• Low mileage Cypriot import, ready for its first UK registration.

 • Presents in very good condition.

 • Set of original Alfa steelies included in the sale.

 • Strong 1.6 engine, drives and behaves well.

Penned by Italian automotive design wizard Giuseppe Scarnati, the ‘Giulia’ was a line of sporty four-door compact saloons (Type 105), produced from 1962 to 1978. It is not, of course, to be confused with the latter-day compact executive saloon (Type 952) unveiled in 2015.

Alfa Romeo was one of the early mainstream manufacturers to wedge a powerful engine in a light-weight four-door car for mass production. The Type 105 Giulia was equipped with a light alloy, twin overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine, offered in 1.3-litre (1,290cc) and 1.6-litre (1,570cc) displacements – the latter, as offered here. Various configurations of carburettors and specialised tuning produced power outputs from around 80 to 110bhp, paired to manual gearboxes (four-speed for the 1.3 and five-speed for the 1.6).

Giulia sedans were noted for their lively handling and impressive acceleration among small European four-door sedans of their era, especially considering the rather modest engine sizes offered. This popular Super version with the twin-carb 1.6 litre engine enjoyed a heady top speed of 106mph and accelerated from 0 to 62mph in around 12 seconds, better than many sports cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

For its 1972 model year (like the good example offered here), a rationalisation of the Giulia model line-up saw the Super 1300 and Super 1600 re-released as the Super 1.3 and Super 1.6. 

The two models featured the same equipment lists, interior and exterior trims, differing only in engine size and final drive ratio. Production continued to 1974 when both were superseded by the Giulia Nuova 1.3 and Giulia Nuova 1.6.

Production of this particular Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1.6 concluded at the Arese facility near Milan in the second week of January, 1972. 

It was promptly exported to Cyprus, receiving its first registration as FS 554 on Thursday, 20th January, where it lived an evidently charmed and dry life until its import and rude awakening to UK life in January this year. 

Almost 50 years to the day, this very presentable Alfa Romeo is offered to its first UK keeper as a fresh UK registration. 

All the correct import paperwork is available, along with the all-important NOVA certificate issued by HM Revenue & Customs (dated 22nd February), stating that all import duties and taxes have been paid, clearing the way for the car’s first UK keeper to register it.

Unfortunately, there is no paperwork relating to the maintenance and servicing of the car during its residency in Cyprus.

With a genuine 79,000 km (around 50,000 miles) on the clock and a whole half century under its belt, the interior of this Italian automotive gem presents rather well. The front and rear furniture is clad in black vinyl, as are the sun visors and door cards and the interior is soft-furnished with black carpeting offset by a clean and undamaged white roof lining.

The entire original interior is in exceptional condition for its age and is a throwback to an altogether different automotive era when things were simpler, less complicated and far easier to live with.

The dashboard offers an original wood veneer insert for much of its width, along with another wood insert between the front seats. While the warm and dry Mediterranean climate would certainly have agreed with the car’s overall good health, the Cypriot sun appears to have taken its toll on the wooden inserts which could perhaps do with replacing to freshen up the interior.

The aftermarket audio system does seem a little incongruous but sounds great!

Minor interior issues include the aforementioned veneer inserts and a tear to the upholstery covering of the driver’s seat as pictured.

Presented in gleaming white, the very good condition of the interior continues to the exterior of this 1970’s Alfa Romeo and is indicative of the love and care afforded to it during its fifty years over in Cyprus.

The front and rear bumpers are by-and-large in good condition and free of the usual pitting that can occur on chrome of this vintage. The after-market black alloy wheels are in good condition and shod with a good set of rubber all round. The glass headlight light lenses are clear and the plastic lenses show no hint of fogging often associated with a car of this age.

It must be noted that a set of original Alfa Romeo steel wheels (as pictured and which match the fitted spare) will accompany the sale of the car.

A cursory glance down each flank of the car shows no evidence of damage and even the front valance and number plate – for all their vulnerability, remain blemish free.

Like the interior, there a few small issues to this car’s exterior. There are scratches to the right of the front bumper and some work has evidently been done to the lower sill of the left passenger door frame. 

Detailed images of these exterior and aforementioned interior issues and shown at the end of the accompanying gallery after the paperwork pictures. To be fair, they are all minor and any professional body shop/detailer worth its salt would make short shrift of them – and for not a lot of money either.

As a life-long Alfisti, this writer and photographer was lucky enough to be given the keys to the car to drive it to and from the photo location – a round trip of some nine grin-inducing miles.

While there, the Alfa Romeo was frequently repositioned to obtain the best of the challenging light at this time of year. The car started first and every time and settled into an appreciative four-pot burble. The manual gearbox connected smoothly – including reverse – and the clutch engaged with no drama, requiring a light feathering of the revs to get underway.

The custodian reports the car to be in good mechanical condition with steering, brakes, engine, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective Italian engineers intended over fifty years ago.

Like the immediately visible parts of this car, the underside and lower sills present in good order with a degree of natural oxidation that may reasonably be expected on a car of this age.

Presentable examples of the 70’s Alfa Romeo Giulia are few and far between in the UK. It is fair to say that the agreeable climate of Cyprus has contributed to the longevity of this car. Its overall condition is commensurate more with its age of fifty years, than its less than 50,000 miles.

In ‘FS 544’, we have a tidy and healthy example of one of Alfa Romeo’s most sought-after models midway through its 16-year production run. It was both a thrill and true privilege to have the opportunity to drive and spend some time with the car, which drew more than its fair share of appreciative glances during the all-too-brief sojourn with it by this writer.

Essentially, two options are open to its first UK keeper…give this Alfa Romeo a light internal and external TLC of the minor identified issues, or simply leave it in its ‘lovingly used’ condition, keep the mechanicals running as smoothly as they currently do and continue to enjoy the road less travelled – and not just on Sundays.

In addition, membership to the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (aroc-uk.com) is open to everyone with historic, current and future interest in this historic Italian marque and their respective members are as knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic as they come.