Alfa Romeo RL

The Alfa Romeo RL was produced between 1922 and 1927. It was Alfa's first sport model after World War I, designed in 1921 by Giuseppe Merosi. It had a straight-6 engine with overhead valves, and came in three different versions: Normale, Turismo and Sport. A total of 2,640 RLs were made.

Alfa Romeo RL
Alfa Romeo RLSS (1925) with Lucas body from Barcelona
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Production	1922–1927
Assembly	Portello, Milan, Italy
Designer	Giuseppe Merosi
Body and chassis
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related	Alfa Romeo RM
Powertrain
Engine	2.9 L I6 3.0 L I6 3.2 L I6 3.6 L I6
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,440 mm (135.4 in) 3,140 mm (123.6 in) (RL Sport/SS) 2,880 mm (113.4 in) (RL T.F.)
Length	4,630 mm (182.3 in) Zagato 4,450 mm (175.2 in) Castagna
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in) Zagato 1,870 mm (73.6 in) Castagna
Height	1,650 mm (65.0 in) Zagato 1,630 mm (64.2 in) Castagna
Kerb weight	1,550 kg (3,417 lb) Zagato 1,600 kg (3,527 lb) Castagna
Chronology
Predecessor	Alfa Romeo G1
Successor	Alfa Romeo 6C 1500

Models

The RLTF (Targa Florio) was the race version of the RL. It weighed half as much as the standard production models, despite the engine having seven main bearings instead of four and double carburetors. It was used among the 1923 Alfa race team, which had drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari, Giulio Masetti and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci's car had a green cloverleaf symbol on a white background; when he won the 1923 Targa Florio, that symbol was to become the Alfa team's good luck token. Five different RLSS were entered in the first Mille Miglia in 1927, but only two completed the race.

A 1925 RLSS version with rare, original bodywork by Thornton Engineering Company in Bradford, UK, is on permanent display in the Targa Florio exhibit at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, USA. It is one of only 9 RLSS still in existence.

Models

Model	Engine displacement	Max power	Years produced
RL Normale	2916 cc	56 PS (41 kW; 55 hp)	(1922–1925)
RL Turismo	2996 cc	61 PS (45 kW; 60 hp)	(1925–1927)
RL Sport	2996 cc	71 PS (52 kW; 70 hp)	(1922–1927)
RL Super Sport	2996 cc	71 PS (52 kW; 70 hp)	(1922–1927)
RL Super Sport Castagna		84 PS (62 kW; 83 hp)
RL Super Sport Zagato		89 PS (65 kW; 88 hp)
RL Targa Florio	3154 cc	95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp)	(1923)
RL Targa Florio	2994 cc	90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp)	(1924)
RL Targa Florio	3620 cc	125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp)	(1924)

• 
  Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio 1923
• 
  Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio 1924
• Short video clip of 1924 RL Targa Florio
• 
  Alfa Romeo RL Super Sport with Castagna brushed aluminium body, ex Sir Sultan Mohammed Shah Aga Khan 3 car.
• 
  Alfa Romeo RL Normale Limousine de Ville s/n 7946

Production numbers

Alfa Romeo RL, production by model

Year	1922	1923	1924	1925		1926	1927	Total
Series	I, II		III, IV	V	VI	VII		I–VII
RL Normale	3	610	443	259				1,315
RL Turismo					195	126	66	387
RL Sport	3	215	176	143				537
RL Super Sport					304	12	76	392
Total	6	825	619	901		138	142	2,631

References

Bibliography

• Borgeson, Griffith (1990). The Alfa Romeo Tradition. City: Haynes (Foulis) Publishing Group Ltd. Somerset, UK. ISBN 0-85429-875-4.
• Fusi, Luigi (1978). Alfa Romeo—Tutte le vetture dal 1910—All cars from 1910 (3rd ed.). Milan: Emmeti Grafica editrice.