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Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Second series Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1981–1983)
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Also called	Alfa Romeo Giulietta Nuova Alfa Romeo Nuova Giulietta Alfa Romeo New Giulietta
Production	November 1977–1985
Assembly	Italy: Arese Plant, Lombardy
Body and chassis
Class	Midsize car (D)
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Alfa Romeo Alfetta
Powertrain
Engine	petrol: 1357 cc Twin Cam I4 1570 cc Twin Cam I4 1779 cc Twin Cam I4 1962 cc Twin Cam I4 1962 cc Twin Cam turbo I4 diesel: 1995 cc VM HR488 turbo I4
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,510 mm (98.8 in)
Length	4,210 mm (165.7 in)
Width	1,650 mm (65.0 in)
Height	1,400 mm (55.1 in)
Kerb weight	1,100–1,140 kg (2,430–2,510 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo Giulia (105)
Successor	Alfa Romeo 75

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Type 116) is a small executive saloon car manufactured by Italian car maker Alfa Romeo from 1977 to 1985. The car was introduced in November 1977 and while it took its name from the original Giulietta of 1954 to 1965, it was a new design based on the Alfa Romeo Alfetta chassis (including its rear mounted transaxle). The Giulietta went through two facelifts, the first in 1981 and the second one in 1983. All Giuliettas used 5-speed manual transmissions.

While it was a conventional three-box saloon/sedan body style, a defining point of difference was at the rear, where there was a short boot, and a small aerodynamic spoiler, integrated into the body. The Giulietta was only offered in saloon form, but there were several estate/station wagon conversions made. First out was Moretti, whose conversion appeared in the first half of 1978.

History

First series

The Giulietta was launched in November 1977. Two models were available: Giulietta 1.3, with an oversquare 95 PS (70 kW) 1357 cc engine, and Giulietta 1.6, with a 109 PS (80 kW) 1570 cc engine, both Alfa Romeo Twin Cam inline-fours fed by two twin-choke carburettors.

In April 1979, just under two years later, Giulietta 1.8 with a 122 PS (90 kW) 1779 cc engine was added, and in May of the following year the Giulietta Super with a 2-litre engine (1962 cc, 130 PS or 96 kW) appeared. The Giulietta was unusual in that the tachometer rotated counter-clockwise, meeting the speedometer needle at the top, rather than the usual clockwise movement.

Second series

In summer of 1981, the Giulietta received a minor facelift, externally and internally, while the engines remained the same. The car got plastic protection around the lower body, while interior modifications included a new steering wheel and new seats. The instrument panel and the centre armrest were also modified.

The Autodelta-produced Giulietta 2.0 Turbo Autodelta (175 PS) was introduced at the 1982 Paris motor show. This special version had a turbocharged 1,962 cc engine. The production Giulietta Turbodelta version had 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) and a KKK turbocharger coupled with two double-barrel Weber carburettors. All turbo versions were black with red interior; only 361 were produced. In the same year, the petrol-engined Giulietta 2.0 Ti and the Giulietta Turbodiesel (VM) 1995 cc version with 82 PS (60 kW; 81 hp) were also introduced, going on sale in early 1983.

In 1982, Alfetta and Giulietta turbodiesels achieved seven world speed records over 5/10/25/50 thousand kilometres and 5/10/25 thousand miles at Nardò (Lecce). While one of the quickest diesels in its category at the time, the Giulietta was rather costly and suffered from a very forward weight distribution (56.9 per cent over the front wheels).

Third series

In late 1983, the "84" Giulietta (Series 3) was presented, with minor differences in appearance, bumpers were redesigned and the dashboard was significantly re-designed, the instruments changed slightly and the rear seat in some versions changed its form. Mechanically it was basically the same, with minor modifications to the brake booster and inlet manifold on some versions.

The largest international market for the Giulietta was South Africa, where a very successful TV advertising campaign by Alfa Romeo produced good sales between 1981 and 1984. Central to this campaign was emphasis of the Giulietta's new 'aerodynamic' line, which was carried over to the 75, and then the 33. The Giulietta was the 'last hurrah' for Alfa in South Africa before the appearance of the 164 and 156 models in the 1990s

In 1985, after around 380,000 Giuliettas had been built, it was replaced by the Alfa Romeo 75, which used much of the Alfetta/Giulietta underpinnings.

• 1984 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 RS
• One of the 361 Giulietta Turbodeltas
• Rear view of a Giulietta Turbodelta

Engines

References

1. ^ Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. (10 March 1983). Automobil Revue '83. Vol. 78. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag, AG. pp. 172–173. ISBN 3-444-06065-3.
2. Wright, Cedric, ed. (August 1978). "World Cars 1978". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 22, no. 7. Ramsay, Son & Parker (Pty) ltd. p. 20.
3. Rogliatti, Gianni (19 November 1978). "Alfa Romeo "Giulietta", un'auto controcorrente". La Stampa. p. 17. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
4. "La Giulietta anche col motore 1.8". La Stampa. 18 April 1979. p. 17. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
5. Boyce, David, ed. (1981), What car is that? : in Australia & New Zealand, Adelaide, Australia: Rigby, p. 31, ISBN 0727014803
6. "Alfa Romeo Giulietta". carsfromitaly.net. Archived from the original on 31 July 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
7. World Cars 1984. Pelham, NY: L'Editrice dell'Automobile LEA/Herald Books. 1984. pp. 194–195. ISBN 0-910714-16-9.
8. "Official list of World Speed Records homologated by the FIA in Category A" (PDF). argent.fia.com. FIA. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
9. "World records". vmmotori.it. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
10. De Leener, Philippe (1983-10-13). "Gedetailleerde Test: Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0TD" [Detailed Test]. De AutoGids (in Dutch). 5 (106). Brussels, Belgium: Uitgeverij Auto-Magazine: 41, 47.

External links

• Media related to Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1977) at Wikimedia Commons

• Alfa Romeo vehicles
• Sedans
• Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
• 1980s cars
• Cars introduced in 1977
• Cars discontinued in 1985