Giulia Super sun shades - the Torpedo

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This picture had us scratching our heads. Is it really an Alfa Romeo Giulia Super convertible? It certainly looks like one, but no such thing ever existed, did it? Well, it did. As a matter of fact, it was a sort of beach car or Jolly variant, built by Carrozzeria Colli. As an official coachbuilder to Alfa Romeo, Colli had been responsible for several other special-bodied Alfas, ranging from 1900-based cabriolets and police cars to lengthened Giuliettas, Giulia-based Giardinette and even a special service van with the lovely script ‘Assistenza Clienti Sportivi’ on its side.

Two of these Giulia Torpedos, as they were officially named, were built in 1965, commissioned by Alfa Romeo for use on special occasions and parades. One such special occasion was a state visit to the Arese factory in 1966, which is what we see here. Italy’s then-president Giuseppe Saragat is in the back seat with Giuseppe Petrilli next to him. The latter is a controversial figure in tifosi Alfa Romeo circles. As the president of the Institute for Industrial Reconstruction, he was the man who infamously made Alfa Romeo boss Giuseppe Luraghi step aside over an argument about building a new factory, which was not necessarily needed.

Perhaps the Giulia Torpedo was not necessarily needed, either, but we can only consider ourselves better off for its existence. Like the Fiat Jollys, it had no doors but came with a canopy roof to keep the top brass inside nicely shaded and protected from the sun. Both Torpedos are said to survive, one in the Alfa Romeo Museum, the other reputedly in a private collection after being sold some 10 years ago.

Words by Jeroen Booij, picture Alfa Romeo PR, Carrozzieri-Italiani

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