Description
For sale in our forthcoming auction during Le Mans Classic, on 30 June 2023:
Ex-Fernand Masoero
Belgian title
Chassis n° AR613669
- Delivered new in France
- Legendary model, eligible for the most beautiful events
- Incredible provenance, unquestionable authenticity
According to two certificates issued by Alfa Romeo's historical department (one dated 2nd March 2005 and the other 26th November 2010), this car is an Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA which left the factory on 13th September 1965 and was sold on 13th October 1965 to So. F. A. R., the make's importer in Paris. It was also stated that the car was red with black faux leather interior.
This car was part of the Fernand Masoero collection auction sale in November 1997, conducted by Herve Poulain at the Palais des Congres. As a former rally driver, Masoero always remained faithful to Alfa Romeo and achieved impressive results such as second place in the Touring class at the Tour de France Automobile in 1958 and 1959 (Giulietta Ti, with Henri Oreiller) or third at the Tour de Corse with a Giulietta Sprint Veloce. He stood out from the crowd in motorsport until the end of the 1970s with great results. He also opened an Alfa Romeo dealership in Orange at that time, where he carried out race preparations, in collaboration with the best Alfa preparation specialists such as Vigil Conrero in Italy. He sometimes kept trade-ins vehicles in good condition carried out by the workshop. During the 1997 auction sale, the most beautiful examples he kept were the ones offered.
This Alfa GTA was one of them and in the catalog, it was described as being "in its original configuration apart from the 40 carburettors instead of 45, 'for ease of use' according to Fernand Masoero. It is in exceptional condition". As it was often the case, the engine had been replaced by an unnumbered engine block at the time.
This appealing GTA was bought by a French collector during the sale who himself sold it in November 2003 to another well-known collector from the north of France. The servicing was then entrusted to the Van Landuyt garage, in Tourcoing. In order to take part in the historic Tour de France Automobile, the car was equipped with a roll bar, bucket seats (the original seats have been kept and will be included with the car) and a tripmaster, among other things.
It then joined the important collection of a couple of gentlemen drivers from Brussels who parked it next to his Alfa TZ and his Lotus XI. For servicing and preparation work, he turned to the Aresta garage in Liege, an Alfa Romeo dealer (and Weber specialist) who notably replaced the clutch and fitted 45 carburettors (which is the original specification) instead of the Weber 40. Invoices for this work are included in the file. The current owner's last rally was the 2015 "Tour Britannia" and since then, the car has not been driven much. The latter is actually why its owner has decided to part with it today.
With its well preserved Paralumin bodywork, its 4-cylinder dual overhead camshafts with twin ignition, this is one of the most legendary Alfa Romeo of the 1960s, the one that gave its nobility status to the appellation GTA (GT "Alleggerita"). Thanks to its lightness and its road qualities, the Giulia GTA has built an outstanding track record in rallies or on tracks. With its impeccable authenticity and exceptional provenance, this car will bring its new owner an abundance of thrills, while giving this person an ideal ticket to the most renowned historical events.
Photos © Sian Loyson
