Alfa Romeo Scarabeo

The Alfa Romeo Scarabeo are a concept cars engineered by Giuseppe Busso and Orazio Satta Puliga for Alfa Romeo with a bodies designed by Sergio Sartorelli at Officine Stampaggi Industriali. The cars debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1966.[4]

Alfa Romeo Scarabeo
Overview
ManufacturerAlfa Romeo
Production1966
3 made
AssemblyItaly
DesignerSergio Sartorelli[1][2] at Officine Stampaggi Industriali
Body and chassis
ClassConcept car
Body style2-seat Coupé
LayoutRear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
PlatformAlfa Romeo Tipo 33
Powertrain
Engine1,570 cc (95.8 cu in) DOHC Inline-four engine[3]
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Length3,720 mm (146.5 in)[3]
Width1,560 mm (61.4 in)[3]
Height1,020 mm (40.2 in)[3]
Kerb weight700 kg (1,543.2 lb)[3]
Chronology
SuccessorAlfa Romeo Scarabeo II

Background

After the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 project was passed on to Autodelta, Giuseppe Busso proposed a new rear-engined sports car to Orazio Satta Puliga and his design team. The car was to use the same tubular chassis of the 33, but it was to be cheaper and lighter than previous designs.[5]

The car

The Scarabeo was given the Inline-four engine from the Alfa Romeo GTA. The engine was mounted transversally in the rear of the car, along with the clutch and gearbox. In an effort to save costs, the suspension was based on the Renault R8. The tubular chassis of the Tipo 33 was used, and fuel tanks were mounted on both sides of the cockpit.

The body design of the Scarabeo was given to Officine Stampaggi Industriali, a relatively new design company in Borgaro Torinese. The car was given a sleek and light design which allowed for great handling and a high top speed of 200 km/h (124.3 mph). After being displayed at the 1966 Paris Motor Show, a second prototype with a simpler design was built. A third Barchetta prototype was started but never completed.[4]

Despite refinement for production, the Scarabeo project was dropped in favor of a full racing program at Autodelta. The second and third prototype currently reside at the Alfa Romeo Museum.[6]

The first concept finished in silver

References
  1. "1966 OSI ALFA ROMEO SCARABEO". archivioprototipi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. "1966 ALFA ROMEO OSI SCARABEO". archivioprototipi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. Ardizio, Lorenzo (2015). Alfa Romeo All the Cars. Giorgio Nada Editore. p. 228-229. ISBN 8879115901.
  4. "SCARABEO - 1966". Museo Storico Alfa Romeo. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  5. Collins, Peter; McDonough, Ed (2006). Alfa Romeo Tipo33: The Development,Racing and Chassis History. Veloce. pp. 9–15. ISBN 1904788718.
  6. Breeze, Joe. "Classic Concepts: 1966 Alfa Romeo Scarabeo by OSI". Classic Driver. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
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