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Reptile from the retort - Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano

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Created on September 8, 1976

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Dirk Maxeiner

Photos:

Alfa Romeo / Werk

Archiv

Alfa Romeo / Werk

Archiv

Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - von Giorgetto Giugiaro / ItalDesign entwickelt

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - eindeutig ein Konzeptfahrzeug

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - avantgardistische Coupé-Version auf Alfasud-Basis von Ital-Design

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - Giorgetto Giugiaro zeigt seinen Entwurf

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - Skizze - Italdesign - aussergewöhnliches Coupé auf Alfasud-Basis

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - von ItalDesign / Giugiaro

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - Giugiaro setzte auf die Trapezform

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - der Zwisitzer lässt sich entblättern

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - das futuristische Interieur des Prototyps von Giugiaro/ItalDesign

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Caimano (1971) - serienmässiger Alfasud-Antrieb, Reserverad im Kofferraum, originelles Felgendesign

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1976) - vorgestellt mit 1,3 Litern Hubraum und 75 PS

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - angedeutete Abrisskante am Heck

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - da lacht nicht nur das Herz

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - die B-Säule ist bei frühen Exemplaren in Wagenfarbe gehalten

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - die tiefbauende Alfasud-Antrieb liess eine flache Front zu

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - eine elegante Erscheinung, die Ähnlichkeit zum Scirocco ist kein Zufall

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - kaum Rundungen am Giugiaro-Design

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - mit klassischem Alfa-Gesicht mit Doppelscheinwerfern

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - das Interieur sieht dem normalen Alfasud ähnlich

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - Interieur, Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett fast wie im normalen Alfasud

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - hinten gibt es zwei einzeln ausgeformte Sitze

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - der weit vorne und längs eingebaute Boxer-Motor

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Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (1977) - mit Schrägheck und abgedeckbarem Kofferraum

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Summary

In 1971, Giorgetto Giugiaro presented the Ital Design Alfasud Caimano, a futuristic concept car, at the Turin Motor Show. A few years later, the study was made drivable in order to test the suitability of the ideas for everyday use. The magazine 'hobby' was given the opportunity to test the vehicle of the future. This report reproduces the edited original wording, supplemented by archive illustrations of the concept car and the production model Alfasud Sprint.

This article contains the following chapters

Ital Design and Giorgetto Giugiaro
Fast-as-an-arrow object for outer space
From concept car to drivable car
Trapeze as a leitmotif
Only conceivable for small bodybuilders in everyday life
Just a stylistic exercise?
The Alfasud Sprint production coupé

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Are the style studies of automobile designers just pretty salon lions, or do they provide food for thought for the future? Do the sheet metal artists also include the people who are to use their creations in their considerations, or do they neglect practicality for all the visual appeal? hobby answers these questions using the example of the Alfasud 'Caimano'. The parking lot in front of the office building marked "Ital Design" is almost empty on this Saturday morning. Only a green VW Scirocco is parked in front of the porter's lodge: the boss is working overtime. His name is Giorgetto Giugiaro. He is 38 years old and therefore the youngest, but also the most successful Italian star designer. Between 1960 and 1975, he designed no fewer than 55 cars, including such well-known models as the VW Golf and Scirocco.

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