Alfa Romeo BWA Benzoni, Valsecchi, Valentini, Arrigoni) – Campanatura 45
The BWA company (the name was created by combining the names Benzoni, Valsecchi, Valentini, and Arrigoni). Benzoni, Valsecchi, and Arrigoni were the three original business partners and technicians who ran a workshop focused on car tuning and metal fabrication. Ing. Giorgio Valentini was a talented automotive designer. He joined the trio to design racing single-seaters for the BWA brand in what was then Formula Junior and Formula 3. BWA did not originally start as a mass producer of wheels; they built complete race cars. They cast their first aluminum wheels primarily for their own racing single-seaters and sports-tuned cars. However, at the end of the 1960s, the racing division ran into financial difficulties, and the development of single-seaters had to be discontinued. Nevertheless, the production line for wheels and accessories remained highly successful. The company thus fully shifted its focus toward the production of alloy wheels. During the 1970s and 1980s, BWA became one of the most prominent suppliers both for the aftermarket and directly for carmakers like Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia, providing them with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) wheels.
The company, based in the small town of Opera near Milan, is an absolute classic and, in my opinion, represents a design that defined the entire era of the '60s, '70s, and '80s for Alfa Romeo vehicles.
Today, however, we are going to focus on a very specific model. At that time, the wheels did not carry their own specific names—however, the colloquial nickname "Kanáldekly" (Manhole Covers) caught on, as they resembled sewer lids. You might also encounter the term "Campanatura." This is not a model name, but simply the Italian term for wheel offset, i.e., ET. In this case, it is a very specific ET45. This offset was not chosen arbitrarily; these wheels were designed for vehicles with a De Dion rear axle layout. And it was on these cars that they became an inseparable icon. Consequently, we see them most often on the Alfa Romeo GTV6 in the 5-lug variant, meaning 5x98. The 4x98 version was fitted onto the later modernized Alfetta. Otherwise, you could also come across these wheels on four-cylinder Alfa 75s or the Alfa 90. They were a perfect fit for all of these cars.
If I had to choose a car for which these wheels are defining, for better or worse, it is without a doubt the Alfa Romeo 75 Turbo Evoluzione. A legend and the absolute pinnacle of the entire 75 range. This car was built in a limited homologation run of just 500 units. Because Alfa was in a rush to debut the car for track racing, the pressure to launch the production series was immense. As a result, Alfa reached for the wheels they already had on the shelf. To give them a touch of exclusivity, they painted them in the Rosso Alfa shade. Although I personally adore these wheels, they always terribly bothered me on the 75 Evo. Not because of their look or color, but due to how insanely tucked they were under that brutal body kit. I analyze the reasons for this in detail in the article under the REVIEWS section (Alfa Romeo 75 IMSA). There were several factors, including the weight of the wheel, the 15-inch size, and most importantly, the narrow 6J width, which worked perfectly in terms of handling and aerodynamics.
The cars were then usually fitted with 195/60 R15 tires. For this wheel, this size is the optimal compromise on which it was tested. However, it can also handle 205-width tires, for instance, with a 55 or 50 profile. With such a change, though, the wheel well looks too empty if the ride height remains unchanged, and it strips the car of its period-correct originality. On the other hand, if the car is equipped with lowering springs, there is no reason to dismiss this alternative. These wheels are exceptional for one more reason: they lived a double life. At the beginning of production, they were supplied to Alfa by a legend named Campagnolo, and they were made directly from a magnesium alloy (Elektron). Magnesium is wonderful for its low weight, but it is also dangerous due to its extreme brittleness and flammability. Another drawback was the cost. In production, these wheels cost twice as much as what BWA could manufacture them for using aluminum.
Thus, the wheels were produced in three color variants—the most widespread is the traditional silver; highly sought-after and visually very successful is the variant with a dark-painted smooth center face (gunmetal grey or black) while keeping the outer angular holes and the lip in silver. And, of course, the rarest is the aforementioned Rosso Alfa red.
Photo: Filip Hron 2026