Alfa Romeo 158/159

Goodwood Festival of Speed press day Alfa 158/159
Alfa Romeo is being less than generous to itself describing the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone as the inaugural F1 European Championship race. It was won by Giuseppe Farina driving an Alfa Romeo conceived in 1937, largely built in Modena by Scuderia Ferrari. A 1.5 litre, it gave 190bhp on test, 205bhp for its first race at Livorno and 225bhp at an astonishing (for 1938) 7,500rpm. By the time it reappeared in 1946 the supercharged straight-eight was doing 265bhp and the two-stage supercharged cars in the 1948 French Grand Prix at Rheims 310bhp.
Dr Farina’s car at Silverstone in 1950 was giving 350bhp at 8,500rpm and the engine had altered so much that in April 1951 Alfa changed the type number from 158 to 159. The British Grand Prix was the first race in the new WORLD Championsip, which Farina went on to win in 1950. There had been a European championship inaugurated by the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) in 1934. Chosen by a committee on the basis of a season’s grand prix racing, holders were Rudolf Caracciola, Bernd Rosemeyer and Hermann Lang
Goodwood Press Day: Number one daughter
Alfa Romeo is inviting UK owners to submit pictures of their cars to an online archive, which will form a mosaic of Alfa’s Centenary model, a new Giulietta. The images will appear in a mosaic, capturing Alfa’s heritage, beginning, Alfa says, “with the Type 158 that won the inaugural F1 European Championship race 60 years ago at Silverstone.”
Every image uploaded before June 18, will be included in a prize draw for an Alfa Romeo goodie bag and a pair of VIP tickets to the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 2 - 4July, when Alfa is the featured marque. There will also be an overall prize of a luxury weekend at The Goodwood Hotel with a Giulietta to drive. The winner will also get the chance to drive the 8C Competizione on the Goodwood circuit.
Alfa had a quirky badge with a serpent eating a child
There was not much room in the cockpit
Alfa Romeo UK Brand Communications Manager, Damien Dally, says: "2010 is a huge landmark for Alfa Romeo and we feel that this project will perfectly capture the brand's identity and really allows us to celebrate with the thousands of people who have put us where we are today - our customers."
To submit a photo, visit www.alfacentenary.co.uk.
I have never owned an Alfa, so no picture of mine, but I have tested and admired the iconic brand a great deal over the years. Here’s the Mito Multiair I enjoyed in Scotland recently.