Giuseppe Eugenio Luraghi

Italian industrialist who led Alfa Romeo as president from 1960 to 1974. In 1964 he acquired Autodelta for the company's official return to competition, and Project 33 began; the later 33 Stradale was derived directly from the Tipo 33.

Giuseppe Eugenio Luraghi was born in Milan on 12 June 1905. He completed economics and commerce studies at Bocconi in 1927, with a thesis on the aircraft industry, and joined Pirelli in 1930. He co-directed its Spanish subsidiary from 1932, returned to Italy in 1938 as general manager of the group’s Linoleum company and later became central director. Disagreement with Alberto Pirelli over a multidivisional reorganisation led to his departure in 1950.

In 1950 he became deputy general manager of the IRI-controlled Società Idroelettrica Piemonte (SIP); the following year he became general manager of Finmeccanica. He remained Alfa Romeo vice-president after leaving Finmeccanica in 1956, until the board removed him in 1958. He then served as president and managing director of Lanerossi before returning to Alfa Romeo as president in 1960. Construction of the Arese plant and Giulia production marked the following period.

As Alfa Romeo president, Luraghi sought an official return to competition in 1964. He acquired Autodelta, already a TZ partner, and Carlo Chiti returned to head the official team. Luraghi asked for a car to contest the World Sportscar Championship and time trials. Alfa Romeo Design, led by Orazio Satta Puliga and developed particularly by Giuseppe Busso, began the Tipo 33; in January 1966 Luraghi transferred its design to Autodelta.

Alfa Romeo later decided to produce the 33 in very small numbers for private buyers. Franco Scaglione designed the 33 Stradale; it was unveiled at Monza on 10 September 1967 and officially launched at the Turin Motor Show. Alfa Romeo says the 33 Stradale design was approved in the Arese council chamber in 1967. Luraghi was not reconfirmed as president in January 1974 and later chaired Mondadori. He died in Milan in 1991.