The Story Of The Glorious Alfa Romeo Giulia Berlina

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the presentation of the original Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon, one of the Milanese marque's most significant commercial successes in the period and perhaps its most popular model among collectors nowadays. #alfaromeogiulia #alfaromeo #history
While the Giulia's basic engineering can be considered an incremental improvement over the Giulietta it replaced, its exterior design was a complete revolution, born out of pioneering aerodynamic wind tunnel research carried out using Turin's Polytechnic facility.
It must be pointed out, though, that the 0.34 Cd figure that's often quoted for the Giulia Berlina is actually a misprint, with the actual figure being around 0.43, according to a 2007 interview with former Alfa Romeo engineer Domenico Chirico. After fifteen years of service, some of which have arguably been the company's best, the Alfa Romeo Giulia was replaced, on the market but arguably not in the hearts, by the striking "Nuova Giulietta" in 1977.
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[@JethroBronner]

These cars are excellent all-rounders. I can’t imagine daily driving anything else now.

[@portnaluinge]

One of the prettiest three-box saloons ever made.

[@martinclapton2724]

I remember reading about these cars as a young lad, about how their engines , as in all Alfas at the time were producing more power for their capacity than any other car , possibly apart from a Lotus , yet this was in a family saloon . Alfas stuck with me , for better or for worse, throughout all my car loving days , the Alfa Romeo brand being the closest to my heart. I had the experience of riding in one , belonging to a Mr Pete Dalley in Kidderminster, a grey Super 1600 model from 1969. (I used to deliver his evening paper) . Smitten ! I went on to find an Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina in a classified advert in an the same evening paper , to replace my father’s Fiat 125 Special . I ended up owning 5 Alfas in my car ownership years.

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s a cool story, thank you for sharing these memories with me! I wonder if modern cars leave such a lasting impression on young boys and girls… Probably not.

[@richardw64]

I wish i owned all of these beautiful pieces of art.

[@mark3863]

I can't wait for your story on the Alfetta. In 1975 I purchased an Alfetta 1800 (18th birthday present and bank loan), it was my first car and I drove it for over 250 000Km and loved every moment with it.

[@Matteo_Licata]

I’ll definitely cover the Alfetta soon! 👍

[@geodrome]

I was looking on a carsales website here in Australia yesterday, and there are a few Guilia’s and two 1985 Guilietta 2.0 for sale and a London to Sydney GTV in yellow still in race trim .

[@bertone1805]

Owning a Giulia Nuova from 1978 since 1987. Some 30 years ago completely restored , 2 litre engine and upgraded suspension installed with the looks of a Giulia Super ( pre 1974). Still very happy with it and receiving a lot of “thumbs up” from other people…….very nice video. Love your channel!!!

[@Matteo_Licata]

That's a cool car indeed, congratulations for keeping it this long and for the tasteful upgrades, well done! Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoy my content so much!

[@claudioschumi87]

Grande come sempre Matteo !

[@JoostHillemans]

Thanks for finally having the story of the Giulia Berlina. Isn’t it amazing that a 60 year old Giulia can still drive in current traffic without holding up other traffic! It shows how advanced the concept was at the time. Between my ‘62 Giulia Ti and my ‘72 Berlina 2000 there is a world of more refinement, which also shows the development of the platform very well. From (fantastic) drum brakes all round to disc brakes. From a column shift to a tunnel mounted gear leaver. From a bench seat for three to two comfortable individual seats. From hardly any noise dampening to a smooth and relatively quiet car….. the Giulia Ti is a very special car to drive, both for its provenance but also its sheer survival!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Wow, you got a column-shift, drum brakes Giulia? That’s fantastic! I’ve only ever seen one in the Alfa museum, never on the road. Congratulations for preserving such a rare piece of history!

[@JoostHillemans]

Matteo, when you are in the neighborhood you are welcome to visit. Mine is even older than the Ti shown in Ruote Classiche this month..and never restored.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Wow, that’s even more amazing, an unrestored Giulia! I’d love to see it indeed. Could you send me a picture via email? I’m very curious now! [e-mail]

[@C64SX]

Still one of the coolest saloons ever built

[@sotirisgeo120]

LOVEly memories!!!!!!!! My dad's car that i first drοve !!!!!!!!!❤❤❤

[@overmarsdaria3222]

I love your Italian cars stories and footage I seriously get hooked on, please don't give up.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Such enthusiastic support is what keeps me going 😊 Rest assured that I’m here for the long run 👍

[@user-fn7oi8pl5z]

Wonderful video. And a wonderful piece of Alfa Romeo history Thank you.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@bigglesalgy1]

Still a beautiful and elegant automobile! Maybe one of the best handling cars of the time! Thank you Matheo!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for watching!

[@briankay4713]

One of those cars that just gets better looking every year ....I used to think they were boxy like a Fiat 124 ...but the styling flourishes are everywhere ...those uneven headlights ...a really beautiful saloon.. Very enjoyable and informative Matteo 👍👌

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Yes, the Giulia is full of styling flourishes that make it much more interesting than it would seem from afar

[@MLC...]

