1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina

The Alfa Romeo 2000 (102 Series) was in production from 1958 to 1962. It is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive saloon styled in house, with convertible and Sprint coupe versions bodied by Touring and Bertone respectively. The car replaced the Alfa Romeo 1900 saloon.

The Alfa Romeo 2000 was launched at the 1957 Turin Motor Show, as a four-door, six-seat saloon. It featured independent front suspension with double wishbones, and a live axle at the rear. Coil springs and telescopic dampers were employed on all corners, with drum brakes all round.

The first cars were sold in 1958 – at launch, the range included the Berlina saloon and the Touring-bodied Spider. Until 1961, the Spider was a two-seater. In 1960, Alfa Romeo launched a coupe derivative. Like the Spider, this featured a higher powered engine than the Berlina, and was accordingly named the Sprint. In 1961, Alfa Romeo revised the design of the Spider derivative. Where previously it had been a two-seater, from 1961 it was produced as a 2+2 with two small rear seats.

The Alfa Romeo 2000 was discontinued in 1962. It was replaced by the 2600, a refined six-cylinder derivative of the same theme. A total of 2,799 Berlinas were built, along with 3,443 Spiders and 704 Sprints. Another 15 chassis were bodied by Vignale.

The Alfa Romeo 2000 shared its engine with the outgoing 1900 saloon; albeit with a larger displacement. It used a cast-iron block and aluminium head, with a single downdraught Solex on the saloon and twin sidedraught Solexes on Sprint and convertible. All used a five-speed manual gearbox to drive the rear wheels.

Weighty steering is one of few criticisms with the Alfa Romeo 2000 on the road, although that critique is subjective. While both hands are often needed to keep the car in check, it is a large saloon riding on relatively soft suspension. The engine is willing enough, and the five-speed gearbox is pleasant in use. The front bench seat makes rapid cornering somewhat uncomfortable, as there is little lateral support, but the car is more than up to the job of being a sporting saloon.

All Alfa Romeo 2000s can suffer from rust issues, most commonly in the floorpans, sills, and other lower extremities. As the 2000 is a unibody, check the pillars as well as the bulkheads; while cosmetic rust is unsightly, rust in any structural areas is bad news. You’ll be hard pressed to find any RHD specific parts in Europe, but it may be worth trying South Africa. Panels may also be sourced in Brazil, where the car was produced by FNM as the FNM JK and the FNM 2000.

Most desirable are the coachbuilt cars by Vignale, followed by the convertible and the Sprint coupe. Least desirable is the standard 2000 Berlina, though as these cars are so rare in the UK they still hold an appeal for Alfa Romeo collectors. Of the Spiders, the two-seater is marginally less desirable than the 2+2, though more plentiful by dint of the years produced. Value tends to follow appeal, with the coachbuilt cars worth the most.

Similar cars from within the Alfa stable include the 2000’s predecessor, the 1900 -– or its successor the six-cylinder 2600. The later Alfa Romeo 2000 saloon appealed to a similar market, but was smaller and more square in style.

For similarly charismatic large saloons of the period you might try the Borgward P100, Mercedes-Benz Fintail or Citroen DS. Fans of British classics could try the Rover P4 or possibly the Humber Hawk.