ALFA ROMEO Tipo 33 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale was one of the first supercars ever created, and it was not only an incredibly beautiful vehicle but also a fierce, fast one.

Alfa Romeo wanted to dominate the tracks with the Tipo 33 sports prototype, a purpose-built race car, but for that, it needed a street version to obtain the homologation number. And that's how the Stradale version was born. It is considered the pinnacle of design for Franco Scaglione, who penned the beautiful, aerodynamic bodywork. But he made it together with Atodelta, Alfa Romeo's racing department, who already had a platform built for it. Unusually for those times, it featured a mid-mounted engine.

The Tipo 33 Stradale featured a narrow front end with taller fenders where the headlights were hosted, one on each side. The entire front area could have been lifted up to expose the minimalist trunk that was mainly used to host the spare wheel. From its profile, the Tipo 33 featured a waved shape with a panoramic windshield and gull-wing-type doors. Behind them, the automaker placed the air intakes for the mid-mounted engine covered by a sloped rear windscreen. A squared-looking vent released the hot air from the engine bay.

Since it was built for street homologation, the car's interior had to be fitted with two sports seats separated by a center console that hosted the gear stick. Yet, the automaker cared more about function than luxurious trims or fancy materials. As a result, metallic plates covered the center stack and part of the dashboard on the driver's side.

Under the hood, Alfa Romeo placed its best engine yet, a 2.0-liter V8. It was paired with a six-speed manual, which was unusual for those times.