Alfa Romeo 33

Number 33 of the Alfa Romeo refers to the famous prototypes, the standard 33, which gained the championships of the world at the beginning of the Années 1970. The 33 is a Alfasud more " moderne" produced 1983 with 1994. The motorizations are the boxer declined under several cubic capacities (1.3L, 1.5L, 1.7L). A turbodiesel will equip certain models.

They were rather robust and powerful cars, but victims of a bad reputation acquired with AlfaSud. The lines of the body are rather aggressive, and evoke with their cap plunging the pace of a sporting car.

The 33 will be redrawn in 1989 with a new grill and rear lights less disproportionate than its devancière. The engine boxer will receive two cylinder heads of 8 valves each one which will carry the power to 137ch.

The 33 will be replaced in 1994 by the Alfa Romeo 145.

History

At the time to give a succession to the Alfasud, Alfa Romeo decided to change body, while preserving a good part of mechanics and frame: driving boxer, front traction, rear wheel-axle unit equipped with a rigid axle with Parallelogram of Watt, disc brakes with front, and drum brakes with the back (single notable difference with Alfasud) and limps 5 speeds on all the versions.

To mitigate the absence of true innovation, it was decided to choose a line rather different from the preceding model: the pencil of Ermano Cressoni drew a vehicle with two volumes and half with back forage ladder with a more modern and functional interior.

As for success of Esparto 75, and in spite of the seniority of mechanics, the modernity of the project made it possible new Esparto 33 to maintain with most the brand image.

Esparto 33, available only in 5 doors, was assembled with Pomigliano d' Arco and had a considerable success: between 1983 and 1995, nearly a million specimens were produced. Success was with the good road behavior, the brilliant services, reliability, the originality of the line and the incomparable noise of its engine boxer.

N 12 years of production, it undergoes many evolutions, as well technical as esthetic. However, its career can be divided into two series.

First series (1983-1989)

At the time of its presentation in 1983, the Esparto 33 , was available in 2 versions: the 1.3 , equipped with the 4 cylinders simple boxer carburizing of 1351cm3 developing 79cv (the same one as the Alfasud 1.3 SC ) and the 1.5 Quadrifoglio Oro , equipped with the engine boxer carburizing twin spool of 1490cm3 developing 95cv (coming from the same version on the Alfasud ). The two versions were also different by the internal and external equipment. Most richly equipped, Quadrifoglio Oro , was recognizable by the grill color money, the broad edge lines, the specific hub caps, the rods gilded on the bumpers, the plastic of the indicators before white color, the fabric linings of higher quality, the wheel out of wooden and a more complete equipment. The 1.3 , private of edge lines, had on the other hand the grill a black grill, hub caps black, transparencies oranges on the front indicators, a wheel out of plastic, coatings less rich and an equipment reduced.

In 1984, with the final adoption of the Alfasud , the range of the Alfa 33 grew rich by the versions 1.3 S , 1.5 4x4 , 1.5 Quadrifoglio Verde and Giardinetta .

The 1.3 S was a version 1.3 equipped with the 1351cm3 with carburettor twin spool of 86cv, whereas the 1.5 Quadrifoglio Verde (equipped with the engine boxer 105cv of 1490cm3, also coming to him from old the Alfasud Ti ) had a more sporting connotation: bumper and edge lines painted, calender specific, back aileron, alloy rims, skirts, seats sport with before with perforated head-rests. The 1.5 4x4 was identical to the Quadrifoglio Oro (of which she inherited the engine 95cv at the beginning with carburettor simple then with twin spool) but equipped with a integral Transmission enclenchable .

The station-wagon Giardinetta was finally a successful version and had a considerable success. Drawn by Pininfarina and equipped with equipment identical to that of the Quadrifoglio Oro , the Giardinetta was available in version with traction before and in 4x4, both equipped with the engine 1490cm3 of 95cv with carburettor twin spool.

The greatest defect of the Alfa 33 first series was certainly its consumption related to a rather sporting camshaft and on a mechanical carburettor food. The level of completion and the not very effective ventilation system were unsatisfactory also.

