Alfa Romeo GTV – The Time Is Now

There aren’t many classic car fans that don’t appreciate an Alfa Romeo. In any guise, an Alfa Romeo is something to covet, a car to drool over and fantasise about. There’s just something about them, from the ’60s Spider to the more modern 4C they simply ooze charm and charisma. They’re beautiful, quite frankly. We can overlook any potential mechanical misgivings because as the old saying goes, the first bite is with the eye, and with an Alfa Romeo that bite is always a treat for the taste buds. Case in point is the Alfa Romeo GTV. Yum.

Released in the early ’90s the Alfa Romeo GTV remains one of the most distinctive and handsome vehicles to emerge from that decade. A spiritual successor to the Alfetta GTV that had been discontinued in 1987 it’s clear to see the evolutionary step if you park the two coupés side-by-side. This new car, wearing the same GTV badge, was quite the hit for the Italian firm, scooping up various automotive awards along the way. The public loved it too but in the intervening years the pot has well and truly gone off the boil, the bubbly has lost its fizz and the canapés have gone a bit soggy. But that means that prices have followed suit, which is a good thing because now you can pick one of these brilliant little Champagne Alfas up for lemonade money.

Although getting rare now there should be a car to suit every budget and taste with numerous engine choices and trim levels to choose from. Let’s not forget the convertible roadster either – the GTV Spider. Tasteful design will always endure and these cars are still a sight to behold and with their sonorous engines and flick-able handling they represent a great modern classic that will still thrill the pants off of most. In our humble opinion the time to pick one up and quench that Alfa thirst is well and truly now.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ALFA ROMEO GTV

Such handsome looks don’t come about merely by chance and so it’s no surprise to learn that the Alfa Romeo GTV was designed by Italian legends Pinifarina. More specifically Enrico Fumia, who had already previously penned the 164 for Alfa Romeo and would go on to design the Maserati 3200GT as well. The wedge-shaped lines with Kamm tail rear end look just as good today as when the car was officially unveiled alongside its roofless counterpart at the Geneva Motor Show in ’95. With its stiff chassis and well-tuned steering and suspension the GTV is an engaging car to drive and despite being front wheel-driven its a joy to drive enthusiastically. And that enthusiastic style is made all the more easier by an excellent choice of engines. Initially offered with Alfa’s four-cylinder Twin Spark and V6 Turbo motors, both displacing 2.0-litres, the range was expanded to include an additional 2.0-litre, ‘JTS’ engine as well as a smaller, 1.8-litre four-pot and three additional V6 options; a 3.0-litre 12-valve as well as a 3.0 and a 3.2-litre 24 valve. There’s no real wrong answer here and whichever engine you opt for will put a smile right across your face.

Over its ten year production run the GTV underwent a series of updates and facelifts, on top of the two ‘Turismo’ and ‘Lusso’ spec levels, and these amendments can be broken down into four main revisions. Phase 1b occurred in ’97 and was limited to the addition of the new 24-valve V6, updated wheels and some minor aesthetic amendments. Then there was Phase 2 in ’98 which consisted of the first major facelift whereby a new centre console was fitted along with revised instruments and colour-coded body accoutrements. At this point the 1.8 Twin Spark engine was also introduced. Phase 2b was next in 2000 which meant a reshuffle of available engines with the 2.0 and 3.0-litre 12-valve V6s being dropped from the line-up. The rest of the current crop of motors were cleaned up and detuned in order to reduce emissions. We don’t like Phase 2b.

The final iteration was Phase 3 in ’03. The GTV received a re-designed front end, another new centre console and the 2.0-litre JTS and 3.2-litre 24-valve V6 engines were added to the range. The GTV sits happily in the full line-up of cars that Alfa Romeo has produced over the years and continues the company’s tradition of producing exciting, beautiful vehicles that are a joy to drive. Cars that give a sense of pride to their owners. You only have to look at the slew of awards the car picked up upon its release to know that Alfa Romeo really did hit the mark with the GTV.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK OUT FOR?

As fantastic as the engines in these GTVs are a good service history is essential, with evidence of regular timing belt replacement and oil changes a must. Every 36,000 miles or three years is the general consensus for the timing belt. All of the usual checks should also be carried out, including any faulty head gasket symptoms and the mass airflow sensors can be problematic.

Worn bushes will present in a lacklustre handling car that feels vague in the corners. Polyurethane replacements are a worthwhile upgrade and will tighten everything up nicely. Another good indicator of worn or badly set up suspension will be uneven tyre wear so have a look at the tread to get an idea of how the car tracks. Knocking from the rear will also tell you all you need to know.

While the GTV’s body is galvanised and pretty much the entirety of the front of the car is composite it still pays to check for rust, especially the rear arches, sills and around the bottom of the rear window. Curbed wheels are also a common site due to the car’s rather meagre turning circle and somewhat poor visibility. Speaking of wheels the alloys can become porous which creates a poor tyre seal causing air to leak.

Interiors, although fairly bland and uninspiring, are generally hard wearing. Check that all of the electrics work and that everything is in good shape. Parts can be expensive to replace.

WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE?

It all depends on the model with earlier examples and those with smaller engines being the cheapest to obtain and live with. V6-equipped cars, along with later, face-lifted examples command the highest prices but you tend to get what you pay for so budget for the best you can afford. 2.0-litre Twin Spark models provide the best bang for buck but the JTS-engined variants are best avoided as they have been known to be problematic.

You can pick up a decent 2.0-litre Twin Spark for less than £3,000 which makes it an absolute bargain in anyone’s book and with 150bhp on tap and a 0-60 of around 8 seconds its still a feisty little so-and-so and preferred by many over the larger displacement cars. Not only that but because the engine was used in various other Alfa models parts and servicing won’t break the bank.

The 3.0-litre V6 cars can be had for as little as five grand but expect to spend up to £7000 – 8000 for one worth having with low miles and decent history. They are obviously faster than their lower displacement brethren but then with this level of power the car is on its limit when it comes to handling and understeer can be a real issue. The top of the line 3.2 V6 cars are rare and as such come at a premium – this 2004 3.2 V6 24V Lusso model is currently up for £12,000 on Car & Classic.

WHY SHOULD I BUY ONE?

Why wouldn’t you want a good looking, affordable Italian coupé? With brilliant engines, sharp handling and a silhouette that still makes people stare to this day the GTV really is the complete package. Perhaps unfairly labelled as overly unreliable, if you buy one with decent service history any of the potential mechanical foibles will have been ironed out by now leaving you to enjoy the drive. And boy, what a drive it is. These modern classic GTVs remain impressive but they’re not as common as they once were so grab one now while prices are still low. We can guarantee that they won’t stay that way for much longer.

Persuaded? To choose your own perfect package, here’s where you can find Alfa Romeo GTVs for sale.