The early 1980's saw the european rounds of the Formula 1 championship being supported by the 'Procar' series. This series involved famous drivers battling it out infront of the F1 spectators in race prepared BMW M1's .The M1 was coming to the end of its production run and it was decided that a new car or new series was required to entertain before the main F1 events. A new series was decided upon and it was to follow a silhouette format. Taking F1 style chassis and engines and covering them in a road car body. Formula S was born, albeit stillborn. The only manufacturer to produce a Formula S car and show it to the world was Alfa Romeo, using the oppotunity to showcase the body from its top model, the 164.

Alfa Romeo had the neccessary experience in building F1 engines, however building F1 chassis was not something they had done before. In 1987 a series of unfortunate events had however befallen Alfa's previous F1 partner, Brabham: left without a designer and engine supplier, and with a team boss increasingly tied up F1 politics they were all at sea. Enter Fiat and the purchase of Brabham MRD (Motor racing development), and the final piece of the puzzle is in place.

With Brabham producing the chassis, and a very convincing carbon fibre copy of the 164 body, Alfa dusted off its newly designed 3.5L V10 engine. The engine was mid mounted in the car and drove the rear wheels through a 6 speed Hewland gearbox. With a weight of 750kg, an engine producing 600bhp, slicks and no downforce performance would be brisk to say the least. Alfa UK issued a single page document stating top speed to be 215+mph and a 0-60mph time of 2.1 seconds, both of which are entirely believible.
The car was then shown off at the Paris and Birmingham motor shows with the accompanying statement