LIVE THE MUSEUM
Our Mona Lisa is called Giulia!
15 July, 2017
"The story of many fascinating and ingenious icons that tell the "Made in Italy" from the nineteenth century to the present day and that have revolutionized the most diverse product sectors".
The Fratelli Cozzi Museum participates in the "Great Game of Industry" in the exhibition 50+! exhibition at the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera. The exhibition is made up of 50 or more objects that have made the history of Italian design, chosen from the collections of the archives and museums associated with Museimpresa with the collaboration of FrancescaMolteni (editor of the exhibition), and represents in an excellent way what we at the Fratelli Cozzi Museum define as: "A story called Italy". Could we resist the temptation to present 'our Mona Lisa'?
What would the Louvre be without the Mona Lisa? And the Fratelli Cozzi Museum without the Giulia 1600 TI Super Quadrifoglio Verde? It's a unicum, for its color and history. The legendary Alfa Giulia was born in 1962, the TI Super the following year, to compete. It seems that the trade press is proposing to add the unusual grey colour to the pantone of Alfa Romeo racing cars. "With this one we're going to La Scala, not on the track", the drivers reply. The Giulia TI Super is produced for two years, 501 models, 499 hawthorn, 1 red and 1 grey. Today about fifty have survived, the only red model is by an Argentinean collector, the grey one is kept in the Fratelli Cozzi Museum.
"What would the Louvre be without the Mona Lisa? And the Fratelli Cozzi Museum without the Giulia 1600 TI Super Quadrifoglio Verde?"
It was Pietro Cozzi who sold "la Giulia" to his friend C.M., with whom he shared a passion for regularity racing, but on a pact. If the friend had decided to change cars, he would have sold the grey Giulia to Pietro. The agreement was signed on 31 August 1964. On 17 September, the Giulia is in the dealership for the first warranty check: in just 17 days, C.M. has covered 1,066 km with its Alfa. The Giulia was quite puzzling with its innovative line that brought the Italian brand into the new decade. No more 50s design and American myth, no more rounded lines and long tails. The truncated tail had to convince, given the hand, even the most skeptical public. The press of the time is severe, Quattroruote magazine writes: "The line appears rather disconcerting, not very persuasive, the tail is too elaborate and covered with showy recesses, the finishes are not up to class and price". The Giulia TI Super is subjected to the aerodynamic studies of the Polytechnic of Turin. The wind tunnel tests recorded a penetration coefficient of 0.34, a disconcerting result comparable to the performance of a Porshe 911. Since then it is said that "The Giulia, the wind designed it". To be admired, like the Mona Lisa.