Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale is Every Modern Vintage Racer’s Dream

Like many automakers, the story of Alfa Romeo is one forged through the fires of motorsports, with tales of victory underscored by innovation. And as is the case with Alfa and so many other brands, the successes found on the road course often trickle down into street legal rides. One such example is the 1967 33 Stradale, based on the track-focused Tipo 33 race car. Those two vehicles have now led to this, the all-new 33 Stradale.

The new 33 Stradale is a super limited-run sports car, capped off at– yeah, you guessed right– 33 units. Naturally, these have already been scooped up by a lucky few, so don’t expect to find one on sale anytime soon, nor should you anticipate a 33 Stradale, given its exclusivity, to appear locally on your car rental or ride sharing app.

And to be fair, any investor who has bought into the 33 Stradale won’t want to hand the keys over to just any weekend joy rider. Not just because of the presumably high price tag and limited nature, but because of the 620 horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine. It’s paired to an eight-speed DCT gearbox, sending all that power to the rear wheels and aided by an electronic limited-slip differential. But if that isn’t enough, the 33 can be configured as a battery-electric sports car capable of at least 750 horsepower and 450 km (280 miles) of range. In either case, expect a 0-62 mph time under 3 seconds and a top speed of 206 mph.

Underneath the retro-inspired body is an aluminum H-frame and a carbon-fiber monocoque, providing a rigidly light foundation. This mix of materials is used throughout, including the roof and window frames, and the rear window itself is made from polycarbonate. Underneath all of this is an active suspension setup with a front axle lift system for better clearance, while Brembo-sourced carbon-ceramic brakes bring things to a halt.

Looking at the bodywork and the 60’s inspiration is apparent, from the butterfly doors and purposely shaped front fenders to the Alfa Romeo shield adorning the front. The cabin can be described as minimalist by today’s standards, but appropriately so. There are few controls and limited digital distractions, encapsulated by an interior upholstered in leather, Alcantara, aluminum and carbon fiber. Even the steering wheel is devoid of controls, radiating vintage vibes alongside the center console toggles and metal foot paneling.

Supposedly, no two 33 Stradale will be the same, as a dedicated program will allow customers to develop functional, yet stylistic elements of their choosing. Even the VIN can be tinkered with, as eight of the digits will be chosen by the customer. 

Alfa Romeo wasn’t clear on the 33 Stradale’s price, but that hardly seems important. Not just because they’re all claimed for, but because this is a car clearly not meant for your Average Joe or weekend racer. But, like the boiling down of motorsports innovation into street-legal exclusives, maybe some of the best parts of the 33 Stradale will disseminate into more obtainable cars for the masses to enjoy, even if just in some small way. And if that means more enthusiast rides on the road, who are we to complain?