Alfa Romeo 155 Classic Cars for Sale

The Alfa Romeo 155, originally launched in 1992, was a compact executive car, which was intended to replace the Alfa Romeo 75 model. The car, which remained in production up until 1998, was designed by the I.DE.A Institute and was the first of the Fiat-based Alfa Romeos, having been based on the Fiat Tipo Tre platform.

History of the Alfa Romeo 155

The first edition Alfa Romeo 155 was released in January 1992, receiving an official public launch two months later at the Geneva Motor Show. The main difference between the 155 and its predecessor, the 75, was a switch to front-wheel drive, which was met with mixed reviews, although the car gradually increased in popularity. Early versions of the 155 made use of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre Twin Spark petrol engines, with an additional 1.7-litre Twin Spark version available outside of the United Kingdom. Before long, 1.9-litre and 2.5-litre diesel engine versions were also produced. In 1994, the top of the range 2.5-litre V6 and 2.0-litre Q4 models were released. The Alfa Romeo 155 received a major "facelift" in 1995, resulting in a number of significant modifications. The front of the body was made wider, the steering mechanism was optimised for racing performance the interior was revised. A new, wider version of the 2.5-litre V6 was produced, although the Q4 was discontinued. Finally, in 1998, production of the 155 was stopped, at which point it was replaced with the Alfa Romeo 156.

The Alfa Romeo 155 in Motorsport

Throughout the 1990s, the Alfa Romeo 155 was used in various motorsports disciplines, enjoying a particularly high level of success in touring car racing. Behind the wheel of the car, Nicola Larini was able to win both the Italian Superturismo and the German DTM Championships, with those wins coming in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Both Adrián Campos and Fabrizio Giovanardi were able to guide a version of the 155 to wins in the Spanish Touring Car Championship, while Gabriele Tarquini drove a modified 155 to British Touring Car Championship success in 1994, albeit amidst controversy over some of the vehicle's aerodynamic enhancements.

Special Editions of the Alfa Romeo 155

The main special edition version of the 155 was released in 1994. Referred to as the "Silverstone" edition in the United Kingdom and the "Formula" edition throughout the remainder of Europe, the car came with an adjustable rear spoiler and an extendible front splitter. It was lighter than the standard model and had a 1.8 L engine. Two additional special edition versions were produced by Zagato during the mid 1990s. The 155 TI.Z, introduced in 1993, made use of a 170 hp Alfa Romeo Twin Spark engine and featured a more muscular exterior. Meanwhile, the GTAZ, released in 1995, featured the same 2.0-litre supercharged engine used in the 155 Q4 model. Only a limited number of both special edition models were made, with a large percentage of the cars sent out to Japan.