Forty years of Fiat at Alfa Romeo

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Fiat acquiring Alfa Romeo, but I’m willing to wager that not many will want to be reminded of this ruby-stained calamity…

The tale began with an approach to Alfa’s owners from Ford of Europe in the spring of 1986. Fiat then stepped into the fray to guarantee something Ford wouldn’t – Italian jobs – and the deed was done.

On Thursday 6 November 1986, the Los Angeles Times announced, ‘Alfa Romeo OKs Takeover by Fiat, Rejects Ford Bid.’ Noting that the $5.7bn offer ‘to rescue Alfa Romeo, Italy’s prestigious but debt-ridden state-owned sports car maker’ only needed government approval. The report concluded, ‘Under the plan, Fiat will merge Alfa with its own sporty Lancia line.’