The Alfa Romeo with Character: The 2000

The Alfa Romeo with Character: The 2000

In the 1970s, there were very few cars with character. In the United States, the oil embargo made it difficult to fill the tank, so manufacturers began creating ugly little compact gas sippers. Convertibles were phased out and muscle cars were on their last legs. The auto industry was in a dire place and to make matters worse, the speed limit was dropped to 55 miles per hour. But Italy had a lovely little car called the Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce.

Good Roots Make a Fine Car

This little car was not a beauty by any means, not when compared to the European cars of the year like the Mercedes 450S or the Fiat X1/9. But, the Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce (Veloce means “fast” in Italian) had its own unique style that set it apart from anything produced in the United States. The car was a descendent of the Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina, which was a third place contender for car of the year in 1969, so the 2000 did come from good stock. What set the 2000 GT Veloce apart from the crowd was not its exterior design, but the subtle nuances that showed the care and concern that Alfa Romeo put into the manufacturing.

Describing “Character”

When we describe a house that has character, that house does not have the cookie-cutter design that most houses have. It has details that separate it and this is exactly what the Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce had. From the gas pedal to the turn signals, it was obvious that the designer wanted to make it a quality automobile. Even though the character is in the details, even the angle change from the front to the rear gives the car an exterior look that anyone can appreciate.

Subtle Details the US Carmakers Neglected

Once you open the door of the Alfa Romeo 2000, you will see the details that give the car character. The gas pedal looks like it was crafted by hand from a metalsmith artist. The brake and clutch are designed with a swirling pattern that carmakers today would never dream of using. All the little toggle switches will make you think you are driving the car of a famous spy. The ball atop the shifter is lovingly crafted out of the same wood that the steering wheel has. These little details show that there was still some style in 1974, but you had to dig deep to find it. This style also has made the 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce highly collectible, today.

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