Description
Based on the celebrated transaxle platform, this early four-cylinder Alfetta GTV 2. 0 is one of the purest expressions of Giugiaro’s wedge-era design. Having covered an incredibly low 49, 865 km from new with just one previous keeper, it is now offered as an exceptionally rare, highly transparent restoration project.
While the car requires structural metalwork in the engine bay and attention to a few mechanical foibles, the heavy lifting has already been done. The engine is exceptionally healthy and runs beautifully, fueled by brand-new Dellorto carbs and a completely refreshed ignition and hydraulic system. For a willing enthusiast, this is a golden opportunity to bring a low-owner, low-mileage Italian classic back to its former glory.
Key Information
• Mileage: 49, 865 km (indicated)
• Previous Keepers: 1 (2 owners from new)
• Year of Manufacture: 1980 (First Registered Jan 1981)
• UK DVLA Registration: January 2022 (V5C present)
• Technical inspection status: MOT and Road Tax exempt (Classic Vehicle status)
• Technical specs: 2000 cc twin-cam four-cylinder, 5-speed manual transaxle
• Registered Color: Cream (Historical color change over original factory Red)
• Paperwork: Current V5C present, plus history file of maintenance receipts
• Location: Morden, London (currently parked outside)
Mechanical & Upgrades
The 2000 cc twin-cam engine starts cleanly, sounds fantastic, and runs beautifully. The car has received an extensive mechanical overhaul using premium new parts sourced from specialists Alfaholics and Classic Alfa:
• Fuel & Induction: Brand-new DHLA 40 Dellorto carburettors, new fuel pump, and new air filter.
• Ignition & Electrical: New distributor, new ignition coil, new HT leads, new spark plugs, new alternator, new starter motor, and new alternator belt.
• Braking & Hydraulics: New brake master cylinder, new rear brake calipers, new clutch master cylinder, and new clutch slave cylinder.
• Suspension & Steering: Upgraded shock absorbers and springs (fitted by the previous owner), all wheel bearings thoroughly cleaned and rebuilt with new bearing rubbers, and full wheel tracking completed.
Current Faults & Imperfections (The To-Do List)
• Engine Bay Rust: There is a severe rust problem inside the engine bay that requires proper welding, metal fabrication, and structural repair work.
• Overheating: The car currently overheats when running. The cooling system has been completely flushed clear of dirt/ sand and a new thermostat is fitted. The vendor strongly suspects a broken water pump impeller; the car will need to be trailered away by the buyer.
• Handbrake: The handbrake cable has snapped and is currently non-functional.
• Speedometer: The speedometer cable is not working. The vendor has completed extensive troubleshooting on various options but the root cause remains unverified.
Body, Paint & Interior
• Chassis & Underside: Thanks to its life spent in South Africa's dry climate, the main floor pans and underside structural points remain remarkably solid compared to typical UK-market cars.
• Exterior Paint: The body lines are straight, but the car wears its cosmetic history openly. The current cream paint has areas of peeling and flaking, which clearly reveals the original factory red paint underneath. There are also a few cosmetic scratches, minor dents, and small areas of typical surface rust starting to show, all of which are clearly documented in the photo gallery.
• Interior: Highly original right-hand-drive cabin. The black seats, headlining, dashboard, and controls are well-preserved and in clean condition. Highlights
• Desirable early-series model with classic chrome bumpers and pure Giugiaro styling lines
• Remarkably low ownership: Just 1 previous keeper from new (2 owners in total)
• Incredibly low indicated mileage of just 49, 865 km
• Dry-climate import from South Africa, offering a remarkably solid core floor structure
• Engine runs beautifully featuring brand-new, premium parts sourced from Alfaholics and Classic Alfa
• Fitted with a brand-new set of highly desirable DHLA 40 Dellorto carburettors
• Originally left the factory in classic Alfa Red, currently presenting in period Cream
• An honest, highly transparent project with massive upside potential once the engine bay metalwork is completed
The Appeal
With its sweet-revving 2. 0-litre twin-cam engine upfront and a perfect 50:50 weight distribution courtesy of its rear transaxle and de Dion suspension, the early Alfetta GTV is widely regarded as one of the finest-handling driver’s cars of its generation.
This 1980 example is a rare time-capsule discovery. Having spent its life in a dry climate before arriving in the UK in 2022, it has been spared the severe underside rot that claimed most European cars. Combined with its single previous owner and incredibly low mileage, it possesses a pedigree that is almost impossible to find today.
Intriguingly, while the car is officially registered as Cream, this represents a historical color change. The original factory Alfa Red (Rosso) is revealing itself where the top coat has flaked, offering the next owner an exciting choice: preserve its unique cream history or return it to its iconic, aggressive factory crimson roots.
Yes, it requires a dedicated enthusiast with a welding torch to remedy the severe rust inside the engine bay and finish the final few mechanical quirks—but with thousands already spent on brand-new carburettors, ignition, and hydraulics, the heavy financial lifting is done. It is the ultimate rewarding weekend project that will significantly lift the value of a genuinely rare Italian icon.
