Giuseppe Merosi (8 December 1872 – 27 March 1956) was an Italian automobile engineer and designer. Born in Piacenza, Merosi worked as a building surveyor, before he decided to explore his gift for automotive engineering. He first earned experiences at

Bianchi Bianchi may refer to: Places *Bianchi, Calabria, a ''comune'' in the Province of Cosenza, Italy Manufacturing *Bianchi Bicycles (F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A.), an Italian manufacturer of bicycles, and former manufacturer of motorcycles and a ...

and then at

Fiat Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary ...

. In 1910 he was hired as chief engineer to the new company A.L.F.A which was established at Portello in Milan, later to become Alfa Romeo when the company stopped buying manufactured licensed products from the French automaker

Automobiles Darracq France Automobiles Darracq France was a manufacturer of motor vehicles and aero engines in Suresnes, near Paris. The enterprise, known at first as A Darracq et Cie, was founded in 1896 by successful businessman Alexandre Darracq. In 1902 he sold his n ...

. The first Alfa designed by Merosi was

A.L.F.A 24 HP The ALFA 24 HP is 4.1-litre four-cylinder passenger car, the first model produced by Italian car manufacturer ALFA (''Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili''), which in 1919 would become Alfa Romeo. It was introduced in 1910, the year ALFA was foun ...

, which came on the market on 24 June 1910. The 4.1 litres capacity engine supplied 42 hp and the cars reached , at that time a very considerable maximum speed. After little more than one year, Alfa had already sold 50 models. The car proved to be durable and reliable, and was conspicuous for its elegant design. Higher HP models followed in the coming years. In 1914 Merosi designed the first Alfa Romeo DOHC engine, 4 cylinders, 4.5 litres and 16 valve head, this was used in the 1914

Alfa Romeo Grand Prix ALFA 40/60 GP or GP (Grand Prix) was a fully working early racing car prototype made by the company now called Alfa Romeo. Only one example was built in 1914, which was later modified in 1921. This was the creation of Giuseppe Merosi and was the f ...

car driven by Giuseppe Campari. World War I temporarily stopped Alfa's activities and Merosi could start working again with DOHC engine only in 1922. In the early 1920s he also worked on the deluxe

Alfa Romeo G1 The Alfa Romeo G1 (1921–23) was an Italian automobile. It was the first all-new design from Alfa Romeo after the end of the A.L.F.A. brand. The car was designed by A.L.F.A. pioneer Giuseppe Merosi as the factory's new luxury vehicle while he si ...

. Merosi was one of the first people at Alfa to recognize the importance of producing racing cars, both in terms of technical development and marketing. His Alfa Romeo HP had already taken part in the 1911 edition of Targa Florio. In 1920 Alfa Romeo started producing proper racing cars with the RL and RM as well as the P1. Alfa Romeo would win the Targa Florio for the first time in 1923 with Ugo Sivocci. In 1926 Merosi left Alfa Romeo and he was replaced with new chief engineer Vittorio Jano. He worked afterwards for Isotta Fraschini until he retired when the company suspended its activity following the outbreak of World War II. Merosi died in Piacenza at the age of 84 in 1956.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merosi, Giuseppe 1872 births 1956 deaths People from Piacenza Italian automotive engineers Alfa Romeo people Formula One designers Italian motorsport people 20th-century Italian engineers