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Famous for works such as the Sistine Chapel and countless renaissance masterpieces, I’d argue that Italy has also produced more automotive masterpieces than any other nation. Sure, England, France, Germany, Japan, and the US have also had their fair share but no other country has consistently produced such striking forms as “the boot.” But this question isn’t just about design–it’s about greatness.
Alfa’s long and illustrious history includes coachbuilt fantasy cars like the pre-war 6Cs, Formula One cars, the Bertone-designed Giulia SS and lovely Duetto. Lancia produced the sublime Aurelia and rallying legends like the Delta Integrale and 037B. Maserati’s Birdcage deserves a look as does the entire Ferrari lineup. Even Fiat and, relative newcomer, Lamborghini’s Miura and Countach could easily be considered. Perhaps brands like Iso and Bizzarini are also worth considering?
So which one is it? Make your case below… I think you already know my opinion.
Photography by David Marvier, Josh Clason, Alvise Seno, and Andrew Schneider for Petrolicious
Great is a difficult concept; greatest is so difficult as to be futile. But, I could not hold back from such a truly great question. I have thought about it at length. By choosing ‘greatest’, my choice is not the most beautiful (the Miura , the Ghibli SS, 33 stradale, or the 250 GTL). In fact, choosing the most beautiful would be an even harder exercise. It’s not the fastest. It’s no the most successful in racing. But, it has elements of all these things to achieve a conceptual whole that represents everything that Italian motoring has been. A composite of Italy’s best automotive achievements, including the practicality and appeal to not only appeal but to be enjoyed by lesser mortals without the assets of the Visconti, Agnelli or Marcello Mastroiannis. There can only be one contender. The first series Alfa Romeo Giulia – particularly in the 1969-1970 Super denomination. There’s a reason why Marchionne revived the Giulia name to launch the Alfa Romeo renaissance, doing it so brilliantly. Many Italian families have enjoyed a Giulia. They’ve seen it defend them from criminals as a police car (loved by the police officers who drove them). They’ve seen it race and win against much bigger cars (look at the record of the Giulia Ti Super). The Giulia had an engine that Ferrari could not have offered in a better or more sophisticated version. It had a five speed transmission and four wheel disc brakes, when much more expensive sports cars offered neither. It was a car whose driver could take the entire family out for a ling vacation trip from Italy to the northernmost tip of Europe (Nordkapp in Norway) and back (I know something about it, my father had three Giulias), still allowing for the occasional performance rode around a mountain or coastal road (Amalfi coast in a Giulia, been there done that). It was unbelievably aerodynamic – CX 0.33 or less. In short, as an Italian, the Giulia is the car that expressed the best of Italian technology, art and knowhow. It was a symbol of Italy’s post war optimism and unbelievable emergence from disaster. It told the world that we’re as good as the best. It gave me and give me pride. It’s as much as symbol of what Italy has done for the world as the Sistine Chapel, the Roman Forum or the Aqueducts that line the Roman roads that connected Rome to the World. Leonardo da Vinci, had he been alive at the time, would have driven a Giulia.
Alessandro, I agree with you on everything you’ve said. Talking about the greatest Italian car for me, is talking about great ideas, great concepts. Italy produced an uncountable amount of beautiful, exotic sportscars during the past century. A lot of them being great cars. But they are exotic and only produced in small numbers. They excel only in certain aspects and let down in all other, when its comes to day to day motoring. The classic Giulia has a lot of the qualities of those exotic cars and a whole lot more and manifests them in a stylish, practical and affordable form. If cars could have a soul, the classic Giulia certainly has a beautiful one.
What a hard question. Lamborghini Miura, Maserati 3500 GT, Alfa Romeo Veloce Spider, and even the Pagani Zonda 7.3 S comes to mind (not a classic yet, but in time…). For me though, it can only be one car–1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. It doesn’t get more tasteful than that. It is the essence of the proper Ferrari sports car and therefore is the best Italian classic out there.
