Alfa Romeo 1900
+01.jpg "Alfa Romeo 1900 (1951)") |
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Alfa
Romeo 1900
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Overview
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Manufacturer
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Alfa
Romeo
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Production
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1950–1959
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Assembly
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Portello,
Milan, Italy
Nessonvaux,
Liege, Belgium (S.A. Imperia 1953–1954)
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Body and
chassis
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Body style
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Berlina
(sedan)
Spider
(convertible)
Sprint
(coupe)
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Layout
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FR
layout
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Related
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Alfa
Romeo Matta
Alfa
Romeo Disco Volante
IKA
Bergantin
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Powertrain
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Engine
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1.9
L tipo 1306 DOHC I4
2.0
L tipo 1308 DOHC I4
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Transmission
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4
and 5-speed manual
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Dimensions
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Wheelbase
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Berlina:
2,630 mm (103.5 in)
Sprint:
2,500 mm (98.4 in)
2,500
mm (98.4 in) (1900C)
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Length
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Berlina:
4,400 mm (173.2 in)
Sprint:
4,400 mm (173.2 in)
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Width
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Berlina:
1,600 mm (63.0 in)
Sprint:
1,630 mm (64.2 in)
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Height
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Berlina:
1,490 mm (58.7 in)
Sprint:
1,350 mm (53.1 in)
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Curb weight
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900–1,100
kg (2,000–2,400 lb)
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Chronology
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Predecessor
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Alfa
Romeo 6C 2500
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Successor
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Alfa
Romeo 2000
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Berlina/Sprint
The 1900 was offered in two-door or four-door models, with a new 1,884 cc (bore 82.55 mm (3.3 in), stroke 88 mm (3.5 in)), 90 bhp (67 kW), 4-cylinder twin cam engine. It was spacious and simple, yet quick and sporty. The slogan Alfa used when selling it was "The family car that wins races", not-so-subtly alluding to the car's success in the Targa Florio, Stella Alpina, and other competitions. In 1951 the short wheelbase 1900C (c for corto (Italian for short)) version was introduced. It had a wheelbase of 2,500 mm (98.4 in). In the same year the 1900TI with a more powerful 100 bhp (75 kW) engine was introduced, it had bigger valves, a higher compression ratio and it was equipped with a double carburetor. Two years later the 1900 Super and 1900 TI Super (also 1900 Super Sprint) with 1975 cc engine were introduced (bore increased to 84.5 mm (3.3 in), stroke unchanged). The TI Super had two double carburetors and 115 bhp (86 kW). Transmission was a 4-speed manual on basic versions and 5-speed manual in Super Sprint version, the brakes were drum brakes. The 1900 had independent front suspension (double wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers) and live rear axle.
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| 1954 1900 Super Berlina |
Production at the company's Milan plant continued until 1959: a total of 21,304 were built, including 17,390 of the saloons.
The chassis was designed specifically to allow coachbuilders to rebody it, the most notable of which was the Zagato designed, 1900 Super Sprint Coupe, with an improved engine and custom body design. The Alfa Romeo 1900M AR51 (or "Matta") is a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle based on the 1900-series.
Coachbuilt versions: Sprints, Spiders, Coupés and Cabriolets
Iginio Alessio, then general manager of Alfa Romeo, was concerned for the viability of the independent Italian Coachbuilding industry–the avant of the unibody chassis design was threatening to put the carrazzeri out of business. Alessio was also a personal friend of Gaetano Ponzoni co-owner of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, thus from 1951-1958 Alfa Romeo built five different variations of the 1900 unibody chassis specifically for independent coachbiulders.
Alfa Romeo gave official contracts to Touring to build the sporty 1900 Sprint coupe and to Pinin Farina to build an elegant four seat Cabriolet and Coupe. The availability of a suitable chassis led to many other coachbiulders to build versions of the 1900.
