The economic depression that followed World War II meant that Alfa Romeo could no longer afford to produce purely the bespoke motor cars that had made the marque famous on both road and track. More mass-produced models were required and in 1954 the company found its saviour in the Giulietta Sprint, a small and graceful two door coupé with styling by Bertone.
Under the Giulietta's skin the chassis employed independent front suspension with a coil-sprung live rear axle and drum brakes all round. The twin-camshaft four cylinder engine, like the suspension, owed much to Alfa Romeo's racing experience and produced 65bhp at 6,000rpm from just 1.3 litres - impressive for 1954. In 1956 high lift camshafts and Weber carburettors increased power to 90bhp for the new Sprint Veloce version; the latter soon built on the competition success of the Sprint, winning its class on the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Tour de France the same year, plus outright victory on the Alpine Rally.
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