Greatest Italian car of all time? Depends on one’s criteria. If the criteria involves cars a teen-age boy might have had posters of on his wall, then Lambos have to be considered. If the criteria involves cars that have had successful racing heritages, Lambos don’t enter the conversation but Alfa’s, Masers, Ferrari’s and Lancia’s do. The same marques are in the picture if the car is something one could imagine racing or using as daily driver (meaning you can see out of it) and canyon carver.
For me the car that meets all these criteria is a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. This was a car that some owners drove to races, raced and won with, then drove home. It’s also a car that a man of any age can drive without his friends wondering when he’s going to grow up. Sorry to be so anti Lambo but Italian cars are most famous for what they’ve done in racing. Has Lambo ever won a championship in anything? Tractor pulls don’t count.
Oh, this is a tough one… how do you pick among so much brilliance?
I think something truly superlative from the glamorous 50’s/60’s is top of the pack, but surrely there’s no single answer. For those suave afternoons on the Riviera, a Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider is the one to have. For some spirited driving, maybe a Maserati A6 Coupé (not sure which to pick, they’re all gorgeous!). For the ultimate style and performance combo, maybe the Ferrari 250 GT Zagato. And if you’re set on a true road-legal monster, nothing tops the 250 Testa Rossa. Period.
What a garage that would be…
Lets start by stating the 5 best Italian companies: Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Fiat.
Now, let’s go down their best car:
-Lamborghini: Miura
-Alfa Romeo: 33 Stradale
-Ferrari: 250 GT California
-Lancia: Stratos
-Fiat: 500
Now, which one is the most evocative, bewitching, sensational, beautiful, passionate, purposeful, and memorable reflection of why Italian cars are so fantastic?
For me… Lancia Stratos
The greatest Italian car I’ve ever owned was an old Fiat 500 – but I’ve never owned a Ferrari and I just have this sneaking suspicion that a 275GTB might actually be even greater than the little Fiat. On the other hand, you can argue that it’s impossible to call a car great unless it won at Le Mans, so my choice would have to be the grand daddy of all Italian Le Mans winners, the 1931 2.3 litre Alfa Romeo.
…Oof. Of all time? I’m going to go out on a limb and nominate the Fiat 124. I’ve driven several spiders and owned a couple of coupes The coupes are my favorite, being a very interesting mix of utility and performance, as well as ravishing good looks. It’s also eminently hot roddable, my example being powered by the 1600 rather than the 1400 twin cam engine…which was penned by Lampredi….Anyway, it’s a car I wish I had, and despite being a mere Fiat 124, it’s in my mind, the best Italian car…
The greatest Italian car ever made? I tell you what, it’s a Fiat 500. No, not the new FWD one, but you already knew that. The next greatest Italian car ever made? It’s the second generation Fiat Panda 1.2. And I love the Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider the best, just because I still think that’s the most romantic car ever made (and you know, it’s got absolutely nothing to do with the movie).
I suppose some people could answer right away, as I imagine many people struggle to find an answer to this question: so many great Ferrari’s (250 GTO, 275 GTB4, the Daytona, F40, the Enzo …), so many outrageous Lambos too (pretty much all of them, with the LM002 sitting on top, proudly) and more than enough soul and passion from Alfa Romeo (the early 105/115 spiders, the GTVs etc.).
Myself, I find it difficult not to have a preference for your own car (in my case, a 1974 Alfa Spider Veloce), but then again, who wouldn’t be biased when it comes to italian cars?
But if I had to choose one that I didn’t own, I couldn’t possibly make up my mind.
I know this is most likely a obvious choice but i have to go with Ferrari 250 GTO. The GTO just has it all stunning good looks, outrageous performance( for its time), very low production. The GTO basically defined style, speed, excitement and passion all wrapped up in one car. Also a runner up nod should go to the Lancia Lambda for building a very modern car but in the 1920;s with its monocoque style chassis and front independent suspension laid the foundation for most modern cars.