Alfa Romeo 33 Series

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This article is about the family car in 1980s. For the sports car, see Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. For racing car, see Alfa Romeo Tipo 33.
Alfa Romeo 33
Alfa Romeo 33
Alfa Romeo 33 Break
Manufacturer Alfa Romeo
Parent company Fiat Group (from 1986)
Production 1983–1995
Assembly Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy[1]
Predecessor Alfa Romeo Alfasud
Alfa Romeo Arna
Successor Alfa Romeo 145/146
Class Small family car
Body style(s) 5-door hatchback
5-door station wagon
Layout FF layout
Four wheel drive
Engine(s) Petrol:
1.2 Flat-4
1.3 Flat-4
1.4 Flat-4
1.5 Flat-4
1.7 Flat-4
Diesel:
1.8 L straight-3
Length 4075 mm (160.4 in.)
Width 1613 mm (63.5 in.)
Height 1350 mm (53.1 in.)
Curb weight 890-1070 kg (1962-2359 lb)
Related Alfa Romeo Sprint
Designer Ermanno Cressoni

The Alfa Romeo 33 is a small family car produced by the Italian automaker Alfa Romeo between 1983 and 1995. It was essentially an evolution of its predecessor, the Alfasud, which was based on the same floorplan, chassis and mechanicals albeit with some minor modifications. The 33 was discontinued in 1994 and replaced by the Alfa Romeo 145 and 146, which used the same boxer engines but built around an entirely new platform based on the Fiat Tipo.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The 5-door hatchback version was launched in 1983, and a station wagon version (initially badged Giardinetta, later badged SportWagon) was introduced the following year as the same time as a four-wheel drive version of the hatchback. The hatchback was styled by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, Ermano Cressoni, while the station wagon was designed by Pininfarina.

The 33 became renowned for its nimble handling and powerful boxer engines, but also became equally well-known for its unreliable electronics and tendencies to rust (a frequent complaint on Italian cars in general at the time). Another issue was its braking - in the issue of cost cutting the car had rear drum brakes, a retrograde step from its Alfasud predecessor, which had four wheel discs as standard.

The 33 has a unique place in Alfa Romeo history - nearly 1 million of these cars were produced internationally.

[edit] Facelifts

During its 11 year lifespan the 33 saw two restyles; In consequence Alfisti tend to label each styling trend of the 33 after the flagship vehicle produced by Alfa Romeo at that time.

Series III 1992
Series III 1992

The First 33's are sometimes referred to as 'Alfa 90' 33s, as they most resemble that car. Further re-styles were to follow: a mild one in autumn 1986, when the 1.7 litre engine was introduced and a revised interior; these are known as 'Alfa 75' 33s. Later followed a much more extensive facelift in the end of 1989 (the Series III), with a revised interior, the introduction of fuel injection, the 1.7 litre engine upgraded to include a 137 bhp 16 valve version, and a heavily restyled exterior, in line with the new Alfa "family look" established by the flagship 164. Also new four wheel version was introduced called as Permanent 4, which was renamed to Q4 starting from 1992. The last 33s are known as either 'Nuova' or '164' 33s for their resemblance to that model. These models are particularly prized by Alfisti for their performance and sophistication. Late production 33s also do not suffer from the rust problems of their ancestors, as their frames are galvanized in the manner Alfa introduced with the 164.

[edit] First series (1983-1986)

[edit] Engines

  • 1.2 1186 cc flat-4, 50 kW (68 PS/67 bhp) @6000 rpm, 92 N·m (68 ft·lbf) @3200 rpm (Single carburettor)
  • 1.3 1351 cc flat-4, 58 kW (79 PS/78 bhp) @6000 rpm, 113 N·m (83 ft·lbf) @3500 rpm (Single carburettor)
  • 1.3 1351 cc flat-4, 63 kW (86 PS/84 bhp) @5800 rpm, 121 N·m (89 ft·lbf) @4000 rpm
  • 1.5 1490 cc flat-4, 62 kW (84 PS/83 bhp) @5800 rpm, 123 N·m (91 ft·lbf) @3500 rpm
  • 1.5 1490 cc flat-4, 70 kW (95 PS/94 bhp) @5750 rpm, 133 N·m (98 ft·lbf) @4000 rpm (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.5, 1490 cc flat-4, 77 kW (105 PS/103 bhp) @6000 rpm, 136 N·m (100 ft·lbf) @4000 rpm (Twin carburettor)

