the surprising decision was made in 1975 to bring US Alfa dealers to Milano for a "drive-away" introduction to the new Alfettas. Not only were the dealers invited, but also wives, companions, salesmen, journalists, bank reps and ARI staff—just not our wives! The reason for this was partly that the budget for the introduction of the Alfetta to the US market was limited. It was, however, sufficient to do this factory drive-away, using Alfa Romeo resources in Italy.

The chartered Alitalia jet deposited nearly a full load of us in Milano on the 18th of May, 1975. The first day included a tour of the factory, followed by a gala luncheon in the reception hall of AR headquarters, topped with an exciting escorted tour of the Alfa Romeo Museum. The next day, everybody was introduced to their meticulously-prepared Alfetta sedans and briefed on the procedure for the rally-type drive through Italy to Pomigliano d’Arco, the new factory and town built for the construction of the Alfasud.

Try to imagine this! Approximately a hundred cars, escorted by carabinieri and polizia on the Autostrada at speeds often exceeding 100 mph, driven by a combination of true enthusiasts, American car dealers, bankers, press people, and others, including some who didn’t know how to drive standard transmissions (we ARI staff members were willing chauffeurs) and whose physical dimensions exceeded the capacity of the Alfettas!

First Stop: Firenze

Each car had a rally plate, and the aggressive drivers performed as if they were in a strict time-distance rally! The factory service crew members were driving Giulia vans(!) that must have had full GTA specs, because they passed the whole caravan anytime they pleased! The carabinieri and polizia blocked exit ramps as the "rally" passed by, and evacuated rest areas for our convenience. It was a spectacular introduction for us on the ARI staff—the Alfettas were everything that we had been told, and then some! (Well, except for some "American" amenities, like A/C). After we arrived at the hotels, the maintenance scene was chaotic, as only the Italians can do it—floodlights, blue-coveralled crew, air wrenches, compressors, generators, and a lot of loud communication! All to check tire pressures and liquid levels, and to clean the Alfettas.

The day in Firenze was all about being tourists. Many busloads of Alfisti crisscrossed the exciting city, visiting the fabulous sites. I won’t do the details; anyone who has visited Firenze knows the sites, and anyone who hasn’t been there should get there! My personal feeling is that it was much more exciting in ‘75, as I have been there several times since. Now, traffic is more restricted, tours are more organized, and the pleasure of sipping a Campari and soda at a sidewalk café, with the cacophony, confusion, and wild traffic, is not as much fun.

Off to Roma

Alfa Romeo painted, polished, and glazed its local facility, and presented a several-course luncheon with correct wines and incredible pastry, all served by a tuxedoed staff in the service department! However, it’s unfortunate, but I don’t remember anything more about the Ciao Tour in Rome—I wonder what I was doing……

(My wife of 38 years, Sheila, would like to know what I did In Rome. Anyone with details can respond to her at sheila.cook@yale.edu! But perhaps you could run it by me first? Anyway, I have my story and I’m sticking to it!)

After leaving Rome, the group spent two nights in seaside resort hotels on the Baia Domizia (about 3/4 of the way between Roma and Napoli), once again a "pit-stop" operation for about 100 Alfettas. The cars themselves were a major scene, but the highlight was a spectacular fireworks display with a huge American flag and "Alfetta" in script across the sky!

Next came a tourist day, with a trip to the almost new Alfasud factory and complex. This was truly "state-of-the-art", and quite a contrast to the Milano facility. (The Alfasud story has been well-told in a recent issue of Alfa Owner.)

Headed Back North

The return to Milano was not an organized trip; all of the participants were free to travel their own routes. Alfa Romeo did have overnight accommodations arranged for us at several sites along the way back to Milano.

I’ll never forget the wonderful afternoon we spent at the winery-like estate at Balocco, Alfa Romeo’s test track facility. We were addressed by Carlo Chiti, and given a demonstration of some of the Autodelta-prepared cars on the test track by the team drivers (I think that Derek Bell was one). There were Tipo 33s, Alfetta sedans and GTs, GTAs, Giulia TIs, and others.

During the farewell ceremony, while the president of Alfa Romeo was addressing our entourage in a large auditorium, a group of striking workers in brown coveralls marched in and presented a bouquet of dead flowers to the president! He turned ashen, and there was a loud exchange of Italian expletives accompanied by much gesturing. The workers realized that some of us were photographing them, and they attempted to confiscate the cameras from the crowd! A few scuffles broke out before security and polizia arrived, and the workers left the auditorium. It’s not hard to imagine the embarrassment of the executives, but our group seemed to accept it as part of the experience. Who needs writers when you can reenact a scene from an Italian opera?

A smaller incident occurred when a small group of dealers, salesmen, bankers, and press people was questioning an executive about the availability of accessories (primarily automatic transmissions and A/C), when the exec exploded in true Italian fashion (I have to paraphrase here). "You Americans are impossible to please! You want a performance car, you want to weight it down with unnecessary accessories, and you want to restrict the engine output to less than a flat-head six cylinder!" And, after a pause and a sigh, "You should all be driving Plymouths!"

And In the End

The enthusiasm about the new Alfettas (sedan and GT) was extremely high, the dealers had filled our "order books", the bankers had supported additional financial arrangements for those dealers who had requested them, and the press followed up with positive reports in the national car magazines. Even the local newspapers were on board, without too much carping about previous reputation (e.g. Lucas electrics and maladjusted Spica injection). However, Alfisti will know that there had to be a problem! The cars were delayed by several months—even the ones that the group had driven and that the dealers/banks had paid for! The reasons were numerous (perhaps Don Black and/or Craig Morningstar can enlighten us). When they did arrive, they were without A/C, automatics, and power anything. Eventually, A/C was a port-installed option. But the glow was gone, and the dealer enthusiasm returned to its previous "ho-hum" attitude toward Alfa Romeo. At least we got our Ciao Tour in!

Postscript