• Howick and Pakuranga Times
CENTURY LATER: The latest Alfa Romeo to arrive in NZ, the MiTo. ALFA Romeo celebrates its 100th birthday today (June 24) with massive celebrations in Italy.
Closer to home, a special birthday party is being held in Australia for the G1, the very first Alfa Romeo and the only one left in the world, which is owned by New Zealand and Australian Alfa Romeo importer, Neville Crichton.
Alfa Romeo has been marking its 100th anniversary in Australia by sending the G1 around the country to attend a wide range of classic car, motor sport and club events.
However, without a Kiwi’s intervention, the G1 would not be playing such a major role in the centenary celebrations. Following Crichton’s purchase of the car, it was clear that it was only a museum display car.
“Alfa Romeos are made to be driven and the G1 is no exception,” he says. “Therefore, we took the decision to have the car fully restored back to driveable condition and the best place to do that was here in New Zealand. The G1 now drives better than ever and I am sure she will be here for the 200th anniversary of Alfa Romeo!”
Around 3000 Alfa Romeo cars are expected from 45 countries.
Alfa Romeo was officially established in Milan on 24 June 1910.
That year, a group of entrepreneurs and businessmen acquired Società Italiana Automobili Darracq, the Italian branch of the French car maker, and its Portello workshops on the city outskirts.
They established A.L.F.A: Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, or Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company.
The outbreak of the First World War, and limited resources, created trouble for the company, which was acquired on December 2, 1915, by Neapolitan engineer and entrepreneur Nicola Romeo.
The Alfa Romeo G1, the first car to carry the name Alfa Romeo, was in production from 1921 to 1923 and its single most important innovation was its new 6.3 litre
six-cylinder engine which produced 52 kW and gave the G1 a 138 kmh top speed.
The 1930s were the years in which the Alfa Romeo legend took shape. Engine reliability was undisputed and the cars won many famous races.
