ELVIRA TELLS

An illustrious Saronnese: Luigi Fusi

September 21, 2017

He wrote several books, the most famous of which is considered the Bible of Alfisti: "Alfa Romeo, all the cars since 1910", now impossible to find.

On February 20, 1985, Luigi Fusi celebrated sixty-five years of work at Alfa Romeo, a record!

Born in Saronno in 1906, he joined Alfa Romeo at the age of 14 in 1920, his father having worked there since 1914. He began as an archivist in the technical office, then, copying the work of the draughtsmen with Indian ink, he became a polisher. Later he became a draftsman, first with Giuseppe Merosi and then with Vittorio Jano until October 1938. He collaborated, with some drawings, to the realization of some cars among which the 6C 1500, the 8C 2300 and the single-seater Tipo A.

In 1955, Fusi was appointed head of the design control department and remained so until 1961, the year in which he retired, remaining at Alfa as a consultant.

Giuseppe Luraghi entrusted him with the task of setting up the Historical Museum, a task he completed after twelve years of research with collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world, which enabled him to recover, restore and reconstruct many of the cars and components on display at the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese.

 

After this assignment, he remained close to the world of enthusiasts, providing advice on research and restoration.

He was also conservator of the Italian Alfa Romeo Register.

He was also conservator of the Italian Alfa Romeo Register.
He wrote several books, the most famous of which is considered the bible of Alfisti: "Alfa Romeo, all the cars since 1910", now impossible to find.
I met Fusi personally in the last years of his life. I remember that he gave me, so that they could be kept in the archives, a packet of drawings that he had restored and that were in his office at Portello. He died on 27 December 1996.

With engineer Patrese (Riccardo's brother) I went to his funeral which took place in a church in Milan. There were only a few of us, but the banner of the Alfa workers, which I had requested from my friends in the Gruppo Anziani, was there to represent Alfa Romeo.

 

Elvira Ruocco, historical memory of Alfa Romeo, thanks to her more than twenty years of experience at the Alfa Romeo Centro di Documentazione Storica, has become part of the Museum team and in the column "Elvira Racconta" she will share curiosities and anecdotes that you may not know or remember. We will retrace the legendary history of Alfa Romeo with her.