Brushed Metal and Beyond: The Alfa Romeo Iguana's Enduring Design Language

Brushed METAL Masterpiece - Embarking on a journey through the captivating world of unique classic cars on the internet is akin to uncovering a treasure trove of automotive creativity from eras gone by. In our pursuit of rare gems, we stumbled upon a true masterpiece – the Alfa Romeo Iguana, a car that carries the spirit of the iconic Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale.

ItalDesign, led by Giorgetto Giugiaro, officially showed the Iguana based on the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale at the 1969 Turin Motor Show. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

The Alfa Romeo Iguana, a creation of Giorgetto Giugiaro during his tenure as the head of Italdesign, stands as a testament to automotive artistry. This exceptional vehicle built based on the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale road-going version of the Tipo 33/2, showcases a streamlined silhouette and captivating stylistic accents. Giugiaro, a prominent figure in the industry, designed the Iguana as a response to the limited success of the Tipo 33 Stradale, which struggled in the market due to its high price tag.

The Alfa Romeo Iguana exceptional vehicle built based on the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale road-going version of the Tipo 33/2, showcases a streamlined silhouette and captivating stylistic accent. (Picture from: Supercars.net)

Back in the day, Alfa Romeo produced the Tipo 33 Stradale only 18 units, and those unsold found their way to renowned Italian design studios like Bertone, Italdesign, and Pininfarina. Italdesign, a budding studio under Giugiaro's guidance, received one of these Stradales, giving birth to the Alfa Romeo Iguana.

The Alfa Romeo Iguana body is built on a tubular steel frame combined with light alloy, and proposes in a very personal way the theme of a two-seater coupé, "sharp", low and sleek. at the same time. (Picture from: Supercars.net)

While the Iguana never made it to production, its influence can be traced in Giugiaro's later works. The car's metal-flake grey body, paired with brushed metal roof frames and cabin pillars, foreshadowed Giugiaro's treatment on the iconic DMC DeLorean.

The provenance of the actual metal beneath the Iguana’s metallic shell and greenhouse cockpit is even more special, it hardly bear any resemblance with the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, the donor. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

Giugiaro's ingenuity shines through in the Iguana, one of the early supercars with a distinctive wedge-shaped silhouette. This trend was further popularized in the 1970s, with the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept by Bertone, another Tipo 33 Stradale-based model, considered its precursor.

The interior features glossy gray fabric-covered seats, a dark gray and black center console, steering wheel, cockpit, and instrument panel, complemented by vibrant red carpets in the footwells for a striking contrast. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

The chassis of the Iguana, inherited from the Stradale, featured a tubular steel frame, while the body was crafted from fiberglass. Giugiaro's unique touch included opening headlights to maintain the car's form purity, and steel body panels left without any varnish added an interesting visual accent.

Currently, the Alfa Romeo Iguana Concept is powered by a 2,593 cc, 149.1 kW (200 hp) V8 of the Montreal model. (Picture from: Petrolicious)

Powering the Alfa Romeo Iguana initially was a 1,995 cc aluminum V8 engine, delivering 171.5 kW (230 hp) at 8,000 rpm. Although capable of 199 kW (266.9 hp), the engine was detuned for reliability. This marked the debut of Alfa Romeo's first V8 engine, coupled with a SPICA fuel injection system and a six-speed Colotti gearbox, propelling the Iguana to a top speed of 260 km/h (161.6 mph).

The Alfa Romeo Iguana made its debut at the Sport Car Show in Monza and was officially presented at the Turin Auto Show 1969. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Intriguingly, the original engine was later replaced with a 2,593 cc, 149.1 kW (200 hp) V8 from the Montreal model, for reasons undisclosed. The suspension boasted upper and lower A-arms on all corners, complemented by Girling disk brakes and Campagnolo alloy wheels.

The Alfa Romeo Iguana's metal-flake grey body, paired with brushed metal roof frames and cabin pillars, foreshadowed Giugiaro's treatment on the iconic DMC DeLorean. (Picture from: Supercars.net)

The Alfa Romeo Iguana made its debut at the Sport Car Show in Monza and was officially presented at the Turin Auto Show 1969. The car's metal-flake grey paint, coupled with brushed metal roof frames and cabin pillars, left an indelible mark on its aesthetic. This motif would later find resonance in the design of the DeLorean DMC-12.

In conclusion, the Alfa Romeo Iguana by Italdesign stands as a captivating testament to the creative spirit of automotive design, a unique blend of historical inspiration and futuristic innovation that continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike. If you're intrigued and wish to witness it firsthand, do visit the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, Milan, Italy. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ITALDESIGN | AUTOKULT.PL | ITMOTOR1 | SPIEGEL.DE | GOODWOOD | WIKIPEDIA | CARROZZERRIA-ITALIANI | SUPERCARS.NET | PETROLICIOUS ]

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