franco Scaglione.

Giugiaro's design was so good that it remained in production from 1963 to 1977 with minor changes, according to the link.

Gallery

1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTV - Bring a Trailer auction photos
The passenger compartment greenhouse was tall and airy.

Note the large backlight window.

1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint - Bring a Trailer auction photos
Earlier Giulia Sprints had an air vent opening along the front edge of the hood.

Wheels were simple by today's standards.

1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint - Gallery Aaldering photos
This later model lacks the hood air intake, cleaning the design a bit.  Post-Giugiaro, however.

The quad headlights are unfortunate, but at least have differing diameters to provide some visual variety.

GT Sprints were short, having a wheelbase of 92.5 inches (2350 mm).  But the design was crafted so that the car seemed longer and more graceful than its actual size should have permitted.

Rear end details in the bloc where the license place and tail lights are found are only slightly linked to side sculpting.  This might have been necessary to maintain the subtle side profile effect mentioned above.

Raised fender tops add interest and sculpting to the rear of the car.

Aside from bumpers, the only brightwork abaft of the grille is for window framing.

Wheel well openings are large, but the aft ones have flattened upper profiles so as to relate better to the strong side sculpting and busyness in the area of the C-pillar.  A round profile would place too much visual activity in that area.

Grilles retained the Alfa Romeo shield shape, but details changed over the years.  Raised front fender tops echo those at the rear, providing continuity.

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