Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili was born in Milan, in the Portello district, on June 24th, 1910, on the ashes of the Italian branch of Darracq. Since the beginning, the company produced vehicles with a clear sports imprint, and it survived WWI thanks to the intervention of Nicola Romeo, who gave the brand the second part of its name. In 1925, it conquered the first World Championship for Grand Prix vehicles and during all of the ‘20s and ‘30s it knew few rivals among single-seaters and especially among sports cars, as it collected 11 victories in the Mille Miglia race. In 1933, it passed under government control and launched the production of aeronautical engines and trucks. After WWII, it conquered the first two World Championships of the newborn Formula 1 race; then it focused on industrial production. 1900, Giulietta, Giulia, Alfetta, and many others, including the debut, among compact cars, of Alfasud, produced in a new plant in Pomigliano d’Arco. In the meantime, also Arese and the modern private test track in Balocco came to life. In the ‘60s, Alfa Romeo comes back on track with Autodelta: two more Sports World Championships and the return to the top league, besides dozens of Touring titles. Crisis hit Alfa Romeo in the ‘80s and in 1986 it was sold to Fiat.
