♔ ‘Fangio didn’t drive the Alfetta. He tamed it. With a moustache and absolutely zero regard for personal safety.’
Before Ferrari wore red with purpose, it was still running errands for Alfa Romeo.
Enter the Alfetta 158 – a tiny, twitchy supercharged monster that blew the doors off everyone, including a rookie team from Maranello.
It had 350 horsepower, no seat belts, and Fangio behind the wheel.
What could possibly go wrong?
More horsepower than grip. More legend than car.
Keep reading…..
Pre-War Genius
• 1938 – Gioachino Colombo designs the 158 for the Voiturette class. Supercharged 1.5L straight-8.
• Debuts under Scuderia Ferrari, then Alfa’s racing arm (yes, Ferrari worked for Alfa first).
War Years
• 1939–45 – Racing halts. 158s are stashed in barns to survive the Blitz.
Post-War Revival
• 1946–49 – Dusted off, tuned up, and devastating. Over 300 bhp by 1947.
• Alfa dominates a weakened GP field.
Fangio + Alfetta = F1 Earthquake
• 1950 – The new World Championship begins.
• Alfa enters three cars – Farina, Fagioli and rising Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio.
• Fangio wins Monaco, Spa, and Reims. The 158 wins all but one race.
Technical Marvel
• Dual-stage supercharger, 350 bhp, 700 kg. Top speed? 180mph.
• Brakes? Drums. Suspension? Leaf springs. Madness? Certainly.
Legacy
• Only a handful of cars won races on either side of WWII.
• The 158 didn’t just win – it made Ferrari look like the apprentice.
♔ ‘The Alfetta’s brakes were like polite suggestions to Newton.’
