The story of the Alfa Romeo 158 is packed with heroes, starting with its designer, Gioacchino Colombo. He submitted his drawings for a straight-8 1,500-cc voiturette to the Alfa headquarters near Milan back in January 1936. And as the design began to take shape, Alfa placed on standby drivers like Tazio Nuvolari, Emilio Villoresi—Gigi’s brother—Giuseppe Farina, Raymond Sommer, Jean-Pierre Wimille, Clemente Biondetti, and their own staffer Francesco Severi to help whip the car into shape. Three of the six 158s…

At the age of 43, Achille Varzi won the first heat and finished 2nd overall with the Alfa Romeo 158 at the 1947 Swiss Grand Prix.
Photo: Alfa Romeo