Beschreibung
H&H Classics @ Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
Wednesday 26th July, 2023 | 1pm
1969 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300
Estimate
£24, 000 - £28, 000
Registration No: YUY 196G
Chassis No: AR1232294
MOT: Exempt
Only one keeper in the United Kingdom, owned by the vendor since 2001
Desirable step-front example
Recently completed bodywork restoration and mechanical refresh
Imported directly from Italy by Italian car specialist John Williams
Though one of his first major projects, the Bertone-penned Alfa Romeo 105 Series Coupe has a simple grace that is as admired today as when it first appeared in 1963. When coupled with the 1. 6-litre Super version of the company's ubiquitous all-alloy, DOHC, four-cylinder engine, the result was a performance car capable of shaming many sporting two-seaters of the period. The specification was straightforward - a two-door, three-box, lightweight (2, 050 lbs) body powered by a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels. The suspension was independent at the front and braking was by servo-assisted discs all-round. A slick five-speed manual gearbox ensured optimum performance and added to driver satisfaction. The GT Junior variants began with the 1300 of 1965. It was designed as an entry level model for those that wished to enjoy the cachet of an Alfa Coupe without suffering the fiscal penalties that often came with the bigger-engined versions. It was based on the Giulia Sprint GT but featured a simplified interior. This Junior theme was developed over some 12 years, and from 1972 included the addition of a 1600cc-engined model that was specifically created to fill the gap that had emerged between the Junior 1600 and the now 2000cc-engined GTV.
This desirable step-front example was manufactured new in 1969, the GT Junior offered was supplied new to Trento, Northern Italy, being first registered on the 24th of February 1969. Reputedly sold to the first owner two years later, in February 1971, the Alfa Romeo was retained by said first keeper for the following twenty-seven years. Before leaving Italy, the car was assessed and was issued with a Italian Historic Automobile Association (ASI) homologation (a certificate of originality), being subsequently imported into the United Kingdom by Italian car specialists John Williams Classics of Tewkesbury, the vendor acquired the GT Junior, now registered ‘YUY 196G’, in September 2001. Used for a number of years by the vendor, the Alfa Romeo was placed into dry storage in 2010. Unearthed from its storage in 2019, the Alfa Romeo was still highly original but was now requiring cosmetic and mechanical improvement, and thus was provided a sympathetic restoration.
Benefitting from some £20, 375 worth of professional restoration work, with completed comprising full bodywork renovation with new metalwork as required; engine overhauled with head providing new valves; refreshed steering and pedal boxes; suspension stripped and renovated with new bushes and ball joints; brakes overhauled; gearbox; new clutch and slave cylinder; new fuel lines. ‘YUY 196G’ was subsequently repainted in its original colour scheme of Pine Green paintwork with Brown vinyl interior upholstery. Supplied with a history file contains copies of original Italian documents including the registration document and sales documents, previous invoices, MOTs and tax discs from the cars time in the UK, an ASI plaque, picture from while residing in Italy, workshop manual and current V5C document.
