Alfa Romeo Museum

History

The museum was officially inaugurated on 18 December 1976, and is located in the former Alfa Romeo Arese factory area. Production of cars ended in 2002 and engine production in 2006 in Arese factory complex.

At the beginning of 2009 the museum was closed down a first time for renovations and opened in the end of the year, to celebrate Alfa Romeo's 100th birthday in 2010. It was closed once more in February 2011, reportedly for renovation work again.

The renovation project was laid down at the end of 2013, and restoration work only started in Summer 2014.

Centerpiece of the renewed structure are Alfa red projecting roofs added to the original 1970s structure.

After four years the Museum officially reopened on 24 June 2015, when it hosted the press unveiling of the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia and Alfa Romeo logo, both key steps in the relaunch of the brand.

On 30 June 2015 the museum reopened to the public.

Description

The museum is dedicated to over 100 years of history of the Alfa Romeo marque, whose production included automobiles, commercial vehicles, railway locomotives, tractors, buses, trams, marine and aircraft engines.

The museum spreads over 4,800 square metres (52,000 sq ft). Its six floors are divided into four theme areas, including a historical review of all Alfa Romeo road cars produced since 1910, prototypes and dream cars, aircraft and aeronautical projects, and scale models and awards.

The museum collection numbers over 250 cars and 150 engines, of which approximately half were on display. These included at least one example of each model produced, plus prototypes and racing cars.

Some of the museum cars are regularly on loan for festivals and historical events, like Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Mille Miglia.

Scuderia del Portello

Scuderia del Portello is an Italian sports association dedicated to the activities of Alfa Romeo cars and historic models in motorsport and rallies; the official club is located at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese.

On February 3, 1982, the journalist Luca Grandori, together with Edilberto Mandelli, Pietro Rondo, Giorgio Schoen, Stefano Senin and Renato Ughi, founded the Scuderia in Arese as part of the Centro Direzionale Alfa Romeo with the patronage of the mother company. The name recalled the suburbs of Milan where the company's first factories were built.

The Scuderia was conceived as a structure for giving support and technical assistance to drivers racing Alfa Romeo cars which were no longer in production, but the articles of association stated that its aim was also to promote the brand, as well as to safeguard its historical and technological heritage, as a contribution to the history of car racing. It immediately became the official Alfa Romeo team for historical car races.

In 1990 Scuderia del Portello changed its statute and broadened its activity to also include modern racing cars, becoming an official club of the communication of the brand management. On that occasion the logo was changed as well, taking on its present appearance which recalls the form of the Alfa Romeo 1900 radiator.

The current president and team principal is Marco Cajani.

The following are the maximum titles won by the Scuderia in FIA Historic racing Championships:

Scuderia del Portello has won eight Italian Historic Car Championships, and over 300 overall class victories in historical car races both in European and National championships.

In 1997 the Scuderia won the Tour Auto (revival of the Tour de France Automobile) with Cajani-Faraci (Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce), and in 2004, 2006, and 2007 the Tour de España, respectively with Jean Sage (Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti), Sage-Entremont (Alfa Romeo 1900 Ti) and Cajani-Confaloni (Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Zagato). …