The front suspension used double wishbones,
coil springs and hydraulic telescopic dampers, whilst at the rear a solid
axle was located by two arms meeting above the differential together with
coil springs and telescopic dampers.
Production initially began at a slow rate
as the war damage was repaired and normality returned, but 1951 saw 1,220
saloons being built. That year also saw the introduction of the 1900 TI
which received an engine with larger valves, a slightly higher compression
ratio and a double choke carburettor giving 100bhp.
In 1953 the 1900 Super and 1900 TI Super
(also the 1900 Super Sprint) were released. These featured numerous modifications,
including various detail improvements such as additional chrome trim, and
more significantly an engine with a larger capacity of 1975cc (achieved
by increasing the bore). In the standard saloon this produced the same
90bhp, but in the TI Super this engine, which also featured two double
choke carburettors, an increased compression ratio and a revised exhaust manifold, produced 115bhp.
Another variant of the 1900 worth mentioning
(since over 2,000 were built) was the 1900M, AR51 or 'Matta'. This was
a four wheel drive Jeep-like vehicle designed for the Italian armed forces
which used a detuned 1900 engine producing 65bhp. The suspension used torsion
bars at the front and leaf springs at the rear and it was fitted with a
limited slip differential at the rear, to which the drive was permanent,
whilst the drive to the front was selectable manually (drivetrain). A few civilian versions were produced as the AR52.
A special version of the saloon was also
produced for the Italian police force. Known as the 'Pantera' it had numerous
modifications including a two piece bulletproof windscreen, small armoured
skirts in front of the front wheels, an openable roof above the rear seats,
stronger suspension, ti engine, extra communications equipment and an all
black paint finish (hence the name).
Numerous coupes were produced by the various
companies listed above, the majority being by Touring, Zagato
and Pininfarina,
the latter also producing a cabriolet. Some of the better known versions
made in smaller numbers by various coachbuilders included a long wheelbase
'limousine' version, the 1900 Super 'Lunga', 92 constructed by Colli and
the Granluce Primavera two door coupe (with lines similar to the saloon),
300 built by Boano. There was also the Gazzella
by Boneschi, a five-seat, two-door version.
For motorsport there was also built the C52
'Disco Volante', whilst for aerodynamic research Bertone produced the
BAT cars.
The 2000
Sportiva was a distant relative to the 1900.
Released
in 1950, the 1900 was the first all new car after the war designed by Alfa
Romeo. A relatively conventional three-box, four door saloon, it was powered
by a new 1884cc twin cam engine with a cast iron block and an alloy cylinder
head producing 80bhp. It was the first Alfa Romeo designed to be mass produced,
and their first production car to be of monocoque construction, with no separate chassis.
This engine was fitted to a shortened wheelbase chassis which was made available
to numerous coachbuilders and known as the 1900 Sprint. The resulting cars included
coupes and cabriolets by companies such as Zagato,
Touring, Pininfarina,
Stabilimento Farina, Boano, Ghia, Bertone and others.
Production of the 1900 continued until 1959 by which time a total of 21,304 had been
built. The breakdown was as follows (plus the 91 Lunga and 300 Primavera
mentioned above) :
| 1900 | 7,611 |
| 1900 Super | 8,282 |
| 1900 Sprint | 949 |
| 1900 Super Sprint | 854 |
| 1900 TI | 572 |
| 1900 TI Super | 478 |
| 1900M AR51 | 2,050 |
| 1900M AR52 | 155 |
Click here for some special versions of the 1900.
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Technical Details
| Driveline | longitudinal engine at front with rear wheel drive (or permanent four wheel drive) |
| Engines | 1884cc (82.55x88mm) dohc 4 cyl with 90bhp @ 5,200rpm (section)
1975cc (84.5x88mm) dohc 4 cyl with 90bhp @ 5,200rpm In the TI & Sprint versions the outputs were 100bhp @ 5,500rpm & 115bhp @ 5,500rpm respectiveky. In the Matta the 1884cc engine produced 65bhp. |
| Suspension | front : double wishbone with telescopic dampers and coil springs
rear : solid axle with upper trianguler links, telescopic dampers and coil springs wheelbase : 2630mm (Sprint : 2500mm)(Matta : 2200mm) track (front/rear) : 1320mm/1325mm (Matta : 1300mm front & rear) |
| Brakes | front : drums
rear : drums |
| Gearbox | 4 speed manual (5 Speed manual in the 1900 Super Sprint) |
| Kerb weight | 1900 & 1900 TI : 1100kg
1900 Super & 1900 TI Super : 1140kg |
Performance
| model | max speed | 0-60mph |
| 90bhp Berlina | 106 mph | 18.6 sec |
| 115bhp TI Super | 112 mph | 17 sec |
Identification
The original berlina had the model number
1483, the Sprint was the 1484 and the Matta was the 1412.
The 1884cc engines were AR1306 (80bhp version),
AR1307 (65bhp in the Matta) and AR1308 (100bhp).
The various coupes, spiders and other
models built by the carrozzieri on the 1900 floorpan used either 1483 (long
wheelbase, 2630mm) or 1484 (short wheelbase, 2500mm) depending on which
model they used as a basis.
The 1975cc engines were AR1306 (90bhp) and AR1308 (115bhp).
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums,
motorshows and various events).
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Alfa Romeo's also available to download.
For books on Alfa Romeo see our Online Bookstore
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