Alfa Romeo RL

The Alfa Romeo RL was produced between 1922–1927. It was Alfa's first sport model after World War I. The car was designed in 1921 by Giuseppe Merosi. It had a straight-6 engine with overhead valves. Three different versions were made: Normale, Turismo and Sport. RL total production was 2640.

Alfa Romeo RL
Alfa Romeo RLSS (1925) with Lucas body from Barcelona[1]
Overview
ManufacturerAlfa Romeo
Production1922–1927
AssemblyPortello, Milan, Italy
DesignerGiuseppe Merosi
Body and chassis
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel drive
RelatedAlfa Romeo RM
Powertrain
Engine
  • 2.9 L I6
  • 3.0 L I6
  • 3.2 L I6
  • 3.6 L I6
Transmission4-speed manual[2]
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 3,440 mm (135.4 in)[3]
  • 3,140 mm (123.6 in) (RL Sport/SS)[4]
  • 2,880 mm (113.4 in) (RL T.F.)[5]
Length4,630 mm (182.3 in) Zagato
4,450 mm (175.2 in) Castagna
Width1,770 mm (69.7 in) Zagato
1,870 mm (73.6 in) Castagna
Height1,650 mm (65.0 in) Zagato
1,630 mm (64.2 in) Castagna
Kerb weight1,550 kg (3,417 lb) Zagato
1,600 kg (3,527 lb) Castagna
Chronology
PredecessorAlfa Romeo G1
SuccessorAlfa Romeo 6C 1500

The RLTF (Targa Florio) was the race version of RL. It weighed half of normal versions, even if the engine had seven main bearings instead of four and double carburetors. It was used among the 1923 Alfa race team, which had drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari, Giulio Masetti and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci's car had green cloverleaf symbol on white background and when he won Targa Florio 1923, that symbol was to become the Alfa team's good luck token. Five[6] different RLSS were entered in the first Mille Miglia in 1927, but only two completed the race.

A 1925 RLSS version with rare, original bodywork by Thornton Engineering Company in Bradford, UK, is on permanent display in the Brooklands exhibit at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA. It is one of only 9 RLSS still in existence.[7]

Models [8]
ModelEngine displacementMax powerYears produced
RL Normale2916 cc56 bhp (42 kW; 57 PS)(1922–1925)
RL Turismo2996 cc61 bhp (45 kW; 62 PS)(1925–1927)
RL Sport2996 cc71 bhp (53 kW; 72 PS)(1922–1927)
RL Super Sport2996 cc71 bhp (53 kW; 72 PS)(1922–1927)
RL Super Sport Castagna84 bhp (63 kW; 85 PS)
RL Super Sport Zagato89 bhp (66 kW; 90 PS)
RL Targa Florio3154 cc95 bhp (71 kW; 96 PS)(1923)
RL Targa Florio2994 cc90 bhp (67 kW; 91 PS)(1924)
RL Targa Florio3620 cc125 bhp (93 kW; 127 PS)(1924)
  • Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio 1923
  • Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio 1924
  • Alfa Romeo RL Super Sport with Castagna brushed aluminium body, ex Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah Aga Khan 3 car.
  • Alfa Romeo RL Normale Limousine de Ville s/n 7946

Production numbers
Alfa Romeo RL, production by model[9]
Year 192219231924192519261927 Total
Series I, IIIII, IVVVIVIII–VII
RL Normale36104432591,315
RL Turismo19512666387
RL Sport3215176143537
RL Super Sport3041276392
Total 68256199011381422,631

References

Notes
  1. "Alfa Romeo en Auto Retro: Alfa Romeo RL SuperSport (1925)". bitacora.kcslot.com. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
  2. "Search results for "Alfa"". carfolio.com. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  3. Fusi (1978), p. 57, 65.
  4. Fusi (1978), p. 67.
  5. Fusi (1978), p. 76, 77.
  6. Mille Miglia 1927
  7. Simeone, Frederick. "1925 Alfa Romeo RLSS". Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  8. Borgeson (1990).
  9. Fusi (1978), p. 850.

Bibliography
  • Borgeson, Griffith (1990). The Alfa Romeo Tradition. City: Haynes (Foulis) Publishing Group Ltd. Somerset, UK. ISBN 0-85429-875-4.
  • Fusi, Luigi (1978). Alfa Romeo—Tutte le vetture dal 1910—All cars from 1910 (3rd ed.). Milan: Emmeti Grafica editrice.
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