Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta - practical station wagon with sporty genes

Premium

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta - practical station wagon with sporty genes

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on May 22, 2020

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

35

FCA / Werk

2

Bruno von Rotz

1

Archiv

15

53

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - a top speed of almost 160 km/h was possible

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - there was no rear window wiper

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - hardly distinguishable from the sedan from the front

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - classic Alfasud face of the first generation

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the hinges of the tailgate are on the outside

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - independent rear lights

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - a pleasant traveling companion

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the rear window was not originally part of the standard equipment in Italy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the driving performance was at a similar level to that of the sedan

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - generously glazed, all-round visibility guaranteed

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - compact space miracle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the ventilation behind the side window is striking

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the flap opens wide and is held in place by two gas pressure shock absorbers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the sedan was designed by Giugiaro

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - a lot fits in there

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - even with the rear seat backrests folded up, the trunk holds 600 liters or 0.6 cubic meters of wood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the color is called "giallo Pompei"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the rear side window is not divided

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - with 1.2-liter boxer engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - rare appearance, less than 6000 units were built

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - for five people and lots of luggage

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - functional elegance

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - classic Sud interior with plastic seat covers in the color blue navy

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - the rev counter is missing

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - Alfa sign in the steering wheel hub

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - Radio tape from the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - Alfasud lettering on the hand compartment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - four-cylinder boxer engine, water-cooled, longitudinally mounted

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - classic Alfa radiator grille

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - under the flap ...

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - ... hides the spare wheel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - Plastic surfaces with a wood look

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - with unoccupied rear seats

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - Alfasud lettering on the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1971) - Presentation in 1971

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1972) - in the 1.2-liter version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1973) - four doors, five seats, 9,950 francs - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1971) - the first versions of the Alfasud had vinyl seats and rubber covers on the floor

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1972) - first test drive with the Alfasud in 1972

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1972) - Engine compartment of the first Sud

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud (1972) - Production line in the Mezzogiorno

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1978) - one wide-opening rear door, but only two side doors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1978) - a three-door station wagon version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - for the whole family

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - Hunting scenes from Bavaria

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1975) - additional body variant with tailgate on the Alfasud - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1975

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1975) - the station wagon version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - in the sales literature of the time

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - View into the trunk

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - View of the interior

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - plenty of space for luggage

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta (1976) - today an extremely rare variant with station wagon rear on the club stand - Auto e Moto d'Epoca 2018

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta 1.2 (1976) - simply designed tailgate

You have only

1 out of 53

images seen in high resolution

Summary

When the Alfa Romeo Alfasud came onto the market in 1971, it was predicted to have a great future because the car was a real success. However, it had one flaw: it lacked a large tailgate. This came in 1975 in the form of the "Giardinetta" variant, a veritable sports estate. However, Alfa Romeo was probably too early with this type of vehicle, as the estate car Sud was not a commercial success. Instead, it is a real rarity today. This vehicle report focuses on the three-door Alfasud with rear doors and shows it in current and historical photographs as well as in the sales literature.

This article contains the following chapters

The new design with a break with tradition
Alfa Romeo's first estate
Technology of the saloon
The perfect combination?
Missed opportunity
Premature end
A survivor

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

No, the Giardinetta has little to do with a garden ("Giardina"), the term is simply used in Italy to describe an estate car. And the fact that most people have never seen an Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta in the wild with their own eyes can also be explained by the fact that only a few examples were built. Yet the Alfasud estate had a number of advantages. And the practical Giardinetta was also a little green, at least on the sales brochure. At the beginning of the seventies, an Alfa Romeo usually had four cylinders installed in a row lengthways in the front end, although eight cylinders in a V-shape were also permitted as an exception. And, of course, the driven wheels turned at the rear. A boxer engine and front-wheel drive were left to Citroën or Lancia. But all this changed in 1971, when the Alfasud came onto the market.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: