Concepts and Studies, p. 55: Alfa Romeo Carabo, zero patient

Because not all vintage cars have made it to our roads, we invite you to discover them from time to time. See you every month (previous episodes are here). This month, we will stick to the news, Marcello Gandini has left us recently, with the return of the Alfa Romeo Carabo, his first concept car.

Express your vision

The 1960s saw perhaps two of the greatest Italian designers roam Bertone’s offices, after Giogetto Giugiaro at the start of the decade, it was Marcello Gandini who took over the reins of the Italian drugstore fashion center in 1965.

His first two works, The Lamborghini Miura andAlfa Romeo Montreal, are still filled with the work of his predecessor, while revealing Gandini’s striking style. However, we had to wait until 1968 to see the concept that would define Gandini’s style for decades to come.

The new Alfa Romeo Carabo is shaking up the codes. The self-taught stylist delivers minimalist style, prioritizing functionality above all else. The car is there to cut the air, and yet the picture does not look like a model.

A stylistic turning point

Alfa Romeo Carabo is unanimously praised for its sharp design, and a real change in automotive style. Later, concept and production cars with angular lines, even without the signature of Gandini, will multiply.

But let’s get back to our beetles (because yes, Carabo takes its name from ground beetles, green bugs and orange essentials). It is based on one of two chassisAlfa Romeo 33 Stradale which were entrusted to Bertone by the Milanese manufacturer.

We couldn’t be more apart in terms of style, the donor is all curves, and glazing that makes its lines airy. Metamorphosis, worthy of Kafka, brings the windows reduced to the absolute minimum, a beautiful, even overprotected appearance, like the elytra that protect the ground beetle’s wings.

Although it is the first in a long line of models signed by Gandini, the Alfa Romeo Carabo already brings together almost all the tricks that will grace the creations of the Italian master. In addition to clear taut lines, we also see hidden optics (here, there are no headlights, only raised hoods), reduced wheel arches, lovers at the back of the car.

We can even add to this list the forward-pointing doors that we will find on the Lamborghini Count, or even this pointed front that we will find later on the Fiat X1/9 (itself from another concept signed by Gandini, the Autobianchi Runabout, released in 1969). The latter was specifically designed to combat one of the Miura’s biggest problems, the tendency of its front end to produce low power at high speeds.

In the same way, it is impossible to hide the closest direct lineage Lancia Stratos Zero and its predecessor, even if it brings some improvements and explores other ways (especially with its access through the windshield).

The list is endless, as the Alfa Romeo Carabo left its mark on its era and on people’s minds.

Alfa Romeo Carabo today

Carabo is a must-see in the Museo storico Alfa Romeo, which also financed the complete restoration of the animal in 1989, to preserve it in excellent condition.

So he has been given a museum, but he comes from various exhibitions, one of his last walks was for the launch of the new boutique of Larusmiani, the designer of the Milanese style of the century, in 2023, at the launch of the Fashion Week of Milan 2023.

Photo courtesy of Stellantis, Alfa RomeoOld News