The Legendary «Targa Florio»

The 100th edition of the legendary «Targa Florio», the oldest car race in the world, will be held in Sicily 5-8 May. It was originally commissioned, funded and organised by the Palermo magnate Vincenzo Florio for the purpose of establishing a «practical and precise criterion for assessing the travelling car». The race has been competed in various forms ever since 1906. Organised by AC Palermo in collaboration with the Automobile Club of Italy, it is four events rolled up in one: Targa Florio Rally, Targa Florio Historic Rally, Targa Florio Classic and Targa Florio Historic Speed.

Alfa Romeo has written some of the most beautiful chapters of its sports history at the Targa Florio by taking 10 absolute victories, 3 second places, 7 third places and 10 fastest laps. This extraordinary prize record has been enriched with two records: that of consecutive victories (6 wins from 1930 to 1935) and that of doubles, with five in all. Added to these are the many class wins, with the Giulia GTA, Giulietta SZ, Giulia TZ and TZ2.

The Alfa Romeo brand is taking part in the Targa Florio Classic, the historic regularity competition that will pass by characteristic places in Sicily tied to the famous race, with two gorgeous models coming from the Alfa Romeo Historic Museum in Arese called «La macchina del tempo». The 1960 Giulietta SZ (4 cylinders in line, 1290 cc, 100 HP) is a model belonging to the second series and is distinguished by its so-called «cut-off tail» (or Kamm tail) that, along with its aerodynamic efficiency, easily takes it up to the speed of 200 km/h.

The 1963 Giulia Sprint Speciale (4 cylinders in line, 1570 cc, 112 HP) is the technological evolution of the Giulietta SS, a coupé featuring sinuous and personal lines that was designed by Scaglione. The Giulia Sprint Speciale also has an aerodynamic line taken from the aircraft of the day and developed with direct observation of the flows using wool threads applied on the bodywork of a car launched at full speed on the Turin-Milan motorway.