• One of only 155 RHD GTV Cups

• Busso V6 engine

• New cambelt and cooling system

• Body restored by Alfa specialist in 2017

Replacing an icon is a tricky thing to do, so when Alfa Romeo finally put the Spider out to pasture in 1993, an astonishing 30 years since its debut, a replacement was always going to have to be something a bit special.

It came as a surprise, then, when the new ‘916’ generation was launched in 1995 with front-wheel-drive – something that Alfa aficionados were initially quite sceptical about. The Spider grew a roof, too, in the form of the GTV Coupe – a car that could also recall past glories with its name.

It looked sensational. A wedge-shaped profile with a distinctive styling crease that ran the full length of the body gave it a purposeful appearance, while the delicate heart-shaped grille and beady headlights added a cheeky yet slightly mean-looking face. The rear lights, meanwhile, were part of a bigger styling feature, with a ribbon of red across the back of the car echoing the look of the iconic Alfa SZ.

Styled by Pininfarina’s Enrico Fulmia, the ‘Type 916’ appeared in 1993 and was powered by either a four-pot ‘Twin Spark’ engine or Alfa’s legendary ‘Busso’ V6. In 2002, in a bid  to boost flagging sales, Alfa took the GTV racing in a one-make series called the GTV Cup, building 419 special edition road cars as a strictly limited edition. 

Powered by the 3.0-litre engine, the Cup was only available in red. Just 155 right-hand-drive cars were made, and this is one them. 

Introduced in 2002, the GTV Cup Special Edition was distinguishable from lesser GTVs by its 17-inch teledial wheels, splitter-enhanced bumpers and a rear wing with an integrated brake light. 

There were also brake cooling vents on the front wings while the cabin got part leather sports seats and a build number plaque.

N80 CUP is number 80 of the 155 UK cars sold and is a genuine 64,000 mile car, backed up by its VOSA MOT history, which reads pretty well for an aged Alfa.

It was bought in 2016 by Nick Harper, a well-known Alfa specialist, and despite the car being in sound overall condition it was subject to a full strip down and overhaul, along with fresh paint. It looks amazing. 

The current owner is also an Alfa specialist and bought the car to be among his private collection of Alfas, but has been forced to slim down his fleet after storm damage to his storage area. 

Apart from a registration document there’s not much that comes with the GTV as the service books were misplaced by a previous owner, but whoever buys it will be safe in the knowledge that the last two owners were both Alfa Romeo specialist mechanics. 

The car will be given a full cambelt service before collection and will have a brand new MOT certificate.

Look at this car from any angle and it’s an absolute stunner, helped I no small part by the “Alfa 130 Rosso” traditional red paint scheme. 

Its overhaul a few years ago saw it returned to absolutely pristine condition by someone who knows the model inside out, and the quality is excellent, while the alloy wheels have also been refurbished. 

The car has never been welded underneath and the vendor reports that it is exceptionally solid still, and has been rustproofed to protect it from further problems.

The GTV Cup was offered with unique part-leather trim, with sports mesh cloth inserts and leather bolsters. 

It’s a great looking cabin, an Alfa Romeo trademark, and is in fine order, from the GTV Cup floor mats to the plaque on the dash that proudly proclaims it to be number 80 of a ‘Serie Limitada’

It feels special, and is an exceptionally comfortable car in which to sit, with thick, supportive side bolsters and matching leather-trimmed door cards. The switchgear is also surprisingly well laid out for an Alfa – a company known for its somewhat random placement of buttons. 

All of the dials work as they should, as do the electric switches, windows and stereo. 

Named after legendary Alfa Romeo engineer Guiseppe Busso, the V6 engine can trace its roots back to the 1970s – but that’s no bad thing at all. 

The engine sounds absolutely wonderful and runs perfectly, maintaining a steady idle and sounding wonderfully fruity when revved. In this application, it has the later 24-valve head and is coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, which is the perfect combination, delivering 220bhp and 0-60mph in just 6.7 seconds. 

The vendor reports that it drives absolutely brilliantly, while the recent overhaul extended to the brakes and suspension components, the vast majority of which were renewed. 

As he is an Alfa specialist himself, the vendor has said he’ll supply and fit a new cambelt before the car is collected as the current one, although it has covered a small mileage, is due for replacement based on its age. He has also just overhauled the car’s cooling system. 

Not only is this as good an example of the 916 GTV as you’re likely to find, but it’s also quite a collectable car in its own right. 

With just 155 UK examples made (a nod to the BTCC-winning Alfa Romeo 155) and fewer than that known to survive, the GTV Cup is a lovely piece of Alfa Romeo history as well as an absolute stunner of a car. And in terms of its condition, this one is top drawer.