Driving press cars is a treat – particularly when the car itself is not only new and virgin, but also famous in its own right.
The most obvious examples here are Porsche’s 911 HUL Turbos, 1800 TU Bentleys and the lesser-known but still brilliant Ford ‘CAR 1’. Nissan also has ‘M12CRA’ and Infiniti has some highly cryptic plates that are the work of its legendary head of communications, Mr. Bruce (who also, incidentally, bought M12CRA. He’s The Man, etc).
Sometimes, though, the cars that you don’t expect to be famous turn out to be, err, star turns. It’s often the case that journos see former test cars featured in magazine road tests, even on TV. But rare is the press car that appears in big-budget company literature.
Marketing usually have their own cars – which they’ll microscopically clean (or, rather, get cleaned) for days, and then spend more days photographing in big-budget studios. Appearance is all here and marketing never skimps on the budget to ensure it’s given the best possible light.
Clearly not Alfa, though. Hence my surprise when I saw RO10AWM. Familiar, I thought… and a quick check of iPhoto confirmed it.
Yes, it was the same Giulietta Cloverleaf that I’d had out on test earlier in the year.
Good to see it looking so flash: I suspect the photoshoot was done before I took it road testing at Bruntingthorpe. Made quite a smart cover for the magazine, that’s for sure.
Thing is, as the Alfa ‘Feel’ mag is one given out to Alfa owners, and thus likely to be collected by many for decades to come, I do feel like I’ve sampled a little bit of fame. In 30 years’ time, I’d willingly be kept busy doing owners club tours of my time with the cover car. See, I did quite like it, foibles and all.
Bookings are open if you’re keen: 2041 is looking good for spaces…
(Oh, and any future owners reading this, fear not: I was careful with it. Can’t speak for everyone, but at least it had one week of *cough* ‘sympathetic vibrancy’.)
CHECK OUT SCENES FROM THE AUTO EXPRESS ALFA GIULIETTA ROAD TEST
