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Two
stunning ground-breaking Alfa Romeo-based
historic design concepts from the pen of
Bertone, the Carabo and Navajo, starred in the
Cartier Style et Luxe Paddock at the
Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend. The
two concepts, both built on the underpinnings of
Alfa Romeo's famous 33 racer, were entered by
the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Class
7: Serious Wedge - Study in the Anglular Sports
Car Design 1965-1980 with the Carabo winning
over the judges to scoop this prestigious award
against tough opposition.
Bertone Alfa
Romeo Carabo
At the end of
the 1960's Bertone focussed his creative energies on
prototypes. The Turin designer's creativity and daring
reached its peak in 1968 with the Carabo, which was
presented at the Paris Motor Show in October. Built on the
Alfa Romeo 33 chassis with a centrally-mounted engine, it
became a style classic, known for its creativity and
original features, some of which contribute to its legendary
standing. Design features like its tight lines, tapering
front blending in seamlessly with the windscreen, and the
air inlets and outlets. And the original door mechanism,
with doors opening upwards and forwards (a concept which
reappears on the production Countach), and even the novel
colour: iridescent green like a beetle (hence the name
Carabo, in Italian, a type of beetle).
The result hit the
headlines all round the world, and not just in the trade
press, and the positive feedback was unanimous. The Carabo
was Bertone's bold but aesthetically and functionally valid
vision of the sporty car of the future. And the use of new
materials and novel construction techniques means that this
concept car was something more than just an exercise in
styling.
Bertone Alfa
Romeo Navajo
The Navajo
symbolised the new accord between the Turin bodywork
designer and Alfa Romeo, a partnership which over the years
had turned out many world famous cars. Names like the
Giulietta Sprint, Canguro, Giulia GT, Carabo and Montreal
evoke fundamental steps in the evolution of the sports car.
Despite its intentional design excesses, the Navajo
represents a concrete idea for a sporty coupé based on the
prestigious mechanics of the Alfa 33. The original tubular
chassis was lengthened and adapted to create optimum room
for two passengers. The bodywork, entirely in fibreglass,
together with the chassis, gives an excellent result in
terms of weight.
Given the availability of generously
powerful engines, the Bertone designers focussed their
attention on the aerodynamic questions related to road
holding, as well as thinking of pure speed. The Navajo
benefits from this approach both in general design terms,
and as far as accessories are concerned. The frontal view is
extremely tapered, reducing air resistance to a minimum, and
to this end, the car also features a brand new and very
original front spoiler, which automatically regulates the
angle with the ground according to the speed of the vehicle.
The rear wings, aside from providing an interesting
aesthetic motif, represent a valid support for the generous
rear spoiler, which is also adjustable. The disappearing
headlamps open horizontally to the plane of the car.
Presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1976, the Navajo
captured the attention of public and experts alike: the
avant-garde solutions on show were yet another demonstration
of the designer's unique style, constantly experimenting and
ahead of its time.
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