1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina

The 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina combined sleek design, precise handling, and a spirited engine to deliver an unforgettable driving experience. As Berkley One Classics celebrates the big 5-0, we’re hosting an exciting virtual car show for collectors and enthusiasts alike. We’ll share our love of classic cars by spotlighting 50 cars for 50 years that have been chosen and beloved by our employees. Each will showcase the evolution of design and engineering and provide a nostalgic journey through auto and pop culture history. Read on as Christoph Ritterson, Senior Vice President, Marketing at Berkley One, tells us why he loves the 1970 Alfa Romeo Giulia.

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The Car:

The design of the 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina was carried out by the famous Italian coachworks and industrial design firm Bertone. As a saloon car it was intended to be a sporty luxury version of the Guilia. Compared to its cousin (that being the Guilia), it had a bigger engine and longer wheelbase. The car’s exterior was white, and the interior was trimmed with mahogany on the steering wheel as well as the dashboard. The 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina also has a 4-cylinder 1.75-liter twin cam engine, 5-speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive, and 4-wheel disk brakes.

The Collector:

The Berlina was introduced in Europe in 1968 as a successor to the Giulia series, boasting a bigger engine and longer wheelbase than its predecessor. As this car was built for the United States market, it also had a mechanical fuel injection system to meet emission standards while the European version was carbureted. This model was also white.

The Love:

The 1750 Berlina was produced between 1968 and 1977 and was eventually replaced by the Berlina 2000. According to Berlina Registry, it is believed that 1,759 units were originally produced with fuel injection that would make them available to the United States market. Some could be purchased new in 1971 from Phil Ealey in rural Pennsylvania for the princely sum of $4,000. Phil Ealey worked mostly on Jaguars, Triumphs, MGs, Morgans, Mini Coopers and Austin Healeys. His shop was next to his house. Oddly he held a franchise for Alfas. This is the car my father had as our primary vehicle when I was growing up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was a bit of a novelty for southern Pennsylvania. Due to a temperamental fuel injection system, the car had a hard time starting in cold or damp weather. My Dad figured out a workaround. There was a solenoid that when deactivated made the car start more easily. So, he rigged the car with a cutout switch to make starting it work in all conditions. As a small boy, I can remember poking around Ealey’s shop — which was full of cars in all manner of repair, disrepair, and re-assembly while we waited for him to complete a repair or update on the Alfa.

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Contributed by Christoph Ritterson

Photo: iStock

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This car feature is part of our 50 Cars for 50 Years campaign in honor of Berkley One Classics celebrating 50 year of insuring collectors and their vehicles. See the other cars we love here.

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Berkley One Classics is a Berkley Company who recognizes that classic cars are unique and require insurance that’s equally distinctive. Let us help you protect your beloved vehicle so you can enjoy it for years to come. Learn more here.