— Alfantics —

Newsletter of the Capital Chapter, Alfa Romeo Owners Club

2011 Summer Special

This month we will approach the another side to the sporting character of Alfa Romeo ….the Italian police cars!

The many branches of the Italian police have a very long historical tradition of using Alfa Romeo cars in their fight against crime. It is also why - in addition to the cinema - Alfa is symbolic of Police and Carabinieri.

In the 50’s the police adopted the 1900 sedan, which was produced by Alfa in all black. After WWII, there were no funds to repaint these cars, so this is the reason why these cars became

known as the ‘Panthers’.

The most famous police Alfa was undoubtedly the Giulia se-ries. However, as well as using popular but fast Alfa models in pursuit of criminals, the Italian police are famous for operating with high performance sports cars including the 2600 Sprint Coupè in the 60’s and today the Lamborghini Gallardo! Alfa

President Luraghi realized the huge potential for its image and popularity and the increase in sales that Alfa Romeo could realize by tying its image to that of the Polizia and Carabinieri.

The wealth of historic cars used by Italian police corps have resulted in nicknames that are commonly used still today: a patrol car used by the Polizia (Italian State police) is named ‘panther’ and the one used by the Carabinieri (paramilitary police force) is nicknamed ‘gazelle’. All the Fiat cars are re-ferred to (and snobbed) as... an ‘Owl’!

Later, in 60’s, Giulietta become 'the panther', then the 2600 Sprint. To cite only the most famous, after the Giulia ti,

A black 1900, ― the panther‖

Panthers of the police in an official Republic event in 1953

Outlaws and police both use fast Alfa Romeos in the cinema of the ‗60s and

‗70s. A Ti is in pursuit of a ―stepnose‖ GT in this cops & robbers drama.

Alfa Romeo and the Police……

(the bad guys had Alfa’s too) By Maurizio Sala

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Super and ‘biscione’ versions, and the 2600 Sprint Coupè, the Alfetta arrived in the ‘70s.. It was replaced in the 80’s with Alfasud, Alfa 90, 75 and 33; and in the 90’s it was then the turn of the 155 and 156, cars, the latter are being gradually replaced by the powerful 159.

In addition to these operational vehicles, Polizia and Carabinieri also adopted other Alfa vehicles. They were used in less demanding tasks: Romeo vans and F12, or the 1900 ‘all terrain’ 4x4 Matta, built on specifications of the ministry to replace the Jeep which had been equipped by the U.S. Forces after the war to our armed forces and police. The engine is the 1900.

The Head Prefect of Polizia, Marshal Nicastro, bought in the late 60's a first batch of 1,700 Giulia to effectively combat the theft of Alfa Romeo. Then as now there was

a big appetite by the thieves who erased chassis numbers from stolen cars. Nicastro developed a secret deal with the Alfa's managers. In the plant, during molding of the chassis - on the floor, under the rear seats - a special number of the frame was 'hidden'. This easily permitted to the police forces to recognize and recover the stolen Alfa Romeo cars. For years, organized crime never understood why the police came back so easily to determine the original chassis number.

The sales manager Enrico Sala organized - on the Balocco track - a series of very popular 'fast driving courses' reserved for police forces.

The teachers - among the others - were the legendary Giambattista Guidotti (who won a Mille Miglia alongside Nuvolari), Bruno Bonini, Guido Moroni and many other gentlemen drivers.

After a request coming from the managers of the Highway patrols and 777 services, Alfa - with the support of Auto-delta - developed a couple of dozen Giulia Supers equipped with the powerful 2.0 engine, to obtain a very fast vehicle in a ‘normal’ body. The results in terms of relaiability were unsatisfactory and this project was aban-doned. Initially, before the Arese plant started in 1963, all the police cars needed to be approved - one-by-one - only after a special test on the road (!) The test route was from the Portello plant and up the hill to Montevecchia some thirty kilometers from Milan.

Not only have the Italian police forces trusted in Alfa Ro-meo: crime is fought with the Alfa 159, MITO, Giulia, 164 and 156. Alfas are also used in Spain, Australia, Switzer-land, Belgium, Taiwan, Germany, Malta, Ukraine and many other countries in the world wherever great performance, quality and reliability are requested to protect the citizens from the outlaws!

At the end of the ‗50s police cars were produced in this ―Bordeaux‖ color replacing

black as the color of choice.

The ―fast 777 service‖ a ‗60‘s version of police ―special ops‖ units, had the task of fighting

the underworld as the times were becoming more dangerous in Italy.

A promotional picture showing Highway Patrol Giulietta Ti with the new military

green color used in the 1960‘s.

