Alfa Romeo 33 Overview

The 5-door hatchback version was launched in 1983, and a station wagon version (initially badged Giardinetta, later badged SportWagon) was introduced the following year as the same time as a four-wheel drive version of the hatchback. The hatchback was styled by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, Ermano Cressoni, while the station wagon was designed by Pininfarina.
The 33 became renowned for its nimble handling and powerful boxer engines, but also became equally well-known for its unreliable electrics and tendencies to rust (a frequent complaint on Italian cars in general at the time). Another issue was its braking - in the issue of cost cutting the car had rear drum brakes, a retrograde step from its Alfasud predecessor, which had four wheel discs as standard.
The 33 has a unique place in Alfa Romeo history - nearly 1 million of these cars were produced internationally, and it is probably the most common Alfa Romeo to be found on the roads.