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One-off specials where numerous from the famous Bertone BAT series of aerodynamic studies, to an infamous sci-fi like Astral spider designed by Carrozzeria Boneschi for Rafael Trujillo the dictator of the Dominican Republic. There was a Barchetta or "Boat Car" made by Ghia-Aigle in Lugano Switzerland designed by Giovanni Michelotti at the request of a wealthy Italian who had two passions: the 'Riva' boats and a woman, his mistress, the car has no doors or windscreen wipers.
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Bellow is a sortable list of coachbuilt Alfa Romeo 1900s.
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Year
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Coachbiulder
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Model
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Quantity
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1951
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Touring
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Sprint
2+2.
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circa
800
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–
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Pinin
Farina
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4
seat Coupé
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1
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1952
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Zagato
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SSZ
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39
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1957
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Zagato
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SSZ
Spyder
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2
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1953
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Touring
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Corto
Gara.
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11
(incl. 3 Stradale)
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1955
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Touring
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"tipo
55" coupé 2 seater.
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1
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1955
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Touring
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"tipo
55" cabriolet 2 seater.
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1
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1956
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Touring
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"1966
Series" Super Sprint 2 seater.
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–
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1957
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Touring
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"1966
Series" Cabriolet 2+2
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1
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1952
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Pinin
Farina
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Cabriolet
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88
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1952
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Pinin
Farina
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Coupé
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100
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1953
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Pinin
Farina
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Coupé
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1
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1952
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Pinin
Farina
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TI
Coupé
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1-2
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1953
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Boneschi
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Astral
spider
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2
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1955
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Boano
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Primavera
Coupé
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–
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1955
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Boano
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SS
Coupé
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–
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–
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Boano
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Coupé
Tipo3
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1
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1952
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Colli
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Coupé
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–
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1952
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Stabilimenti
Farina
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Victoria
Cabriolet
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48
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1952
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Boneschi
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Coupé
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–
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1953
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Ghia
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C
coupe
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–
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1953
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Ghia
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SS
coupe
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1
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1954-55
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Ghia
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1900C
Coupé Special
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10
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1955
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Ghia-Aigle
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Cabriolet
(I)
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1
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1955
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Ghia-Aigle
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Cabriolet
(II)
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1
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1956
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Ghia-Aigle
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Coupé
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–
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1956
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Ghia-Aigle
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Barchetta
"Spider Razza"
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1
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1957
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Ghia-Aigle
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SS
Cabriolet
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–
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1957-59
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Ghia-Aigle
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Coupé
Lugano
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1958
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Ghia-Aigle
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SS
Cabriolet
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–
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1958
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Ghia-Aigle
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SS
Coupé
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1953
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Bertone
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BAT
5
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1
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1954
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Bertone
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BAT
7
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1
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1955
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Bertone
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BAT
9
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1
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–
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Bertone
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Coupe
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–
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1955
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Worblaufen
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SS
Cabriolet
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1953
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Vignale
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'La
Fleche' Spider
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1
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1953
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Vignale
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SS
Coupé
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1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Spider
In 1954 Alfa Romeo made two spiders and two coupes using similar chassis as the C52 Disco Volante. In Bertone, Franco Scaglione penned two unique aluminum bodies, a coupe and a spider. The coupe was known as 2000 Sportiva. It weighs 2,000 pounds (910 kg) and has 138 horsepower (103 kW). The acceleration is on par with most contemporary exotics and top speed is around 137 mph (220 km/h).
Engines
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Model
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Displacement
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Power
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Top speed
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1900
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1,884 cc
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80-90 bhp
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TI
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1,884 cc
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100 bhp
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170 km/h (110 mph)
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Super
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1,975 cc
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90 bhp
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160 km/h (99 mph)
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TI Super
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1,975 cc
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115 bhp
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112 mph (180 km/h)
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Gallery of Models
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.jpg "Alfa Romeo 1900 Berlina (1956)")
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