A cute little berlina Berlina Register
smoooooth green bar

Model Numbers and Number of Cars Produced

The Berlina came in several distinct model numbers:

In Europe and everywhere else but the US, the 1750 Berlina was introduced in 1967, being produced through 1971. It was replaced by the 2000 in late 1971 or early 1972; the 2000 apparently lasted until 1976. The replacement 116-series Alfetta model was introduced in 1972 (see August 1972 Road & Track magazine) in 1600 and 1800 form, so as not to compete with the Berlina. When the Berlina was phased out in 1976, a 2000 Alfetta was added to take its place in the lineup.

In the United States, the 1750 model was sold from 1969 to 1971, with no 1970 models. The 2000 was sold from 1972 to 1974. The 2000 Alfetta sedan was introduced in the US in 1975, replacing the Berlina. Probably a few leftover 1974 Berlinas were sold in the US in 1975 and 1976.

Pat Braden , citing Luigi Fusi's "Alfa Romeo Catalogue Raisonne 1910 1989," reports that 11,880 1750 models were built, and 89,840 2000 models. (This number of 1750 cars seems incorrect; see below.)

John Hertzman quotes Luigi Fusi with the following production:

1750 Berlina:

This is a total of 101,879 for the 1750, just a bit more than Pat Braden gives for the 1750 and 2000 together. The 252 automatics equal 1/4 of 1 percent of 1750 production, which may be why one hears little of them. John Hertzman suspects they were a "trial balloon."

2000 Berlina:

John Hertzman believes the 2000 was in production until 1977, so he makes a ballpark guess of a total of 150,000 to 200,000 2000 Berlinas. The overlap with the Alfetta probably would have eroded 2000 sales to something below the 1750's annual rate. The US 2000 Berlinas (total of 3395, 1453 allegedly equipped with a catalytic converter), represent about 2 percent of the 1971/1972 2000s, a bit less than that for the 1750.

The book "Alfa Romeo Giulia" by Giancarlo Catarsi (G. Nada, 1995) gives the following total production figures for 1750 and 2000 Berlinas, derived from Fusi's book:

This seems like a pretty reliable number. Pat Braden's numbers are identical if you assume he inadvertently left out one digit in the 1750 quantity (11,880 becomes 101,880). So this gives a tonal of about 190,000 Berlinas built. This compares with more than 560,000 Giulia and Nuova sedans in many different model designations, and about 210,000 Giulia and GTV coupes ( Bertone bodied) in similar variety of models.

Although the US received only a tiny percentage of Berlina production, I would guess that by far the most remaining Berlinas in the world are here. The English magazine Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, in a comparison test in December 1996, speculated that there were not more than a dozen Berlinas remaining in the UK. There are reportedly 14 1750 Berlinas, plus one 1750 Berlina Utility (pickup), listed in the AROC-NZ membership list. This is probably not the entire NZ fleet. In the Berlina Register, I have record of about 225 existing Berlinas, 125 of which are in the US (about 75 are in California, where I live), the remainder throughout the world. I know offhand of at least a dozen more not on the Register just in California. There are still a lot of Berlinas in Canada, Australia, and South Africa, and quite a few in the Netherlands and Sweden. Alfas seem to survive better in the western and southern US than in many other parts of the world, due to a mild climate and an effective parts and service support network.



Copyright © 1997 by Andrew D. Watry
Questions or Comments? Email Me