The ‘Type-916’ Alfa Romeo GTV and its sister car, the Spider, were made by Alfa between 1993 and 2004.  The GTV (Grand Turismo Veloce, or ‘fast grand tourer’) is a ‘2+2’ coupé and around 41, 700 examples were produced in the car’s 11-year lifespan, which ended with the arrival of the Brera for the 2005 model year, while the Spider survived for another year.

Based on the then-current Fiat group compact-car Tipo Due (Type 2) platform, both the GTV and Spider were designed by Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina, and the GTV’s sleek lines have aged well. At its launch, the motoring press were agreed that Alfa’s notoriously patchy build quality had been much improved and that the GTV was a match for its renowned German rivals. 

Both GTV and Spider were well-specced as standard, with power steering, driver and passenger airbags, air conditioning, front seatbelt pretensioners, Bosch ABS, electric heated door mirrors, electric frameless windows and height-adjustable headlamps. 

A 1998 facelift saw significant styling changes, mostly to the interior, with a new centre console and revised dashboard and switchgear layout. At the same time the 3-litre 24v engine was made available as a six-speed manual version, as seen in this car.   

W 783 XGP was first registered on 1st March 2000. It had two owners before being sold to its third owner in 2003, and he then kept the car for more than 17 years before selling it to the vendor in 2021. It seems that the third owner was an Alfa Romeo mechanic and he did all necessary work on the car himself. 

The vendor believes that car was garaged throughout the previous owner’s 17-year tenure, and its condition would seem to back up this assertion. 

The vendor is selling this car, and another that he owns, to fund the purchase of another car. 

The car comes with its original document folder, including the owners’ manual and service record. The service history shows that the car was regularly dealer-serviced until its 2003 change of hands, from which time the owner carried out all the work himself. Since purchasing the car, the vendor has had the car serviced (in December 2021) at his local garage. 

Among the paperwork is a sales invoice from its original purchase, and a receipt for an all-important cambelt change, which was done in 2017, when the mileage was recorded as 88,800 – so the car has done less than five thousand miles since the change.  

The car has an MoT valid until 7th December 2022.

Even a cursory inspection shows that this is a car in remarkable condition for its age. The paintwork is pretty much unblemished – there are some minor stone chips on the bonnet (a couple of which have been touched in), one on the passenger door, and some small ones on each wing mirror. 

The car’s vivid red colour still looks good, and there’s no evidence of rust – the GTV’s bodyshell was galvanised and full plastic wheel-arch liners make it largely rustproof while, to save weight, the bonnet was manufactured from a composite material called KMC, composed of polyester and glass fibre.  

There is a small crack in the front grille, next to the number plate, which the vendor admits he hadn’t noticed, as he would have addressed this. 

All the brightwork, glass and badges look remarkably good. The 17-inch five-hole alloy wheels look excellent, with no evidence of having been kerbed, and all four tyres are sound. One nice touch is that the car still has its Alfa Romeo-branded valve caps. 

 

Again, the condition of the interior suggests that this car has been lovingly cared-for and cherished. Both front seats look amazing, with virtually no signs of wear, while the ‘+2’ rear seats looks as though they have not been used. The dashboard, dials and switchgear all look to be in excellent condition.  The carpets in the front footwells have been protected by overmats, but are a bit grubby. 

Both door panels are pretty good, but both have had patches applied in the same place – see pictures. 

In the glove box, there is the plastic case for the detachable front of the Alpine stereo. 

In the boot, the fitted space-saver spare wheel is still in its original Alfa-branded sleeve. The wheel shows signs of its age but is otherwise sound. There is an original tool-roll, complete with tools, plus a jack and fire extinguisher, and the original locking wheel nuts.

The engine responds instantly to the starter button, and the engine has a lovely low, rumbling note. The vendor reports that it drives beautifully, with keen acceleration and smooth cruising ability in line with the car’s reputation.  The Alfa V6 engine, also known as the ‘Busso’ engine, is renowned as one of the best of its era, and with a cambelt change only 5000 miles ago the new owner should be able to drive the car with confidence.

With the unfortunate long gap in the service record, there’s no means of verifying the car’s odometer reading, but the condition of the car both inside and out would suggest it’s genuine. 

The switchgear all appears to work as it should. Under the bonnet, everything is clean and tidy, further evidence of the car’s cherished lifestyle.  Underneath the car, everything seems to be in order, with only minor evidence of corrosion on the suspension commensurate with the car’s age. The car is supplied with three keys.

Alfa Romeo: the name itself is enough to quicken the pulse of most car enthusiasts. The company has a long history of making attractive and sporty cars that are engaging and enjoyable to drive, and the marque has long been a favourite of motoring journalists (and petrolheads).

Famously described by Jeremy Clarkson in 1998 as ‘one of the best sports cars of its time’, the GTV has a strong reputation and an enthusiastic following. It lives up to its name as a fast grand-tourer. The car looks great from all angles, and the interior is a comfortable and refined driving environment.  

W 783 XGP is a fine example that has clearly had a cosseted lifestyle. Its looks and condition belie its twenty-two years and its (relatively modest) indicated mileage. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one and it promises to reward the new owner with many years of exciting motoring adventures.     

Notice to bidders