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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Alfa Romeo Caimano

1971

THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE

Model dossier

Production period
1971
Body style
Coupé
Engine
Inline-4
Type
Prototype

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR

Coachbuilding, design & conversions

PRICE & SALES RECORD

Vehicle value

Original price
Not documented
Latest recorded sale
Not documented

01 / THE STORY

History & context

The Alfa Romeo Caimano, a masterpiece crafted by Italdesign, emerged as a manifestation of unbridled creativity, breaking free from the constraints imposed by the Alfasud project. Born on the Alfasud platform, which debuted in 1971, the Caimano underwent a subtle transformation with a slightly shortened wheelbase and an inclined pillar that redefined the driving experience, allowing for an extended and more commanding position behind the wheel. At first glance, the Caimano captivates with its unique design philosophy. The entry to the car is through a striking dome that seamlessly integrates the roof, doors, and front hoods, all hinged at the cowl height. In a departure from conventional design, the absence of traditional doors is compensated by two small windows on the sides, ensuring practicality for everyday activities like toll payment while enhancing internal ventilation at lower speeds. The rear roll-bar of the Caimano serves a dual purpose as a spoiler, capable of adjustment in four different positions through controls strategically placed inside the car. This feature not only contributes to aerodynamics but also allows drivers to fine-tune the vehicle’s performance based on their preferences and driving conditions. Stepping into the Caimano reveals a thoughtfully designed interior dominated by snug basin seats and a cylindrical dashboard. A visual marvel, the dashboard defies convention with two graded cylinders that rotate to aim at the horizontal reference line, offering a dynamic and intuitive display. This innovative approach contrasts with the traditional setup, where the scale is fixed, and the pointer moves. Under the hood, the Alfa Romeo Caimano boasts a 1300 cc engine delivering a formidable 86 horsepower. This combination of power and precision ensures an exhilarating driving experience, perfectly complementing the avant-garde design that characterizes this remarkable creation from Italdesign. The Alfa Romeo Caimano stands as a testament to the marriage of artistic vision and engineering prowess, pushing the boundaries of automotive design in the pursuit of excellence.

02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY

Specifications & construction

Production & construction

Production type
Prototype

Engine & performance

Engine configuration
Inline-4

Design & manufacture

Designer · Candidate
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Manufacturer · Documented
Alfa Romeo
Design Studio · Documented
Italdesign

04 / INDIVIDUAL HISTORY

Chassis & provenance

Ownership & provenance

Ownership & history · Legacy attribution
Museum Car

06 / EVENTS & AWARDS

Events & awards

53° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · legacy_preserved
Date
1971
Chassis
General

Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource type
Italdesign official archive — Alfa Romeo Caimano www.italdesign.it Official first-party project archive

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history1 dated records

THE CONVERSATION

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