Restylage of the first series

1986 were the year of maturity for Esparto 33. With the autumn of this year, its trade description changed Alfa 33 into 33 and was distinguished from the first series by some esthetic details: new plate of identification, indicators before (white) and back (white and reds instead of the orange/red/white colors), the new grill with broader horizontal meshs and new escutcheon, bumpers re-examined and miniskirts on all the range. But the true innovations were inside which was completely redrawn: the tormented instrument panel yielded the place to a more conventional board with the linear design stopped simply by cap of the meters, identical to that of the preceding but more readable series. The wheel was changed and lost its curious central cushion , whereas the coatings and the panels of the doors recovered a more significant part. The range of 1986, more rational in the equipment, but nonprivate of certain defects, was made up of the versions 1.3 and 1.3 S , of the 1.5 TI of 105cv, which replaced the preceding ones Quadrifoglio Verde and Quadrifoglio Oro , of the 1.5 4x4 of 105cv and of the news 1.7 Quadrifoglio Verde and 1.8 Turbodiesel .

The new range included:

33.1.3 (1351cm3, 79cv)
33.1.3 S (1351cm3, 90cv)
33.1.5 Ti (1490cm3, 105cv)
33.1.5 4x4 (1490cm3, 95cv)
33.1.7 Quadrifoglio Verde (1712cm3, 114cv)
33 Giardinetta 1.3 (1351cm3, 86cv)
33 Giardinetta 1.5 (1490cm3, 95cv)
33 Giardinetta 1.5 4x4 (1490cm3, 95cv)

With the beginning of the year 1988, the injection is introduced on the engine 1.7 whose power went down to 107cv instead of the 114cv from the Quadrifoglio Verde to carburettor.

Features (1983-1989)

Second series (1989-1995)

In the automobile panorama of end of the year 80, competition left the models stylistiquement more advanced, in particular in the segment C: in 1988, FIAT Tipo and the Renault 19 were launched, and the following year the Peugeot 309, the Volkswagen Golf and the Rover 200 were deeply altered. So to the autumn 1989, the 33 was subjected to a restylage substantial, while following the new style introduced by the 164. The modifications related to before new (spoiler and more enveloping bumper), the handles of the doors and the completely redrawn interior. The restylage also related to little time after the version Giardinetta , from now on called Sportwagon , but it was limited only to the front part. The range of motorization was also re-examined. The line entry was consisted the 1.3 of 1986 (1351cm3, double carburettor, 86cv) and the 1.5 (1490cm3, double carburettor, 105cv). The high-end was represented by an engine 1.7 with injection, 8 valves (118cv) then 16 valves (139cv). The latter was available in traction before and in integral transmission with automatic distribution of motricity between the axles. The turbodiesel is updated with the adoption of an air-to-air heat exchanger and by the increase in the pressure of overfeeding with 1,2 bar, saw its power increasing with 84cv.

Mechanics and the frame underwent marginal adaptations to correct as much as possible the defects of the suspensions and the geometry of the nose gear, whereas the cockpit was still improved.

The new range included:

33.1.3
33.1.3 L
33.1.3 VL
33.1.5
33.1.7 i.e
33.1.7 i.e 4x4 (integral transmission enclenchable)
33.1.7 i.e 16v Quadrifoglio Verde
33.1.7 i.e 16v Q4 Permanent (integral transmission permanante)
33.1.8 TD
33 Giardinetta 1.3
33 Giardinetta 1.3 L
33 Giardinetta 1.7 i.e
33 Giardinetta 1.7 i.e 4x4
33 Giardinetta 1.8 TD

The versions with engine 1.7 8 valves were characterized by its tinted bumpers and equipment richer, whereas the Quadrifoglio Verde and the Q4 had a more sporting connotation: calender before ringed of red, spoiler before tinted, tinted back aileron, more important skirts, bumpers, specific alloy rims and seats sport. In 1992, the version turbodiesel is removed, whereas in 1993, with the new antipollution standards, the engines are equipped with a multipoint injection and a catalytic pot. The powers were of 90cv for the 1.3 i.e. , 97cv for the 1.5 i.e. , 115cv for the 1.7 i.e. and of 129cv for the 1.7 i.e 16v . Among the special versions in limited series, one can recall the 33 Imola , produced in 1993 and equipped with an engine 1351cm3 of 90cv with external and interior completions particular, like the aerodynamic miniskirts, back aileron, alloy rims, interior leather, car radio and other accessories of series. It was about a particularly aggressive and sporting car, produced into three color: red, white and black. Thus, of 1993 to 1995, the 33 continued to be present on the market with the only catalyzed versions, reaching the course of the million specimens. With the autumn 1994, the 33 , which showed really weight the eleven years of career and before sorir definitively of the scene, was next to the any news 145, to the exit of the 146 in 1995, intended to replace it.

Features (1989-1995)

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