Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Bertone

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider prototype built by Bertone on chassis AR1495-0002 was designed by Franco Scaglione as part of the development program that preceded the production Giulietta Spider. The initiative originated with Max Hoffman, Alfa Romeo’s U.S. importer based in New York, who urged the company to create an open variant of the Giulietta Sprint for the North American market. Hoffman immediately committed to purchasing 2,500 units, reflecting his established confidence in the commercial potential of lightweight convertible sports cars in the United States. In 1954, Rudolf Hruska coordinated the project by commissioning parallel design studies from the Turin coachbuilders Bertone and Pininfarina. Each firm received two chassis on which to develop proposals for the forthcoming Giulietta Spider. Bertone, under the direction of Nuccio Bertone, submitted two prototypes designed by Franco Scaglione. These cars exhibited a distinctly sporting character and drew formal cues from Scaglione’s earlier Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva, including a pronounced, low-drawn nose, faired headlamps, and rear fins that emphasized the car’s aerodynamic profile. Pininfarina’s proposal, drafted by Franco Martinengo, adopted a more restrained aesthetic aligned with contemporary Italian convertible design. Its proportions and surfacing referenced the Lancia Aurelia B24, favoring balanced lines and a less aggressive frontal treatment. When evaluated by Alfa Romeo management, Pininfarina’s design was selected for production due to its broader stylistic suitability for series manufacture and international markets. Scaglione’s Bertone-built prototypes, including chassis AR1495-0002, remain significant as alternative interpretations of the Giulietta Spider concept and as examples of Bertone’s mid-1950s experimental work for Alfa Romeo.