Model history and curiosity
The Alfa Romeo 1900 is a four-door sedan produced by Alfa Romeo in the Portello plant between 1950 and 1959. It is a milestone in the history of the Milanese company because it is the first Alfa Romeo mass-produced on an assembly line, the first monocoque Alfa Romeo and also the first production left-hand drive Alfa Romeo.
The definitive version of the normal 1900 has a monocoque chassis with a 4-door steel sedan body with a sporty and elegant line that features a front with a trilobal shield flanked by two oval air intakes, details destined to become a classic. The circular front lights were placed on the top of the fenders above the buzzers of the position lights while on the very clean rear the chrome license plate holder and the small diameter circular rear lights stood out.
The Alfa Romeo 1900 "normal" sedan from the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum
The standard engine is a water-cooled 4-cylinder in-line 1884 cm3 (bore x stroke: 82.55 x 88 mm) with cast iron crankcase, aluminum head, distribution with two chain-controlled overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion and a Weber 36 DO5 single-body carburettor. It develops 80 HP of maximum power at 4800 rpm and 13.3 Kgm of maximum torque at 3000 rpm. These were record values for the time which made the standard sedan reach 150 km/h.
The passenger compartment can accommodate 6 people on two rows of well-padded bench seats covered in fabric thanks to the gear lever on the steering wheel and the handbrake control located under the dashboard. The dashboard features a single semi-circular instrument, with the speedometer/odometer in the center and the petrol level indicator and oil pressure gauge on the sides. The two-spoke steering wheel is in white or black Bakelite with a chrome ring for the horn. In the center of the dashboard there is a housing for the radio or the tachometer and in front of the passenger there is a glove box closed by a door.
The public success was exceptional and exceeded expectations despite the price of 2,310,000 lire. It was desired by sporting customers who took it to races and by the bourgeoisie for whom it represented a status symbol, in fact it was produced by the most successful Italian car manufacturer which had just won the first Formula 1 world championship in history, with "Nino" Farina on a 158.
The specialized press was impressed by the road holding and power of the engine but criticized the ride comfort, while sports enthusiasts wanted more power and the gear lever on the floor; furthermore, the coupé, the cabriolet and a chassis that the most important Italian coachbuilders could "dress up" according to the tastes of the wealthiest customers, still accustomed to "custom" produced cars, were missing.