This fascinating machine shown here is known as the 1969 Alfa Romeo Iguana, the very first (after the 1750 concept) Alfa Romeo automobile to be designed by Italian automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, while serving as head of his very own design and engineering company known as Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A., which was originally founded as Studi Italiani Realizzazione Prototipi S.p.A. by Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani in 1968. The Iguana was built based upon the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale road-going version of the Tipo 33/2, a hand-built, extremely rare car in which Alfa Romeo only produced 18 examples from 1967-1968. A handful of the un-purchased chassis were given to both Bertone and Pininfarina in order to create unique, one-off designs of their own. A total of 5 bespoke concepts were created using 33 Stradale chassis, which included the Alfa Romeo Carabo by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Alfa Romeo P33 Roadster by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, the Alfa Romeo 33/2 Coupé Speciale by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina, the Alfa Romeo P33 Cuneo by Paolo Martin at Pininfarina, the Alfa Romeo Navajo by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, and finally this car shown here, the Alfa Romeo Iguana by Giugiaro at ItalDesign. This very special one-off creation features fiberglass bodywork, painted in a very unique metallic ‘metal-flake’ gray finish. The Iguana was originally constructed with a 1,995 cc (121.7 cu in) aluminium V8 engine delivering 230 hp, but that was later replaced for a 2,593 cc (158.2 cu in) (200 hp) V8 from the Montreal model. As you can see on the Iguana, the roof frame and cabin pillars were finished in brushed metal, an element which can also be found later on the rear-engine two-passenger sports car known as the DMC DeLorean, another Giugiaro design.
How many made? Just 1.
Engine: 2,593 cc (158.2 cu in) DOHC V8
Debut: Turin Auto Show in 1969
Top speed: n/a
0-60mph: n/a
Photo credit: @autofdate
Research: @rarecarsonly