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.
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:fr:Mille Miglia 1927 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 (1922–1925)RL Turismo 2996 cc (1925–1927)RL Sport 2996 cc (1922–1927)RL Super Sport 2996 cc (1922–1927)RL Super Sport Castagna RL Super Sport Zagato RL Targa Florio 3154 cc (1923)RL Targa Florio 2994 cc (1924)RL Targa Florio 3620 cc (1924)
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 RL Turismo 195 126 66 RL Sport 3 215 176 143 RL Super Sport 304 12 76 Total
References
Notes
Bibliography