Thanks for producing this fantastic video. Very interesting, especially the regarding the Cd figure. As a Giulia owner, a bit disappointing, but truth is more important. It remains a very enjoyable car to drive, even today, with such a lovely personality and a lively, sporty engine and handling. It is also interesting how solid they still feel today, with my own example only a few months away from 50 years old.

[@gearhead9828]

What an icon of a car! Thank you so much for another great video. Ciao 🙋‍♂️

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for watching! 👍

[@agislycoudis4139]

They are wonderful cars! Even as a family sedan, it's so capable yet at the same time versatile. After a year of ownership, I can say with confidence that the giulia is the best all-rounder out there. The looks, the engine, the handling, the interior, its all there! By far the most versatile 105 and definitely my favorite

[@Matteo_Licata]

Couldn't agree more! Which version do you have?

[@agislycoudis4139]

@@Matteo_Licata 1300 super with a newer 1800 from an alfetta. i love this car!

[@cancracker]

Probably the most popular Alfa Romeo model all over the world due to it's presence in a lot of movies.

[@Falcone-en4wl]

The Giulia was a joy both for parents and sons, in the form of a real car for the former or as a model for the latters. I owned a model of a Giulia 1600 model with the Carabinieri's color scheme as a child. Unfortunately the Giulia was discontinued when I reached adulthood🙂

[@nessuno5403]

There's a new one... including in Carabinieri spec 😉

[@nlpnt]

Those Polistil and Bburago diecasts were an export success for Italy too, I remember them being widely available in the US at least by the '80s and I had a couple, all standard versions but I did recently find a Carabinieri Alfa 75 with missing roof lights and peeling decals as a starting point to build a US-spec Milano from.

[@glennlindamood]

@@nlpnt I had a few Bburago models as a kid (mostly Lamborghini!) Great details, like tiny door latches, steering wheels that turn with the front wheels, and the prices were pretty reasonable as I recall!

[@TheInstructor66]

Thank you for another great video, Matteo. My favorite 4 door saloon. This car was very aerodynamic, but does not look like it is. My 1300 GT Junior is like a brick in high speed, compared to this one. Now that you have covered the GT’s and the small Berlina, you have to do the 1750/2000 Berlina too. No pressure here. 😄

[@Matteo_Licata]

I sure will cover the bigger saloons sooner or later :) Glad you enjoyed this one!

[@mzungusi]

This was my Dads first Alfa and his only new car. The Berlina 2000 with the fuel injection , sold in the Canadian market in 1974. It was unfortunately a 'Lemon'. It needed an engine rebuild after 2 years and never ran right. It sat in a garage for 10 years after he bought other, slightly more reliable, Alfas. Then in the mid 80s we dragged it out and tried to get it started again. It would have been my first car. Sadly the subframe was so rusted it couldn't be MOTed. It was scrapped 1987. A sad day.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Ouch, sad to hear that that 2000 didn’t live up to expectations and you missed out on having it as a first car.

[@nrs6956]

Alfa's formula was performance leading to passion. Something sadly missing with todays appliances (EVs). Thank you. Viva Alfa Romeo.

[@Pat_RickX]

Thank you so much, Matteo. Giulia - THIS IS ALFA ROMEO.

[@anderslarsson6149]

Great video! Why is it the term ”Berlina” is used for italian sedans/saloons?

[@Matteo_Licata]

The French use the term too: "Berline." As it's often the case with car body styles, the name comes from the horse-drawn carriage tradition: it comes from the city of Berlin, where it's believed that the first enclosed, four-wheeled carriages fitted with elastic suspensions were made, in the late 1600s. Could be an idea for a video, by the way!

[@anderslarsson6149]

@@Matteo_Licata ok Thank you! Yes What a great idea 👌🏻

[@Disques13Swing]

The unusual white car parked next to the Giulia in the video was a 2600 Sprint Zagato. Only 105 were built. I owned 037 when working in Holland for a while way back when. Last I heard, it was waiting to be restored but it may have since been scrapped..

[@robertcox5469]

Another great video…

[@Matteo_Licata]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!

[@keeperofthelostpipe]

this clip just made me hop in my '75 Nuova and take it out for a ride...

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s great to hear! Cool 👍

[@michaflak5174]

Mateo- great episode, as always it is! Last weekend I had a oportunity to participate in the biggest italian car and dolce vita festival You can find in Poland (which I highlly recommend to go to next year) which I woludn't even consider if I didn't whatch You great channel. So salutatuon to You and hope to have a oportunity to talk to You about all that is cars!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Wow, that's fantastic! Thank you very much for your kind words and your enthusiastic appreciation for my work, makes my day!

[@claudioschumi87]

Where in Poland does it take place? Need to check it out😀👍

[@michaflak5174]

@@Matteo_Licata Your stories (those on KZbin, as well as those via e-mail) always do my day, so why not to cherish the Guy whos resposible for this! I would like to take this opoortunity to ask You would You like me to share some photos with. I'm sure that they convince You to visit Poland next year :)

[@Matteo_Licata]

Sure you can, I’m curious to see the pics, please feel free to send me an e-mail

[@brunotulliani]

Well growing up in my old neighbourhood a gentleman had one and would go to the track most Sundays. I also saw them in Rome when I was 10 years old as Carabinieri Cars as my cousin was posted there!. You brought back many memories and thank-you. Great video and thank-you.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for sharing these memories with me, glad you enjoyed the video

[@domtoni4567]

Ciao Matteo, just saw this one. Fond memories of the Giulia Super, one of my neighbors in Koeln in the late 1980s had one as his daily driver. And I had the fortune to drive a Giulia Super Diesel in 1977, slow, noisy, smelly, and memorable.

