This summer we presented to you the saga of the intervention vehicles of the BRI, in other words, the rapid intervention brigade of the French national gendarmerie. For the start of the school year, we cross the Alps and take you to Italy to discover the Alfa Romeo of the Carabinieri.
During the celebration of the 111 years of Alfa Romeo on June 24, 2021, we had the opportunity to visit the historical museum of the brand located in Arese in the northern suburbs of Milan. In the middle of the beautiful cars of the brand with the clover, an exhibition retraced the saga of models that equipped the Carabinieri, the transalpine equivalent of our national gendarmerie. Moreover about the latter, find our videos and our reports with in particular, the cars of the BRI in the link below.
TO READ. Gendarmerie reserves. A look back at the summer saga of L’argus
Giulia Super: the first of the gazelles!
It all started with the 1968 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super, the one that started the ball rolling for the “Gazella”, the nickname for the carabinieri cars. Moreover, a logo representing a gazelle is affixed on the front doors of the sedan, whose lacquered dress in an elegant midnight blue contrasts with a white roof. Italian law enforcement has vehicles with a roof projector, which is very handy during chases, a large antenna on the front wing for radio communication, and a blue flashing light. As an anecdote, in Italy, Police cars are called Pantera (panther).
Armored cars for the lead years
At the end of the 1970s, terrorism hit Italy hard, the police had to equip themselves accordingly and, to avoid attacks, circulate in protected vehicles. The Alfa Romeo 2.0 Protetta takes over from the Giulia Super, this escort version benefits from bullet-resistant triple-thickness armored glass.
At the end of the 1980s, the Alfa 90 succeeded the Alfetta. Fortunately, times have become a little calmer again, the years of lead are over, therefore shielding is no longer required. On the other hand, this imposing sedan, designed by Bertone, is equipped with an on-board telephone with the handset within easy reach of the front passenger.
During the following decade, it is the Alfa Romeo 75 which officiates. For memory, this is the last Alfa Romeo of rear-wheel drive architecture before a switch to front-wheel drive until the arrival of the Giulia in 2016. Today, the Carabinieri circulate aboard this model and in particular the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. This sporty sedan passes its 510 hp to the ground by its rear axle alone.
The Alfa Romeos of the Italian army
Alongside the Carabinieri vehicles, the exhibition presents Alfa Romeo military like the Giulia Super Combinata station wagon and the Alfa Romeo AR51 which is none other than the brand’s Jeep, it was also nicknamed Alfa Romeo Matta.
TO READ. A rare fully restored Alfa Romeo Giulia Familiare for sale
