Alfa Romeo Navajo

Alfa Romeo Navajo
Overview
Manufacturer	Gruppo Bertone
Also called	Alfa Romeo 33 Navajo
Production	1976
Designer	Marcello Gandini at Bertone
Body and chassis
Class	Concept car
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Rear mid-engine, rear wheel drive
Related	Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L V8
Transmission	6-speed manual
Dimensions
Height	41 in (1,041 mm)
Curb weight	870 kg (1,918 lb)

The Alfa Romeo Navajo is a concept car designed and built by Bertone on the chassis of an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, and introduced at the 1976 Geneva Motor Show. ^[1]

History

The Navajo was the last of six concept cars built on the chasis of the 33 Stradale by various coachbuilders.

Specifications

The frame of the 33 Stradale was lengthened in the center to 2430 mm to be able to mount a light fiberglass body ^[2] with a "wedge" design typical of the 1970s. The tapered front is balanced by the large rear end topped by a trapezoidal rear wing that can adjust its angle depending on the speed. ^[3] The Navajo also features an active front splitter which can be adjusted depending on speed. This feature was put into production almost ten years later on the Bertone designed Alfa Romeo 90.

The retractable headlights have a unique configuration: they don’t rise from the hood but instead extend horizontally from the fenders. ^[4] On the front hood there are gills to vent hot air from the radiator and a sticker with the stylized Alfa Romeo logo.

Nuccio Bertone sitting on the Navajo

The side is crossed by an orange longitudinal rib, which contrasts with the silver paint of the rest of the body, that ends with the air intake to cool the brakes.

Inside, in addition to the two fiberglass seats, there is an unusual tubular dashboard equipped with a digital instrument panel and levers instead of the classic buttons to operate the on-board controls. ^[5]

Alfa Romeo Navajo rear

The car is powered by the running gear of the 33 Stradale, using a 2.0 L (1995 cm³) V8 engine with four overhead camshafts (two per bank) and SPICA mechanical injection capable of producing around 230 PS (169 kW; 227 hp) at 8800 rpm. The engine is coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission, and the drivetrain is mounted longitudinally, with the engine mounted in front of the rear axle and the transmission mounted behind it.

After participating in various shows, the car became part of the Museo Alfa Romeo collection where it’s still located together with the other prototypes based on the 33 Stradale.

References

1. "1976 Alfa Romeo 33 Navajo By Bertone: Supercar Sunday". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
2. "Alfa Romeo Navajo". Bertone.it. Archived from the original on 16 December 2007.
3. "ARCHIVIO PROTOTIPI | BERTONE ALFA ROMEO 33 NAVAJO". www.archivioprototipi.it. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
4. Vecchi, Natale Li (2020-01-31). "L'Alfa Romeo 33 Navajo di Bertone". ClubAlfa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-15.
5. "The Alfa Romeo Navajo was a wedge-shaped 1970s dreamcatcher". www.classicdriver.com. Retrieved 2025-06-15.