On 15 August 1938, Nicola Romeo, the Italian engineer and entrepreneur whose name became inseparable from Alfa Romeo, died in Magreglio, near Lake Como, aged 62. Born in Sant'Antimo in 1876, Romeo founded an engineering company in 1911, initially producing machinery for the mining industry. His automotive journey began in 1915 when he acquired a majority stake in A.L.F.A., the Milan-based automobile manufacturer founded in 1910. By 1918, he had taken full control and the company adopted the name associated with his enterprise.
Romeo's influence extended beyond a name change. He established a vision centred on high-performance touring cars and competitive motorsport, recognising racing as a laboratory for developing technology that could ultimately benefit road cars. Under his leadership, Alfa Romeo achieved its first major Targa Florio victory in 1923 and won the inaugural World Automobile Championship in 1925 with the legendary P2.
Although Romeo left Alfa Romeo in 1928, his name endured as the marque evolved into one of Italy's most celebrated automotive icons.
