Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

  1. Cars and Engines
  2. What's Happening
  3. Alfa Romeo 33, a star once more, this time at the iconic “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este”

Alfa Romeo 33, a star once more, this time at the iconic “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este”

30 May 2023
  • What is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este?
  • What is the prepose of the sport prototypes?

The bond between Alfa Romeo and the “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este” began with the profound connection between Milan – the birthplace of Alfa Romeo – and Lake Como, long the drawing room of the same city’s aristocracy, and a showcase for Italian excellence around the world. That same bond has stood the test of time and remains strong to this day. Even when the focus of the automotive world shifted to mass production and the Concorso d’Eleganza became the shining memory of an era never to be seen again, Villa d’Este lent its allure to photo shoots, events, presentations and gatherings, where many of the brand’s vintage and concept cars would receive prestigious awards.

An iconic location, forming part of the brand’s history

An iconic location, forming part of the brand’s history

The “Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este” is one of the most prestigious events in the industry (the first dates back to 1929). This year, in addition to its traditional and aristocratic headquarters in Cernobbio, the event also involved the enchanting Villa Erba, where the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was celebrated. Hence the link with Alfa Romeo, which decided to exhibit two gems from its vintage collection, the 33/2-liter “Daytona” (1968) and the 33 TT 12 (1975), both of which featured on the French tarmac.

The Alfa Romeo 33/2-liter “Daytona” is the emblem of the noble sporting spirit of the brand which, after retiring from competition in 1951 after winning its second of two F1 World Championships with the “Alfetta” 158-159, returned to the international scene with Autodelta (1963), the Milan company’s official racing department, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

To follow its initial successes with touring cars, Autodelta decided to make the leap in quality in the “prototypes” category, starting with the “Tipo 33”.

The Sport prototypes

The Sport prototypes

The Sport prototypes were designed exclusively for racing, equipped with extremely sophisticated engines and chassis, and were produced in the limited numbers required for type approval. They were equipped with a refined and powerful two-liter 8-cylinder V-shaped central engine, delivering 270 hp and reaching almost 300 km/h.

The first version of the 33/2 (where 33 was the project number and 2 the displacement expressed in liters) won its debut race in March 1967, uphill at Fléron near Liège, Belgium: Alfa Romeo then launched itself in the World Sportscar Championship, taking prestigious victories in grueling endurance races, first of all at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona, where it conquered the top three places in its class with the crews of Vaccarella-Schütz, Andretti-Bianchi, and Casoni-Biscardi-Zeccoli. This major victory led to the name of the renowned U.S. circuit becoming part of the moniker of the Alfa Romeo 33/2. The 33 also achieved excellent results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – with another hat-trick in the class. In other competitions, it also made its mark in the overall standings, including ahead of much more powerful cars: this also happened at Mugello, where Vaccarella-Bianchi-Galli came in atop the podium.

The Progetto 33’s development was unceasing and finally in 1975 Alfa Romeo managed to make its dream come true by winning the World Championship for Brands. The star of this overwhelming superiority was the Alfa Romeo 33 TT (Tubular Chassis) 12, a car equipped with a three-liter 12-cylinder 180° V engine capable of delivering 500 hp and reaching 330 km/h. With great drivers, most of whom also featured in Formula 1, such as Arturo Merzario, Vittorio Brambilla, Jochen Mass, Jacques Laffite, Henri Pescarolo, Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx and Nino Vaccarella, the 33 TT 12 took victory in seven of eight races that counted towards the World Championship. The legendary 12-cylinder engine fitted to the car laid the foundations for Alfa Romeo’s return to F1 in 1976, as engine supplier for the Brabham team.

Motor 283

BY Motor 283

Motor 283 is the biggest automotive website created by a team of automotive enthusiats and this author page is used to show the readers the press releases and news posted on Motor 283 website.

The only part you need… the V8 engine

07 Sep 2024
The only part you need… the V8 engine

Chevrolet is proud that the iconic Tahoe continues to set the standard for full-size SUVs, thanks in large part to its powerful V8 engine. As the leader in its class, the Tahoe's V8 offers unparalleled performance, reliability, and efficiency, making it the superior choice for drivers who demand the best.

At the core of the Chevrolet Tahoe is the legendary V8 engine, a testament to Chevrolet's commitment to engineering excellence. With up to 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) of torque, the Tahoe's V8 engine delivers an unrivaled driving experience, whether you're navigating city streets or towing heavy loads.

This Toyota GR Yaris Celebrates a Triumphant Corolla Rally Car

05 Sep 2024
This Toyota GR Yaris Celebrates a Triumphant Corolla Rally Car

The Toyota GR Yaris, already revered in automotive circles for its punchy performance and compact, rally-inspired design, is getting a special edition in Italy that takes things to another level. This limited-run version of the hot hatch marks a significant milestone in Toyota's motorsport history: 53 years since the automaker secured its first victory in the World Rally Championship (WRC). To commemorate that achievement, the GR Yaris TGR Italy Limited Edition is paying homage to the 1973 Corolla 1600 Coupe that earned Toyota its first WRC win at the Press On Regardless (POR) event in Detroit.

Stellantis Strengthens its Commitment to Egypt with Local Manufacturing and Assembly of Jeep® Grand Cherokee L

05 Sep 2024
Stellantis Strengthens its Commitment to Egypt with Local Manufacturing and Assembly of Jeep® Grand Cherokee L

Stellantis Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, integral to the Company's "Third Engine" strategy within its global operations, today marked a significant milestone in its MEA expansion with the launch and local assembly of the Jeep® Grand Cherokee L in Egypt at the Arab American Vehicles (AAV) plant, affiliated with the Arab Organization for Industrialization.