Alfa Romeo 2600 Lusso Osi 1965

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In 1962 Alfa Romeo returned to one of its favoured engine lay-outs, the inline 6, with the presentation of the 2600 Berlina. It was fitted with a 2.6 litre over-square engine (very unusual for Alfa at that time) which produced 132 BHP in standard trim with a vertical double barrel Solex carburetor. Of course the engine was fitted with two overhead camshaft.

Outwardly the body strongly resembled the 4 cylinder 2000 Berlina, which was introduced in 1959, but the front layout was different in particular because of the additional headlights in the grille.

The engine was also applied in the Bertone bodied 2600 Sprint and the 2600 Touring spider. There it was already fitted with 3 horizontal double barrel Solex units, which increased power to 145 BHP. Only in 1967 the 3 twin choke option became available for the Berlina too.

Sales were rather sluggish and remained in the shadow of the sporty versions with only 2051 cars being produced, until production ended in 1969. A strange version appeared in 1965, where OSI from Turin was hired to built a custom model, indicated as Lusso. Actually, the new body did not look like a real improvement, and therefore only few people wonder why only 52 of these cars saw the light between 1965 and 1967.

One is kept in the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, where it is displayed next to normal Berlina, probably once more to remind the visitors that not every custom car means an improvement.

Both cars are shown here.