[edit] First series restyling (1986-1989)

[edit] Engines

  • 1.3 flat-4, 58 kW (79 PS/78 bhp) (Single carburettor)
  • 1.3 flat-4, 63 kW (86 PS/84 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.5 flat-4, 77 kW (105 PS/103 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.5i flat-4, 77 kW (105 PS/103 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.7 flat-4 , 1712 cc, 87 kW (118 PS/117 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.8 TD straight-3, 1779 cc, 54 kW (73 PS/72 bhp) (KKK 14 turbocharger)[2]

[edit] Second series (1989-1995)

[edit] Engines

  • 1.3 flat-4, 63 kW (86 PS/84 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.4 ie flat-4, 66 kW (90 PS/89 bhp) (Weber IAW)
  • 1.5 flat-4, 77 kW (105 PS/103 bhp) (Twin carburettor)
  • 1.5 ie 1490 cc flat-4, 70 kW (95 PS/94 bhp) @6000 rpm, 125 N·m (92 ft·lbf) @4500 rpm
  • 1.7 ie 1712 cc flat-4, 81 kW (110 PS/109 bhp)/cat. 77 kW (105 PS/103 bhp) @5800 rpm, 145 N·m (107 ft·lbf) @4500 rpm (Bosch L3.1)
  • 1.7 ie 16V 1712 cc flat-4, 95 kW (129 PS/127 bhp) @6500 rpm, 151 N·m (111 ft·lbf) @4600 rpm (Bosch Motronic ML4.1)
  • 1.7 ie 16V flat-4, 101 kW (137 PS/135 bhp)/cat. 97 kW (132 PS/130 bhp) (Bosch Motronic ML4.1)
  • 1.8 TDI straight-3, 62 kW (84 PS/83 bhp)

[edit] References

  1. ^ History/Alfa 33. alfaromeo.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
  2. ^ Automotive/Past vehicles. vmmotori.it. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.

[edit] External links

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ALFA ROMEO

1910-1920: 24 HP · 40-60HP

1920-1945: 20-30HP · 6C · 8C · G1/G2 · RL · RM

1945-1980: 1750/2000 · 1900 · 2000 · 2600 · 33 Stradale · Alfa 6 · Alfasud · Alfetta · Giulia · Giulietta · Gran Sport Quattroruote · GTA · GTV · Nuova Giulietta · Montreal · Spider · Sprint

1980-2000: 145/146 · 155 · 156 · 164 · 166 · 33 · 75 · 90 · Arna · GTV · Spider · SZ/RZ

Current models: MiTo · 147 · 159 · 8C Competizione · Brera · GT · Spider

Concept Cars: 33.2 · BAT series · Disco Volante · Kamal · Nuvola · Scighera · Visconti

Clubs: Alfa Romeo Owners Club (USA) · Alfa Romeo Owners Club (UK) · Alfa Romeo Owners Club (Italy)

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« previous — Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A., a subsidiary of the Fiat S.p.A. since 1986, car timeline, 1980s–present
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
Supermini …Alfasud MiTo
Small
family car		 33 145 / 146 147 149
Arna
Compact
executive car		 …Alfetta 75 / Milano 155 156 159
…Nuova Giulietta
Executive
car		 …Alfa 6 164 166 169
90
Coupé …Sprint GT
…Alfetta GT/GTV and GTV6 GTV (916) Brera
Cabriolet Spider (916) Spider (939)
Sportscar SZ RZ 8C Competizione
Roadster Spider
Racing car 179 / 182 / 183T / 184T / 185T 155 V6 TI