Alfa Romeo Scarabeo II

The Alfa Romeo Scarabeo II is a concept car engineered by Giuseppe Busso for Alfa Romeo. The car uses a modified Alfa Romeo GT Junior Z body and it shares internals with the Alfa Romeo Alfetta and Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce.

Alfa Romeo Scarabeo II
Overview
ManufacturerAlfa Romeo
Also calledJunior Z 2000 Periscopio
Production1973
AssemblyItaly
DesignerErcole Spada at Zagato
Body and chassis
ClassConcept car
Body style2-seat Coupé
LayoutRear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
PlatformAlfa Romeo Alfetta
Powertrain
Engine1,962 cc (119.7 cu in) DOHC Inline-four engine[1]
Transmission5-speed manual
Chronology
PredecessorAlfa Romeo Scarabeo

Background

Despite the rejection of the Scarabeo project by Alfa Romeo management, Giuseppe Busso continued to push the development of a cheap racing-oriented coupé.[2] After the introduction of the Alfetta in 1972, he saw an opportunity for a shared-platform car and began work on the Scarabeo II.

The car

To reduce manufacturing costs, Busso designed the Scarabeo II to use the gearbox, rear axle, front suspension, and front chassis of the Alfetta. He also discarded the idea of a refined Alfa Romeo GTA engine, instead using the Inline-four engine from the Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce. The rear of the chassis remained similar to the Scarabeo.[2]

In a further effort to save development costs, a modified Alfa Romeo GT Junior Z body was used. The body was fitted with a wider track, a roof scoop, and metal grills instead of rear windows.[2] Despite the impressive Price–performance ratio, the Scarabeo II failed to gain traction among the Alfa Romeo management. Doomed to rejection, the car was finished and subsequently put in the Alfa Romeo Museum, where it currently resides.[3]

References
  1. "Autodelta Italia". Autodelta Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  2. Ardizio, Lorenzo (2015). Alfa Romeo All the Cars. Giorgio Nada Editore. pp. 288–289. ISBN 8879115901.
  3. Goldoni, Luca (1979). Alfa Romeo History Museum. Italy: Arese. pp. 108–114.
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