About Alfa Romeo 75
The Italian automaker Alfa Romeo introduced the 75 lineup in 1985 to replace the Giulietta model, which was already eight years old, and sales were stalling.
At the beginning of the '80s, Alfa Romeo had big financial problems after over a decade of poor company management decisions. Its products were not highly attractive, and some vehicles were draining the carmaker's funds. As a result, it needed a new product to regain lost customers and refill its bank accounts. Part of the solution was the one provided by Ermanno Cressoni, who promised that his team from Centro Stile Alfa Romeo could reshape the aging Giulietta and morph it into a new car. That car was the 75, and the nameplate was dedicated to the automaker's 75th year since its establishment. In the U.S., the 75 was also known as the Alfa Romeo Milano.
With a wedged-shaped bodywork, the 75 was in line with other European compact executive cars from that era. In addition, the big and squared headlights concealed the fact that the car relied on the Giulietta's underpinnings. In addition, the new plastic grille with horizontal slats where the carmaker's crest took center stage looked bold. Depending on the grade, the 75 sported a black bumper or a body-colored one adorned by a rubber stripe. In order to accommodate the engines and fit into the slimmer front nose of the vehicle compared to the Giulietta, the 75's hood featured a risen mid-section.
From its profile, the ascending beltline of the vehicle was emphasized by a plastic trim that ran around the car. That decoration also concealed that the 75 used the same doors as the Giulietta as a cost-cutting measure. Since the vehicle's basic structure, including the pillars, was carried over from the previous models, the design team had to create new panels to conceal that, and it did it marvelously. Finally, at the back, the tall and short deck sported a rear fascia with large, rectangular taillights.
The car's interior featured a squared-looking dashboard where the instrument cluster and the center stack were covered under the same visor and were focused on the driver. Alfa Romeo used large dials for the speedometer and tachometer and smaller ones for the rest of the gauges. On the center console, the automaker placed the gear stick and a storage area. At the front, the high-bolstered bucket seats were on par with the brand's sporty image, while in the back, the automaker installed a flat bench where two people could sit comfortably.
Under the hood, Alfa Romeo installed a wide choice of engines ranging between 1.6-liter and 3.0-liter, most of them being naturally aspirated. All of them were paired with five-speed manuals that sent their power to the rear wheels. The 75 was the first mass-produced Alfa Romeo to be fitted with a turbocharged engine. Unfortunately, despite the car's great success on the market, it was not enough to save the brand. As a result, Fiat bought the company in 1986.