An aluminum alloy wire having an electrical conductivity of at least 61 percent based on the International Annealed Copper Standard and unexpected properties of increased ultimate elongation, bendability and fatigue resistance when compared to conventional aluminum alloy wire of the same tensile strength. The aluminum alloy wire contains substantially evenly distributed iron aluminate inclusions in a concentration produced by the addition of more than about 0.30 weight percent iron to an alloy mass containing less than about 99.70 weight percent aluminum, no more than 0.15 weight percent silicon, and trace quantities of conventional impurities normally found within a commercial aluminum alloy. The substantially evenly distributed iron aluminate inclusions are obtained by continuously casting an alloy consisting essentially of less than about 99.70 weight percent aluminum, more than 0.30 weight percent iron, no more than 0.15 weight percent silicon and trace quantities of typical impurities to form a continuous aluminum alloy bar, hot-working the bar substantially immediately after casting in substantially that condition in which the bar is cast to form continuous rod which is subsequently drawn into wire without intermediate anneals and annealed after the final draw. After annealing, the wire has the aforementioned novel and unexpected properties of increased ultimate elongation, electrical conductivity of at least 61 percent of the International Annealed Copper Standard, and increased bendability and fatigue resistance.