Descrição
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
13th March, 2024 13:00
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT 1600
South African assembled, RHD example and subject to a recent mechanical overhaul
Estimate
£22, 000 - £25, 000
Registration No: T. B. A.
Chassis No: AR753286
MOT: Exempt
- Supplied new for factory assembly in South Africa in right-hand drive 'CKD' (Completely Knocked Down) kit form
- Assembled by Car Distributors of East London and preserved by the car-friendly South African climate
- Subject to a recent mechanical overhaul and currently showing an unwarranted 42, 000 miles
The pretty 105/ 115 Series two-door Coupes made in various specifications by Alfa Romeo from 1963 to 1977 were penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro as one of his first projects for Bertone. They succeeded the much-vaunted Giulietta Sprint Coupe and were built on a shortened version of the Giulia Berlina floorpan. Power came from Alfa's ubiquitous four-cylinder all-alloy twin-cam engine which, over the years, was available in a range of capacities from 1290cc to 1962cc. The engine was mated to a slick five-speed gearbox. Suspension was by wishbones and coil springs at the front and coil-sprung live axle at the rear. Braking was by discs all round and steering by recirculating ball. The first model to be introduced was the Giulia Sprint GT of 1963, which was powered by a 1570cc version of Alfa's sonorous twin-cam unit. A combination of relatively light weight, strong performance and readily exploitable handling made the pretty Coupe popular both with enthusiast road drivers and the competition fraternity, and many examples are still campaigned in historic racing and rallying to this day. The ensuing Giulia Sprint GT Veloce produced from 1965 to 1967 was very similar, and distinguishable only by minor modifications to the engine, body and interior.
Understood to have been originally supplied in right-hand drive form via the Alfa Romeo factory in East London, South Africa, chassis AR753286 spent the majority of its life in the sunny climate of South Africa. An accompanying Alfa Romeo Club certificate advises that no record is on file due to being one of the South African built cars (their records mainly contain the Italian build dates). However, they have estimated that the original date of manufacture was around late June / early July 1965. Although there is no indication of its history prior to 2023, the car is supplied with a South African registration certificate dated 26th May 2023 in Johannesburg. The vendor (a collector of Alfa Romeos) advised that the car was purchased in May 2023 and there is an invoice on file from an Alfa Romeo specialist for bodywork and paint, a brake overhaul, coolant system overhaul and the fitment of a reconditioned original 1600 engine with the correct numbers to match the age of the car as it was understood to have been found missing its power unit. The car was first registered in the UK in September 2023 after import and is supplied with a current V5C document listed no previous keepers.
On inspection, it is evident that the work was completed to a high standard and the vendor has confirmed that the car is mechanically 'in good fettle and is driveable'. The paintwork has only been 'touched in' in various areas and although relatively presentable it is evident that it has had a blow-over job in the past and would need work to make the car a concours example. The vendor has also advised that the car would benefit from work to the floor pans as they have suffered some corrosion, although the rest of the bodywork is in sound condition, testament to the car's life in the dry climate of Southern Africa. The interior is purported to be in the original condition and shows a pleasing level of patination that is in line with the age of the car and any prospective purchaser would have a hard time deciding whether to overhaul this or keep as is.
Overall, the car presents an excellent opportunity to own a 'use and improve' example that is rarely seen in right-hand drive and would make an excellent historic rally car with its spritely twin cam Alfa Romeo engine that is oh-so desirable.
