1984 Alfa Romeo Giulietta – Auction Car of the Week

After our editor Chris Pollitt’s excellent Alfa article we were promptly inspired to delve into our own auctions here at Car & Classic to see if there were any potential gems currently available. Thanks to our now European-wide platform we found this 1984 Alfa Romeo Giulietta up for auction and residing in the Netherlands, the birthplace of Vincent Van Gogh, who would go on to paint some of the most revered art in the world. Likewise, the famous auto maker from Italy has produced some of the most beautiful cars ever to grace the road and so this particular listing seems rather felicitous.

Also known as the Nuova Giulietta and named after Alfa’s original 1950s series this particular saloon was produced from 1977 to 1985 and based upon the earlier Alfetta chassis. Available with a range of twin-cam, four cylinder engines, from a 1.4-litre up to a 2.0-litre turbocharged lump, there was a Giulietta for everyone. Power was delivered to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox which puts it firmly in the ‘driver’s car’ category, a label not diluted by its rather cool, albeit distinctly 80s styling.

You know we like a good saloon and the Giulietta has that typical three-box design complemented by a stubby rear end with built-in spoiler on the boot lid. It’s a nice touch and adds to the wedge-shape aesthetic they were going for, but despite this the car still went through a couple of facelifts during its 8 year production run. The first, in 1981, meant some new interior parts and some additional plastics to the body for protection purposes. The second update came two years later in the form of new bumpers and dashboard, but mechanically speaking, the Giulietta essentially remained the same throughout its life.

This six owner Giulietta is from 1984 which means it’s one of the latest incarnations to roll out of the factory. It also has the lusty 2.0-litre engine which develops around 130bhp, propelling the car to a top speed of nearly 120mph. With just over 50,000 miles under its belt this third series model hasn’t seen a whole lot of use and that is evident in how well it presents, both inside and out. The paintwork is in great original condition and the silver on black bodywork looks just as good now as it did back in the 80s – there doesn’t appear to be a spot of rust which is surprising for these 80s Alfas. The interior is spot on too and the wooden steering wheel and gear knob add a touch of class to an already pretty classy car.

Perpetually living in the shadow of the somewhat imperious BMW 3-Series the Giulietta, in our opinion at least, is a breath of fresh air. It’s certainly a lot more exclusive than it’s German rival and arguably more interesting. It’s simply a good looking, dynamic, retro sporting saloon.

Yes there are Giuliettas out there that are less than stellar in terms of build quality and reliability but this one appears to have side-stepped any of those shortcomings and remains a great car that just begs to be driven. Parts availability can be an issue but there are clubs out there that can help, such as the UK-based Alfa Romeo Owners Club, for instance. An increasingly rare sight nowadays they are also becoming increasingly sought after. If you’re in the market for an evocative 80’s saloon that drives as good as it looks then call of the search. Don’t wait until you’re a sorrowing old man, chuck in a bid now for a chance to be the seventh lucky owner.