The NEW 1993 Quadrifoglio

"It scares us to see how the political class and Parliament itself behaves with surprise actions that are too dissimilar from people's expectations."

Carlo Maria Martini regarding the House's decision to reject the authorizations to proceed against Bettino Craxi

April 30, 1993: the year had already begun four months round but this was perhaps the most significant moment for Italian politics. The Chamber had just rejected four of the six authorizations to proceed on bribery and receiving stolen goods that the judiciary had requested against Bettino Craxi, and many citizens-and political opponents-organized a protest outside the Hotel Raphael, where the PSI secretary was staying. The protest is known even to those who were not there, because it went down in history for the throwing of coins at Craxi: for better or worse it was, evidently, the end of a political era. 

Soon thereafter, the historic Christian Democracy would also throw in the towel: it would dissolve on a hot July 26, founding the Italian People's Party.

Meanwhile, disturbing events are happening around the world. It was April 19 that there was a massacre in Waco, Texas, where police had laid siege for 51 days to the Davidians sect barricaded in a center on Mount Carmel: 75 people died that day, including self-proclaimed "messiah" David Koresh. 

However, 1993 is also the year ofEritrea's independence and the debut of David Letterman's Late Show on CBS. 

While all this is going on, Il Quadrifoglio magazine remains the benchmark in Alfa Romeo cars and luxury lifestyle for Italian Alfisti. 

We dive back into the Cozzi.Lab this hot summer to start again with an exciting journey through the history of Italian costume in 1993.

Here we go!

in the light of the salt

We could only start from here, from news that deeply moves us.

Remember. In our 1991 Quadrifoglio article, we talked about the 1990 event when the Alfa 164 Sport set a new class speed record. 

Well, in the March issue of the 1993 Quadrifoglio, our Alfa 155 Q4 (specially modified and upgraded to 365hp) appears, since the previous year it had won the speed record for the G/PS category by speeding across the salt lake at almost 300 km/h!

When we say our Alfa 155 Q4 we mean ours: that car is in fact preserved at the Museum, complete with its original parachute and vintage magazine articles. Driving the car was Gianni Marin, unforgettable editor of Gente Motori and author of this Quadrifoglio article we are talking about right now.

"The world of speed is full of strangeness, of madness. But it also has the most exhilarating taste of adventure, because speed scares and fascinates at the same time, because it is fear but also a dream. A dream burned in a matter of seconds."

aces poker

In 1993 the Italians won the Dtm (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), which is the toughest championship for touring cars stationed in Germany. The four Italians, Nicola Larini, Alessandro Nannini, Giorgio Francia, and Christian Danner (German, but raced for Alfa Romeo) had been portrayed by the German press as "nice, but unreliable" and were certainly not given as favorites.

Instead, against all odds, the Biscione drivers brought home an excellent result: Nicola Larini, in particular, triumphed in the Alfa 155, becoming Dtm champion.

An event enough, for The Cloverleaf magazine, to dedicate a special issue to that victory!

 ALFA BOUTIQUE

Sporting an Alfa Romeo gadget?

Definitely an indication of great taste and class!

In 1993 at the dealership, it was possible to request Alfa Romeo's signature Biscione line of gift items: scotch holder, scissors, table clock, ashtray, and even a nostalgic floppy disc holder!

Also available were a lens, a letter opener, and a metal ruler-a certainly prestigious set. Just think: the scissors cost 8,330 lire!

If you have these objects at home, remember that you can donate them to the Museum and become part of our permanent collection (and the history of Italian design). 

HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF SAFE

Not only design: on Il Quadrifoglio we also talk about technology and safety, of course Alfa Romeo. 

Under the magnifying glass are new thermoplastic materials such as RTPU, designed to protect the sides, and of course of seat belts and air bags.

There is also talk of a "sci-fi" future, where a "big brother" would warn cars of traffic jams and road hazards.

It wasn't such a sci-fi future, was it? 🙂 🙂

TEAMWORK

A few words also about the Mille Miglia, a competition very dear to us. 

We are especially fascinated by this wonderful photo with TV journalist Carmen Lasorella and "L'automobile" magazine editor Carlo Luna aboard the Alfa Romeo 750 Competizione.

What an elegance of yesteryear!

That's all for this month, too: keep following along for the 1994 journey with the Quadrifoglios!