Alfetta: The Alfa Romeo 158 & 159 Grand Prix Car (Crowood Autoclassics) [Hardcover]

Ed Mcdonough (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crowood Autoclassics | Publication Date: October 21, 2005

The Alfa Romeo 158 & 159, or 'Alfetta', as it was usually known, is the most successful racing car of all time. Launched on to the voiturette racing scene in 1938 it achieved considerable success before WW2 and was brought out again after the war and raced in the period 1946 to 1948 and 1950 to 1951 - the first two years of the Formula 1 World Championship. For much of this time the car was nearly unbeatable. The author has researched the complete history of this legendary car, from conception to retirement, and beyond. Interviews with some of the last surviving personalities associated with the car, and many archive photographs brig the history to life, while a test drive of a restored car provides a unique insight into what it was like to be behind the wheel of the Alfetta.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ed McDonough is a motoring writer with a particular interest in motor sport. He is European Editor of US-based magazine Vintage Racecar and is a frequent contributor to Auto Italia. He is also the author of Ferrari 156: Sharknose and Vanwall - Green for Glory [Crowood 2003]. Resident - Wootton, Northants

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: The Crowood Press; First edition (October 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861266855
• ISBN-13: 978-1861266859
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,163,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Alfetta 159 Historical Overview, February 11, 2009

By 

Jeffrey Fowler (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Alfetta: The Alfa Romeo 158 & 159 Grand Prix Car (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

A true Alfa Romeo affectionado I have 2 GTV6's. While in name only, they share many Alfetta 159 features.

This book shares the history of the cars and men that designed, built and raced them. A gem that should be required reading of any Alfa fan.

Not many auto makers can claim such a heritage.

4.0 out of 5 stars Obsession, June 26, 2007

By 

zinger (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alfetta: The Alfa Romeo 158 & 159 Grand Prix Car (Crowood Autoclassics) (Hardcover)

This is actually a rather good book. Well-written, lots of history, lots of photographs, a seemingly thorough history of the Alfetta, which won races in 1938, and was still winning races in 1951, by which time its 1,500 cc supercharged straight-8 engine was putting out over 400 horsepower, using the original blocks and crankcases! Pretty amazing! The book also covers `one man's obsession', the successful effort by one Michel Podberejsky (a.k.a. `Mike Sparken') to extract a derelict Alfetta from Alfa's storage area, and have it rebuilt to racing condition. The author had a chance to drive the car, and he has proof, in the form of no less than five pictures of him `experiencing the power of the Alfa'. They are very nice pictures, but I would have traded them all for more technical details of this remarkable engine, particularly detail drawings and photographs of components. There is only one rather small reproduction of an engine cross-section drawing accompanying the discussion of the engine's designer, Gioachino Columbo (yes, the same guy who did the original Ferrari engine design). I think Karl Ludvigsen (Classic Racing Engines, etc) has shown that a market exists for technical details.