01-31-2007, 09:40 AM
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Fact Or Fiction???
This may or may 'not' be the proper forum for this question...but here goes:
I read many, many years ago that Benito Mussolini(il Duce)--being a very superstitious person--'plastered' his Alfa 'touring-car(?)' w/ the Quadrifoglio
(or 4 leafed clover)...has anyone ever heard this 'tale'??? Is there ANY validity to this story, or is it just a fabrication? When did Alfa start using this symbol for its cars??? I'm new to this Forum so I don't know if this topic has been discussed before--if it has, my apologies for bringing it up again.
I sure would like to hear from "whoever", so I can finally determine this as being true/false!!!
thanks & regards,
Nick
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01-31-2007, 10:34 AM
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by slam105
This may or may 'not' be the proper forum for this question...but here goes:
I read many, many years ago that Benito Mussolini(il Duce)--being a very superstitious person--'plastered' his Alfa 'touring-car(?)' w/ the Quadrifoglio
(or 4 leafed clover)...has anyone ever heard this 'tale'??? Is there ANY validity to this story, or is it just a fabrication? When did Alfa start using this symbol for its cars??? I'm new to this Forum so I don't know if this topic has been discussed before--if it has, my apologies for bringing it up again.
I sure would like to hear from "whoever", so I can finally determine this as being true/false!!!
thanks & regards,
Nick
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01-31-2007, 11:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gtv2000
Nope, the Quadrifoglio first appeared on the RLTF 1923, i.e. the Alfa that first won an international event, the Targa Florio. Who exactly decided it is unclear, but the whole team carried quadrifoglios. It must be said that earlier racing efforts by Alfa were stuck with bad luck, such as retirements a few hundred meters away from the finish line.
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regards
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01-31-2007, 05:44 PM
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Yes, there are photos of the 1923 RL with quadrifoglio badges on it. However as I remember, the Italian state(by IRI) only took over Alfa Romeo in 1930. So if that is correct what significance could it have that Mussolini drove with an Alfa with a quadrifoglio badge? He obviously liked Alfa which was that time´s equivalent of todays Ferrari.
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01-31-2007, 08:12 PM
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In the Spider's Nest
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The quadrifoglio (cloverleaf) in a white triangle was first painted on Ugo Sivocci's car for good luck, by a mechanic, before the 1923 Targa Florio race. Sivocci won the race, and the company adopted the symbol.
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 91S, 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
Co-chairman 2011 AROC-USA Convention:
Alfas in the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY, USA
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01-31-2007, 08:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabor K.
Yes, there are photos of the 1923 RL with quadrifoglio badges on it. However as I remember, the Italian state(by IRI) only took over Alfa Romeo in 1930. So if that is correct what significance could it have that Mussolini drove with an Alfa with a quadrifoglio badge? He obviously liked Alfa which was that time´s equivalent of todays Ferrari.
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story' or not 2. whether in order to 'get along' w/ il Duce, Alfa used the Quadrifoglio after seeing 8 or 10 of 'em plastered all over his car.....
regards
ps--Mussolini, later in his reign, drove Lancias. supposedly he only 'stuck' 2 Quadrifoglios on them(?)...
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01-31-2007, 08:55 PM
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Quote:
Posted by slam105
i guess i'm really trying to find out: 1. if anyone else had ever heard this 'old
story' or not 2. whether in order to 'get along' w/ il Duce, Alfa used the Quadrifoglio after seeing 8 or 10 of 'em plastered all over his car.....
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Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 91S, 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
Co-chairman 2011 AROC-USA Convention:
Alfas in the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY, USA
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01-31-2007, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zunige
The answer to both of your questions is no. The origin of the cloverleaf symbol on Alfas is known to start in 1923 with the Targa Florio race, and this has been covered/discussed before in many race history venues. (Alfa did not adopt the quadrifoglio because of Mussolini...)
Best regards,
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As you can probably tell, i'm new to this Forum & relatively new to Alfa(i had one back in the early 70s & just got a '91 Spider a couple of months ago). I've "googled" this info to death w/no success. Hence my 'questions' to all you folks.
I hope no one took my inquiry the 'wrong way'. Some of the replies had a sense of "testiness". My intent was to learn about a 'story' i'd read many years ago...not to insult anybody! My apologies if anyone was offended.
regards,
Nick
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01-31-2007, 09:33 PM
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FORZA ASSERGI
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Don't mean to hijack this thread but does anyone actually have a pic of Mussolini in his Alfa. Would love to see it.
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Ciao tutti
93 Spider (red)
87 Milano (not red)
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02-01-2007, 03:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aldo
Don't mean to hijack this thread but does anyone actually have a pic of Mussolini in his Alfa. Would love to see it.
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You might check this thread on an Italian forum for more info on Mussolini's Alfas:
last two posts down the page
It's in Italian, but you have there a comprehensive list of Mussolini's Alfas.
BTW Nick, no offense was taken. But I don't remember a quadrifoglio on any Mussolini's car nor did hear your story before. On my side I hope I have not sounded harsh in my reply, yet, reading further your posts, I have had shortly the feeling that you prefered to believe that story than listening the denial. I may have been wrong. Now anyone is entitled to believe anything. 
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02-01-2007, 09:01 PM
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In the Spider's Nest
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Quote:
Posted by slam105
As you can probably tell, i'm new to this Forum & relatively new to Alfa(i had one back in the early 70s & just got a '91 Spider a couple of months ago). I've "googled" this info to death w/no success. Hence my 'questions' to all you folks.
I hope no one took my inquiry the 'wrong way'. Some of the replies had a sense of "testiness". My intent was to learn about a 'story' i'd read many years ago...not to insult anybody! My apologies if anyone was offended.
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Glad to hear that you have re-discovered your Spider interest, and welcome to the BB!
When I read your post, I also googled some key phrases and nothing that would answer the question came up. Nontheless, I did have some success by googling "Alfa Romeo", and then "Targa Florio 1923"... I do have a much more intimate description, with better insight to the first use of the clover leaf symbol, but I'm going to have to look for it, as it preceeds the on-line era...
No offense taken by any of your questions. This is a great forum to ask questions. Many of us are not experts, but with a vast collection of individula experiences, we do manage to offer some expertise and knowledge.
Best regards,
__________________
Enrique
Spider 74, 84 & 87
164 91S, 93L & 95Q
Milano 88 Verde
Co-chairman 2011 AROC-USA Convention:
Alfas in the Bluegrass, Lexington, KY, USA
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