[@robertmenghini.Lambomad]

I love your videos

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!!!

[@darrenwilson8042]

very pretty motor cars

[@paullacey2999]

Im too young to remember the impression these had on people when new,but they indeed lovely cars.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Me too. When I grew up, these were junkyard fodder, but from the 1990s there’s been a fairly steady rise in appreciation, and deservedly so!

[@davidstevenson5666]

As always, informative and precise. Thank you.

[@studiocalder818]

One of the rare sports cars considered, collected, driven and pampered like a sports car

[@tolgaetci9539]

You always make my day with your Alfa videos thanx..

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you!

[@NikkoSalgado]

Really glad I built one of these instead of the 2002. Just has that unique soul to it

[@Matteo_Licata]

Cool build, by the way! I'll check out your vids, they look promising :)

[@Georgios.G]

Dream car

[@ivangreco6593]

Grande auto

[@rabit818]

Classic lines that’s why it was in the market for a lengthy period.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Well, it was anything but classic when launched, at least here in Italy. It's innovation that allowed it to remain current for over a decade

[@klausschollmeier-sc9jo]

Grande Alfa Romeo machina pui bello del mondo.

[@stephenswift9868]

A great car. That diesel looks like it hangs very low! I think I would put a hole in the sump eventually. Best not bother and get a 1300 or 1600 instead!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Indeed!

[@nessuno5403]

... and the future Giulia, when Alfa Romeo goes full electric, is now rumoured to be a raised fastback design!

[@Matteo_Licata]

I'll be curious to see that one!

[@larsen1974]

non sapevo che ne venne fatta anche una versione diesel!

[@khairulhelmihashim2510]

alfa should reissue a modern version of this model again as EV car /or with economical 1.3/1.6L petrol engine. subcompact sedan market is too bland at this moment.

[@dierkschurack-ye9kr]

Ein wunderbares Auto. Ich hätte eine. 1,6 ltr

[@raufsahin334]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@patrickluciani398]

❤❤

[@robysanford3028]

😍😍😍

[@wickiezulu]

To what extent can the Giulia be described as an enlarged rebodied Giulietta? Also were there any other unusual experimental Giulia variants that never reached production? As for the Super Diesel, did Alfa Romeo look at other potentially better outside diesel options for both the Giulia and Romeo before settling for Perkins 4. 108? Perkins did develop a turbocharged version of the diesel that put out 65 hp in 1981 years after Giulia ceased being built, yet it is unclear how many were made if it was even produced.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Although the broad mechanical layout was maintained, nearly everything was new or substantially modified for the Giulia, even the twin-cam engines. Regarding the Perkins engine, there is no evidence of alternatives ever considered.

[@mauriziomerli4470]

このアルファは60～70年代のイタリア犯罪映画が頭に浮かぶ。

[@dirkdutzmann9250]

Hy! I got a 1300, modivied to a two litre. And I love it! Bevore I´ve owned a 1600 and with this one I have a lot of fun for two nice years, before the rust pulls her away! So I really do not know, why Alfa Romeo won`t give the two litre engine to this wonderfull car!?! Alfa Romeo, what´s wrong with you?! Nice body and interior, but not the right engine! But I´m thankfull for building this car!!!!!!!

[@Matteo_Licata]

The answer to your question is rather simple: Alfa was building the 2000 Berlina, and never fitted the 2L twin-cam to the Giulia because it didn't want people to buy the cheaper Giulia instead of the more expensive Berlina. It was a simple matter of market positioning. Alfa Romeo South Africa did build a 2L Giulia model though, I believe it was called the Rallye

[@F1Kamel_1992]

🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@nacierman4567]

çook güzel

[@antonioschiavo8589]

a me la Nuova Super piace anche di più...

[@Matteo_Licata]

A me piacciono tutte ugualmente, ma so che la Nuova Super é stata per tanto tempo un po’ una “cenerentola”

[@wolfschindler8921]

Generally Italian engines were twice as powerful as German engines at the time with better reliability. As a kid I always wondered why.

[@minimaxi802]

I don't think I have seen any Alfa Romeo Guilias in Britain. There are a few khaki greeen Guilia police cars pursuing the three Minis, red white and blue in the Italian Job film.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Back in those days, national markets were all pretty much fenced off and dominated by the local industry. Here in Italy, we had plenty of Giulias around but very few Rovers, for example.

[@johnjones4825]

The Nuova was over geared in it's South African version. It ate more fuel than a 3 litre Ford, and had really poor acceleration, not enough power to take a long trip in hilly country.

[@Matteo_Licata]

I didn't know that!

[@ljmaksi797]

❤❤❤❤😅