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Elvira Ruocco and the lifelong dream of Alfa Romeo

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Created on March 4, 2016

Text:

Thomas Suter

Photos:

Archiv Elivaro Ruocco

10

Archiv Elivaro Ruocco

10

Elvira Ruocco at the Alfa Romeo Museum with the legendary Alfetta

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Elvira Ruocco in 2015

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Elvira Ruocco at work many years ago

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Elvira Ruocco's children - Lilla and Rino - also like Alfa Romeo (and the Alfasud)

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Elvira Ruocco with Bruno Giacomelli - former Formula 1 works driver

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Elvira Ruocco together with Dr. Camillo Marchetti

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Elvira Ruocco and Alfa Romeo test driver Guido Moroni

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Elvira Ruocco and her many Alfa Romeo memorabilia in her home

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Elvira Ruocco together with former racing driver Andrea de Adamich

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Elvira Ruocco next to Bruno Bonini, Alfa Romeo test driver and responsible for Juan Manuel Fangio's Alfetta in Formula 1 in the early 50's. He was curator of the museum, curator of the Italian Alfa Romeo Register and sports director of Scuderia del Portello ...

Summary

Elvira Ruocco looked after the archives and the documented heritage of the Alfa Romeo company for decades. She was the last resort for many a restorer and even today, some 10 years after her retirement, she is still answering difficult questions about the past. Thomas Suter met her recently and asked her to tell us how her career at Alfa Romeo came about.

This article contains the following chapters

Alfista from an early age
Moving north at last
Job offer by telegram
On a first-name basis with Alfasud and Alfetta
The best archive in Lombardy
Meticulous
Aircraft engines from Alfa Romeo
Digitization

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

For most tradition-conscious Alfisti, Elvira Ruocco is almost the epitome of the Alfa Romeo brand. She was the point of contact for anyone who owned a slightly older Alfa Romeo. After more than 30 years of service, she retired in 2005 - what does she do today? She comes to the meeting with a Fiat Punto Diesel. "Not an Alfa Romeo," she says apologetically. Well, there aren't many new models any more, and she doesn't want to say anything about Marchionne and Fiat, who are responsible for Alfa Romeo's fortunes today. Elvira Ruocco looks back with a smile and a tear in her eye. "I've never been back to the archives since I retired," says her crying eye, while the laughing eye clearly states: "Alfa Romeo is my life. And the truth is: she really was destined for Alfa Romeo. Growing up near Naples, she worked in a company that made pasta and sauces after completing her language diploma.

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