Greatest Racecar? Alfa Romeo “Alfetta” 158/159

There is no doubt in my mind that the Grand Prix Alfetta is the greatest racing car of all time.

Just look at the facts for a moment. The 158 was a pre-war chassis, a voiturette, which managed to race for eight seasons over a span of fourteen years, with no fundamental changes to the chassis design or construction. The 158 was first on the drawing board in the mid-1930s, and made a dream debut at the 1938 Coppa Ciano Junior race where Emilio Villoresi won its first event. The 158 was quickly dubbed the Alfetta—the little Alfa—as it was indeed a small voiturette in what was then a “junior” category. Alfa Romeo was still campaigning much bigger 8- and 12-cylinder cars in full Grand Prix races.