The Alfa Romeo Alfasud was a compact car made by Alfa Romeo of Italy from 1971 to 1989. It was considered one of Alfa Romeo's most successful models. A common nickname for the car is ’Sud.

It was built at a new factory at Pomigliano d'Arco in southern Italy, hence the car's name, Alfa Sud (Alfa South) and developed by Austrian Rudolf Hruschka .

It was shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1971 and was immediately praised by journalists for its styling (by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign) and handling. It featured a 1,186 cc Flat-4 engine.

Despite its two-box shape, it did not initially have a hatchback. The first Alfasuds were four-door sedans, with a sporty two-door TI (Turismo Internazionale, or Touring International) model following in 1972.

In 1974, Alfa Romeo launched a more luxurious ’Sud, the L model (Alfasud SE in the UK), produced until 1976.

A three-door station wagon model called the Giardinetta was introduced for the 1975 model year.

In 1976, the Alfasud Sprint was launched. On the same platform, it was a lower, more angular sports model. The Sprint did feature a hatchback, a more powerful 1,286 cc 75 hp (56 kW) engine and a five-speed gearbox. The engine was later fitted into the standard Alfasuds, creating the 1300 TI models, and the five-speed gearbox found its way into the basic Alfasud, creating the 5M (5 Marce) model.

A 1,490 cc engine was soon made available to all body shapes, originally developing 85 hp (63 kW). By the end of the Alfasud's life, there was a tuned version of the engine developing 105 hp (78 kW) in the Green Cloverleaf model.

Sadly, early Alfasuds did have a reputation for suffering from rust, possibly due to sub-standard steel traded with the Soviet Union.

All Alfasuds were upgraded in 1978 with plastic bumpers and other revisions.

A hatchback was added to the original shape in 1981, the year when the range received a makeover with plastic bumpers and rubbing strips. The Giardinetta was deleted from most markets around this time.

The Alfasud sedans were replaced by the Alfa Romeo Arna and 33 models in 1983. The Sprint continued into 1989.

Engines:

• 1971-1983 1.2 L (1186 cc) Alfa H4
• 1977-1983 1.3 L (1286 cc) Alfa H4, 75 hp (56 kW)
• 1978-1983 1.4 L (1350 cc) Alfa H4
• 1978-1983 1.5 L (1490 cc) Alfa H4, 85–105 hp (63–78 kW)

Famous Alfasud conversions

Gian Franco Mantovani Wainer produced a one-off Bimotore version, with two 1,186 cm³ engines and four-wheel drive for rallying. Wainer also produced a turbocharged Turbowainer model in 1983.

External link

• Alfa Romeo Alfasud web site
• History of Alfa Romeo, 1970–80 at official New Zealand site
• Alfasud bibliography, which usefully gives a model list
• The World Wide Alfasud Register, also with a comprehensive model list