Gleaming Verde Sargassi green paintwork in beautiful order
Dry stored and never comes out in the rain
With excellent grip and minimal body roll, this Alfa is enjoyable and rewarding to drive
The immobilizer key is with the car. They are £1000 to replace and often lost
Naturally aspirated engine that loves high revs
Smooth and precise 6 speed manual gearbox
Italian flare and style
All belts and oils replaced recently
Comprehensive service history
THE APPEAL
The Alfa Romeo GTV like many Italian coupe's was styled at Pininfarina, this time by Enrico Fumia who went on to design the beautiful Maserati 3200GT.
The GTV was initially released in the early ’90s and has remained one of the most distinctive cars of the era. It was the successor to the Alfetta GTV.
Reliability was good with Alfa under the control of Fiat from 1986 and the highly modified chassis based on the Fiat Tipo proved to be very dependable and rigid. This new chassis used on this car was called the Tipo Due (Type 2) platform. They were galvanized which has helped to keep this example we have here in amazing condition.
Alfa were said to have Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Saab in its sights when designing this car, with an emphasis on build quality and design. Even the sports seats have a German feel of solidness and being comfortable and supportive to the driver and passengers over longer distances.
This fine example of the GTV has the Lusso specifications which had some extra features including heated mirrors, spotlights and the sumptuous leather interior. What makes this car so special and desirable though is the sublime V6 3.0-litre, 24-valve engine. It’s rated at 230bhp from its 60 degree angled powerplant with wet liners, sodium-cooled exhaust valves and twin overhead camshaft. The only other place you find engine's like this is in Ferrari's. This example has been methodically maintained throughout its life and recently had all the belts replaced so they shouldn’t need replacing for another 7 years.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
The V5 is present
The car is in Northern Ireland and originally from the mainland so is a UK car
Service history with 7 stamps in the book, mainly from specialist Alfa Romeo garages in England
Folder with the original booklets and paperwork
2 keys including the all-important immobilizer key
Only 87845 miles on the clock
Major recent service with all fluids and belts changed 300 miles ago at the cost of £700
THE INTERIOR
Original immobilizer and key in place
Climate control
Front electric windows
Power assisted Steering
Remote locking works well
Space saver spare wheel
Steering wheel rake and reach adjustment
CD changer in the boot
Both driver and front passenger have airbags
The door cards are like new
All interior bulbs are working
Stock electrics with no signs of additional immobilizers or similar
The elegant interior is in excellent condition and is known for being hard wearing
The Alfa-embossed tan leather in this Lusso model is in extremely good condition remaining soft and supple
The tan coloured carpets are original and protected by contrasting GTV floor mats
The vendor assures us the stylish cowled dials and switches all work and there are no electrical issues at all with the car
There’s not much space in the back and so consequently the rear seats look unused
The boot is quite small but you still have room for the spare wheel, a golf bag and some shopping. There’s certainly more room than an MR2
The seats are supportive seats and ergonomically it’s very good for reaching the gearstick
THE EXTERIOR
Electric mirrors
Front fog lights
Alloy wheels in terrific condition
Body coloured bumpers
All original paintwork in great condition with only a couple of small marks on the surface paint
The shells were galvanised when new so in excellent shape
The rear wheel arches are in good condition with no signs of repair or corrosion
We couldn’t see any issues with the side skirts of the car. The vendor tells us the paint and bodywork under these is in excellent order
Three of the jacking points are unmarked but the fourth on the passenger side has been compressed due to someone missing the jacking point. The sill appears unaffected
The whole car sits high at the rear and low and wide at the front adding to the sense of purpose.
THE MECHANICALS
The vendor tells us the rubbers and bushes are all in good shape with many recently replaced
The front McPherson struts and multi- link suspension is tight, the vendor states this makes the car very dependable to drive
Lively, high revving 240bhp engine has been well maintained since new with a comprehensive service record, mainly from Alfa specialists
The efficient 240bhp engine combined with lightweight materials gives the car a 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and speed limited to 149mph
Rear callipers are free and maintained
Handbrake is working well
Beautiful engine with stainless pipes, could do with a bit of a clean
Traction control is standard as is electronic brakeforce distribution (or EBD for short) on the car. This controls the braking action on the rear wheels to prevent them locking and ensures full control of the car in all situations.
Larger front brake discs than the 2.0 litre version of the GTV.
Anti roll bar
SUMMARY
This glorious Alfa Romeo GTV isn’t all about speed in a straight line. The front wheel drive and weight distribution makes for a genuinely entertaining driver’s car in most conditions. The GTV’s sharp turn-in, grip and general poise can equal many current performance cars made today.
They have a fabulous, high revving Italian engine that just begs to be driven. The all-alloy V6 24 valve engine it is an absolute work of art both to look at and in engineering terms, and has proved that regular care and maintenance can see these engines go on and on, even when driven hard.
The car has a stiff chassis and well-tuned steering and suspension, making it an extremely engaging car to drive and don’t let the front wheel drive aspect put you off. The vendor tells us this car is a joy to drive enthusiastically, but at the moment it’s not having the fun it deserves.
These very popular, good looking and affordable Italian Coupés are all about style and that is something this GTV has in abundance.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
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1998 Alfa Romeo GTV Lusso V6 24v
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