1969 Giulia

Alfa Romeo have just announced their 1969 Giulia alterations. While externally the cars are almost as in 1968—with slightly larger over-riders and changed door handles—it is inside and underneath that most changes have taken place. On the 1300 TI there is now a hydraulically-operated clutch and braking power regulator together with trim and lighting alterations.

On the Giulia Super the revisions are more extensive, for other than the hydraulic clutch and braking power regulator, there is now an anti-roll bar on the rear suspension with new bumpers, new instruments, new steering wheel, map tray, more sophisticated reclining seats and many trim improvements.

The GT 1300 Junior has most of the above improvements, all of which are derived from the more expensive 1750 models, plus an improved heating and ventilation system. Common to all three models is a form of sound insulation designed to cut both road noise and engine noise (a figure of 60% improvement is quoted). Its effectiveness was proved when journalists drove the cars on the mixed mountainous and motorway roads around Genoa. Conversation at 100 m.p.h. is comfortable but for the enthusiast there is still that delightful hard twin-cam roar which penetrates all this new sound damping when the revs go over 5,500, and with Alfa’s 5-speed box it is possible to keep the revs above this limit for most of the time.

In the stern downhill tests the Alfa brakes showed up exceptionally well and there was no sign of fade whatsoever. That all four wheels can be locked was proved by one charming writer who regularly contributes to one of the better Sunday papers, for when freezing on the brakes on a slippery downhill right-hander, the GT 1300 Junior followed the contour of the corner in two long and graceful broadsides, a situation which almost converted the passenger to wearing seat belts.

With good finish, torque, handling and stopping power, Alfa Romeo starts 1969 with high hopes of improved sales. Hr. Tasson, Managing Director of the British subsidiary, is confident that by 1970 there will be another 2,000 Alfas on British roads.