W L’ITALIA

"My passion for Alfa Romeo comes from afar, since I was a child I distinctly remember my boundless love for the brand, even though my family didn't own one. Then finally, when I was 19, the first one arrives, a flaming red 33 Imola, and even today after 27 years I dream of it and regret it. Life goes by fast, time passes and between work and distractions and many other more or less practical reasons my garage ended up hosting other brands.

One winter day in 2015, almost by chance… it all begins. I call a friend who deals with demolitions, "Do you still have that GT? “, I go to see it and the passion for the classics begins to burn in my soul. Many weeks pass before being able to close the deal, but this one will finally be mine!

GT 1300 Junior - March 1970, 1290 cm3, 89HP, color AR 209 Moss Green (Verde Muschio). We start directly with the restoration without even driving it once, and then finally, the first run on open streets in May 2016: it’s raining but it doesn't matter. The rear, square registration plate bears a strange sign of fate:

MIK4

2910

Mik is my nickname and the number 29… my date of birth.

After about 12 months and many fruitless trips I found the Spider Junior 1300 from 1976 (1290 cm3, 89hp, color AR 514 Rosso Italia Pininfarina) but I decided to use it like I found it, without any restoration work needed, all in all it was a healthy example and the paintwork in discreet condition (the shade of red, however, was wrong) .

Passion matures, becomes more demanding and you realize that you cannot not have a Giulia. As my dear friend Roberto says, you are not a true Alfista if you don't own one. But finding a good one is really difficult and time passes inexorably.

Until one summer morning Roberto calls me and says "there is THE Giulia!" At 6.00 pm we were in the courtyard with the owner to conclude the deal and a few days later the Giulia was in my garage. Giulia Super 1600 from 1970, the "Biscione", one of the very first high pedals, 1570 cm3 102 hp, color AR 013 Biancospino, recently restored interior and bodywork but with the mechanics needing a bit of attention. It was for me the right opportunity to clean it up and thoroughly renew it.

Long story short, the final result is this tricolore which came by chance and not rightly intended from the start.“

This is how Michele, the owner of these 3 Alfas, talks about his passion, the growing love for Alfa Romeo that led him to hold in his garage the perfect triad, the three most iconic and coveted models of the 105/115 series, built at the turn of the '60s and ‘70s.

And it is precisely from his garage that our trip starts, an anonymous building like many others, but one who hides a small temple inside, where the three Giulia (GT, Berlina and Spider) sleep safely surrounded by tools neatly arranged in their place and spare parts cataloged in alphabetical order. The three Alfas rest perfectly aligned covered by a cloth strictly in the corresponding body color… Green, White, Red. It is time to move, the covers rise, the keys rattle, each with a matching Biscione key ring and the engines start.

The morning is gloomy, the fog surrounds the three Alfas stopped outside the garage to warm up, we are all in high spirits, the view is unique: the tricolor that is a bit lost in the fog is still very suggestive. We start with the hope of "piercing" that haze typical of late October that grips the Po Valley. We point the noses of the Alfas towards the first hill and as if by magic we are satisfied: the sun surrounds us and guides us along our path made of curves, hairpin bends, ups and downs. The engines roar and break the silence of the countryside. The warm colors of autumn distract us and they accompany us up to an ancient medieval village in the municipality of Vernasca. We are in Vigoleno with its ancient castle, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the perfect place to take some shots.

The few people look at us dazed, some are approaching intrigued Michele and ask for information on the cars... "Congratulations!" is what he hears more often. Others passers by are looking at us without understanding what we are doing, and they photograph us instead.

We leave the cars lined up in the square in front of the castle, in formation just like the Frecce Tricolore, another Italian pride, and they seem to be guarding the castle.

They have a proud, elegant appearance, with Giulia’s 4 headlights inspiring fear. We stop to admire them, sitting at the nearby bar, the anti-covid rules force us to sit outside, it doesn't matter, the sun is warm. Time passes quickly, chatting with friends and a good glass of wine do the rest.

We conquer on our tiptoes, with the engines at idle, the small courtyard of the ancient castle. Seeing the three Alfas lined up in perfect chromatic order between the old walls has a certain effect. We climb up the tower of the village: the scenery is breathtaking, the hills painted in yellow, red and brown are lost visibly while down there in the ancient courtyard the tricolor stands out, just like a flag as if to remind us of some important anniversaries, such as the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo that we celebrated earlier this year, or how beautiful our country is and rich in traditions, history and passions.

Passions like mine for photography, stopping the moment, the ever fleeting moment or like Michele's passion for beautiful cars, beautiful Alfas.