A.L.F.A. 24 HP

The first chapter of Alfa Romeo

The A.L.F.A. 24 HP belongs at the beginning of the Alfa Romeo story. Introduced in 1910, it was the young Milanese manufacturer’s first landmark automobile. Giuseppe Merosi’s design combined a substantial four-cylinder engine with a chassis that could support several kinds of coachwork. Its significance reaches beyond age: it established the relationship between engineering and body design that makes early Alfa vehicles so interesting. Alfa Romeo’s origins account identifies it as the foundation of the marque.

A model profile and an individual-car history answer different questions. This page describes the 24 HP type. A named 1910 chassis, a Castagna body, a later restoration and an original delivery record each require their own documentation. Keeping those layers separate allows the car’s history to remain useful rather than becoming a single generalized legend.

Chassis, bodywork and identification

The period approach to car building placed unusual importance on the chassis. The body was a separate creative and practical decision, so a model name alone does not establish a precise silhouette. A long bonnet, exposed mechanical proportions and an open passenger compartment are useful visual clues, but they are insufficient evidence of a particular body’s date or maker.

For a collector, the most informative comparison is between the car and its period paperwork. An early photograph may establish the configuration at one moment; a workshop invoice may explain a later change. Both can be valuable without proving that every component remains from initial delivery. Body provenance deserves its own assessment alongside mechanical identity.

Production: an approximate early-series count

FCA Heritage reports approximately 200 chassis produced by 1913 across four series. That is a qualified early-series figure, not a precise count of cars made in 1910, a current survivor total or a count of Castagna bodies. The museum’s production wording also uses a broad figure rather than an exact first-year total. The Heritage exhibition record supplies the relevant context.

Because the inventory entry is specifically about first-production cars, the exact-count field is left open. Converting an approximate multi-year chassis figure into an exact first-year number would give the reader a misleading impression of certainty.

How to assess an early 24 HP

Start with the stamped chassis identity and establish how it connects to the ownership record. Then assess the engine, transmission, body and restoration history independently. Record what is original, what was renewed to keep the car usable, and what was recreated to restore a period appearance.

A specialist inspection should examine structural repairs, steering, wheels, tires, cooling and braking before any demonstration. The useful question is whether each system is appropriate to the documented car and fit for its intended use. Cosmetic finish alone cannot answer that. Original drawings, dated images and invoices often contribute more to understanding than a polished presentation.

Frequently asked questions

Was the 24 HP the first Alfa Romeo?

It was the foundational 1910 model of A.L.F.A., the company that later became Alfa Romeo.

Does 24 HP mean 24 horsepower?

The period model designation should be kept separate from measured output; the cited Heritage record lists an initial 42 HP.

How many early 24 HP chassis were built?

FCA Heritage gives approximately 200 by 1913 across four series. It does not give an exact 1910-only total.

Related vehicle profiles

• 24 HP Corsa
• 20/30 HP ES Sport

Primary references

1. Alfa Romeo: early history
2. FCA Heritage: 24 HP and Corsa record
3. Museo Alfa Romeo: 24 HP

Photo and credit

A.L.F.A. 24 HP on display at Museo Alfa Romeo in Arese. Photo: Matthias v.d. Elbe / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and JPEG-compressed for web display; no content retouching. Website layouts may crop the image.