The Sprint Speciale proto-type shown at the Salone di Torino in October of 1957 did not have an Alfa Romeo shield in its grille, and no front bumper to interrupt air flow. According to Donald Hughes and Vito Witting DaPrato in Alfa Romeo Veloce- The racing Giuliettas, the SS initials originally stood for for Sprint Sprinta, meaning ‘Spertuned’. By the time the first prototype, this car, number 00001, had arrived in Turin, it was labled as a Giulietta Speciale, not yet a Sprint Speciale. A bertone shield was set to the right of the script on the fender as it would be in production cars, but above the model name instead of below it. Judging from photos of the show it appears the decision to go with Sprint Speciale had already been made as the display stand the car sits on is labled with a ” Alfa Romeo S.S.”
Engine
Configuration
Straight 4
Location
Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction
aluminium alloy block and head
Displacement
1,290 cc / 78.7 cu in
Bore / Stroke
74.0 mm (2.9 in) / 75.0 mm (3 in)
Compression
9.7:1
Valvetrain
2 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed
2 Weber 40 DCOE/3 Carburettors
Aspiration
Naturally Aspirated
Power
97 bhp / 72 kW @ 6,500 rpm
Torque
112 Nm / 83 ft lbs @ 5,500 rpm
BHP/Liter
75 bhp / liter
Drivetrain
Body
steel with aluminium doors, engine cover and rear decklid
Chassis
unitary steel
Front suspension
double wishbones, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension
live axle, trailing arms, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers
Brakes (fr/r)
Hydraulic, servo-assisted drums
Gearbox
5 speed Manual
Drive
Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r)
2,250 mm (88.6 in) / 1,292 mm (50.9 in) / 1,270 mm (50 in)
