ALFA ROMEO 2600 SPYDER 1963

The Alfa Romeo 2600 (series 106) was Alfa Romeo star of six-cylinder 's produced from 1961 to 1968. It was the successor to the Alfa Romeo 2000 . It has become historically significant as the last Alfa Romeo that has been equipped with an engine of six cylinders in line with twin cams. That had been the configuration of the engine of Alfa Romeo's traditional since the 1920s, but gave way to four-cylinder engines as the factory oriented its production towards more economical models of mass-produced cars after the Second World War .

The 2600 was introduced at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show as a sedan with a body built at the factory (2600 Berlina), a two plus two seater convertible with body by Carrozzeria Touring (2600 spider), and a coupe with a body by Bertone (2600 Sprint). A convertible based on the Sprint coupe was shown by Bertone in 1963. He was also named 2600 Sprint but did not enter production. The 2600 SZ (Sprint Zagato) with bodywork coupe fastback by Zagato, and the limited-edition 2600 De Luxe with five-window sedan body of OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali) were introduced three years later in 1965 at the Frankfurt motor show .

Description

From the point of view of sales, the models of the 2600 were not a success, despite the acclaim deserved by such a great engine. The low sales were not due to the high prices of the models of 2600 only. The cars are not comparable to contemporary products, including those of Alfa Romeo themselves. The factory had decided - correctly, as it turned out - to concentrate their limited resources for the development of the medium-sized Giulia which was introduced almost at the same time. The range flagship 2600 was only a washing of face of minor importance in the range 2000 with a new engine, as this was all that the factory could do with the resources available. Since the 2000 itself had basically been a 1958 restyling of the 1950 1900 , this left the 2600 with running gear a dozen years ago in the introduction.

The new engine also added weight and length in the front, although this did a lot for stability, which did not help the handling. Because the 2600 was Alfa Romeo's flagship model, the expectations were high, and critics and customers quickly detected the deficiencies, both on paper and on the road. For example, the 165-400 radial tires mounted on the 2600 were a mere 10 mm (0.4 inches) wider in section than the 155-15 tires installed on the Giulietta , though the 2600 had much more power and weight. When the new Giulia appeared with completely new running gear, the 2600 was shown up even more.

Another reason for the slow sales was a style and concept. The style of the Saloon was not happy and that reflects in particular the low sales of that model, while the majority of Alfa Romeo sedans of the history of the brand sold more than the sports models more specialized in the same range, the 2600 Berlina did not outsell the 2600 Sprint and Spider. The 2600 had a style of chandelier that you see is derived from that of its stable small, the Giulietta Spider: certainly beautiful, but it lacks the grace and balance of a smaller car. When driving the bigger car also suffered such a comparison is not equitable to that of the Giulietta Spider, and this is an important factor in a car with a guidance sports. One of the points of sale in its favor is that it is a convertible four-seater, although the two rear seats were fairly close.

The 2600 Sprint made more of an impression. It was a big coupe gran turismo that could accommodate four adults in comfort on long journeys at high speed. As such, it did not suffer unfair comparisons to other models of the range Alfa Romeo, none of which could be directly compared. In this mode of operation, oriented more towards touring fast sporty driving, the agility and handling balance of the Alphas, smaller is less important, while the stability and smoother ride of the larger car, and the wide power band and torque of the six cylinder engine, was entered in your account. Added to the greater space and comfort, those virtues made a convincing case for the 2600 Sprint. The car also inherited the strong, the modern style of its predecessor, the 2000 Sprint, and that no doubt contributed to that is the most sold of the range 2600. That form had been the result of the first major project of Giorgetto Giugiaro as chief designer for Carrozeria Bertone, and is without doubt one of the designs most influential in the history of car design.

A number of Sprint 2600 were purchased by the Italian government and specially equipped and modified to be used as police and carabinieri patrol cars, respectively nicknamed "Pantera" (panther) and "Gazzella" (gazelle), from the emblems of their rapid intervention teams. The cars were well suited for pursuit at high speed to counter the increase in armed robberies by bands power in 1960s Italy, and appeared in a good number of genre films of the time.

The range of 2600 was replaced in the top of the Alpha range by the models 1750 in 1968. The 1750s were refined versions of the cc range Giulia 1600, which continued in production, so once more, the flagship of the Alfa Romeo was a by-product created by the engine update a range of existing and carry out a restyling minor. All resemblance to the 2600 ends there, however, the 1750s and the 2000s which evolved from them, were a great success for Alfa Romeo from every point of view, especially sales.

Today, as classics, the 2600 Sprint and Spider are appreciated for the elegant style and opulent, both the bodywork and the interior, for the performance, the technology and the sound of the engine of a double overhead camshaft six-cylinder, and - perhaps ironically - for their rarity compared to the most successful models of Alfa Romeo from the same era. The fact that the cars are rare, and their parts are well dedicated to the range 2600, or are derived from Alphas, even before, means that landlords have to devote much effort and resources for the restoration and maintenance. Very few have found 2600 Sedans dedicated owners in the decades since the model was discontinued, therefore very few have survived. 2600 SZ are very rare (have only produced 105 cars) and are the most valuable of the range. The 2600 OSI De Luxe has always been very rare, but there's no sign of that has come to be particularly desirable as a collector's piece.