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The Highway patrol with a Giulietta sedan, a Jeep fitted with a towing arm and an ambulance near Palermo in the ‗60s. Jeeps were a U.S. post war con-

tribution, later replaced by the Matta.

1962: The powerful 2600 Sprint Coupe. A new ―panther‖ used by the 777

police service, a special operations group. 6 cyl, 165 hp, top speed: 125 mph The Matta (―crazy‖) also known as HR51 or HR52 was produced

from 1952—1954. 4 x 4 capable, 65mph top speed

The outlaws‘ fast vehicles necessitated equally fast and reliable vehicles on the side of justice. The break came with the 1962 GiuliaTi, a new concept car that brought great performance and

high quality together with reliability. Alfa Romeo organized special fast-driving and

technical courses for the police.

When the Polizia adopted the Giulia, President Giuseppe Saragat visited Arese. Luraghi (in the car) developed a special ―sedan-spider‖ for the event!

No one knows the whereabouts or fate of this prototype.

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A promotional image to solicit recruits in the Highway Patrol, a really

hard job!

An imptressive array of ―gazelles‖ in the storage yard at the Alfa Romeo

factory in Arese.

A special wagon version of the Giulia. This model had success with some

families using them as predecessor to the minivan.

The Giulia with two powereful sirens located behind the interior grill head-

lights, a distinctive feature of the Polizia‘s version.

Romeo vans were used for less demanding tasks

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The Balocco test track where police were trained by Alfa Romeo. Is that corn growing in the track infield?

A photo at Balocco about 10 years later than above. A prototype of the 33TT12 (raised rear section), a prototype of the Giulia 2000, a GT unificata, a Matta

HR51 and a Romeo ambulance. When the Polizia and the Carabinieri adopted the Alfetta, sales manager Enrico Sala (left) presented this revolutionary car to the Italian President Mr.

Giovanni Leone (center).

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The Alfetta– the last Alfa of the Polizia painted in military green. At the end of the ‗70s, the Italian Polizia was demilitarized. From that moment, all cars were painted in the light blue/white color. Note the

―black panther‖ emblem on the front fender!

A 164 of the Taiwan police

A German police 156

Alfas in the movies…...they performed as co-stars in the

cinema in Italy as well as other countries. For a database of movies in

which Alfa‘s have appeared, including movie clips check out:

www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Alfa+Romeo.html

A film ―trailer‖ of Milano Odia with brief glimpses of Alfas can be viewed here:

www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi3306921241/

Alfantics Alfantics is the official publication of the Capital Chapter, Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC-USA). Membership in the Chapter and a subscription to this newsletter are included in the annual AROC fee. Membership details at www.aroc-usa.org. Permission is granted to other AROC Chapter Newsletters to reproduce any original material herein, provided full credit is given to author and the Capital Chapter. Others may not reprint without written permission. Images may be available in digital fromat from the editor. Articles, letters and photographs should be submitted to the Editor to be considered for publication. Publication of any material in Alfantics implicitly grants re-publication rights to other AROC chapters. Alfantics reserves the right to edit or reject any submitted items. Classified ads are free to members or $10. per issue for nonmembers. Commercial rates are available from the Chapter Treasurer. The deadline for classified ads is the16th of each month prior to publication. The deadline for editorial material is the 16th of each month prior to publication. Articles may be sent to the editor by email or on a CD in a common format. DISCLAIMER: While it is a service of the Capital Chapter AROC to disemminate technical information, any techniques or modifications published in Alfantics should be evaluated against conventional or generally accepted practice. The mention of a product, service or procedure or the presence of any advertiser in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by the Chapter, its officers, Alfantics, AROC , FIAT S.p.A. or Alfa Romeo. Romeo Inc. Neither Alfantics, its editors, or contributors assume liability for the accuracy of any technical information appearing herein.Use of any logo or service mark herein is only for editorial or illustrative purposes, and does not infer any endorsement, sponsorship or license by the respective owner of that logo or service mark. Editor: David Wase

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Photo: www.autoitalia.com The V-6 version has a top speed around 160 mph. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro

If in Italy…..we hope this is the view of the 159 you see, rather than in your rear view mirror.

About the Author:

Maurizio Sala lives near Venice, Italy and has contributed several outstanding articles to Alfantics. His “Alfa DNA” is without equal. He is the grandson of longtime Alfa president Giuseppi Luraghi and son of Alfa Sales Manager Enrico Sala. Maurizio has dug into the family archives and Mr. Enrico Sala’s recollections to bring Capital Chapter members unique perspectives and photos.