Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Alfa Romeo’s first ever attempt at a producing an entry-level front-wheel-drive model, the Alfasud (so called as it was built in an all-new factory in southern Italy) was an outstanding triumph in all areas, apart from coachwork corrosion protection!
Sandwiched by the legendary Mini Cooper in the 1960s and Peugeot 205 GTI in the 1980s, the Alfasud was (and remains) the best handling car of the 1970s by some margin, outclassing the dynamically adroit Volkswagen Golf GTI and even the entertaining Mini 1275 GT.
Skillfully (over) engineered by Austrian Rudolph Hruska, and styled by the gifted Giorgetto Giugiaro (his first true production car since going solo and establishing ItalDesign in 1968) the Alfasud instantly became the four-seater sporting family car of choice for the discerning and demanding driver.
Blessed with an elaborate suspension set-up, all-round disc brakes and an excellent Boxer engine (initially 1.2-litre, growing to 1.5-litre for the later 105PS Ti sporting derivatives), the ‘Sud was a revelation on the road, out-handling most ‘traditional’ sportscars in the same price, range such as the MG B, and setting a new dynamic benchmark.
Around 894,000 examples (plus an additional 121,000 Alfasud Sprint coupes) were sold, making the model one of the most successful yet for Alfa Romeo. Sadly though, poor build quality and a keen propensity to rust soon put paid to the Alfasud’s otherwise enviable reputation, with the eventual addition of a hatchback arriving too late to address the model’s then-tarnished image, though true driving enthusiasts remained loyal to the Sud right up to its 1980s demise.