Opis
Coming to auction at Wilton House for the Concours Des Legendes, 19-21 June, full catalogue now online, search Dore & Rees Motoring for further info.
1978 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint Veloce
Registration Number: VUW 6235
Chassis Number: TBA
Recorded Mileage: 52, 000 miles
- Believed by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club to be the earliest surviving example
- Subject to an extensive, yet sympathetic ground-up restoration
- Original UK-supplied right-hand-drive car retaining its 1. 3-litre boxer engine
Few marques inspire the devotion of enthusiasts quite like Alfa Romeo. In 1971, the Alfasud was one of the company's most important models, bringing Alfa Romeo's engineering excellence to a wider audience through innovations such as it’s all-round disc brakes and the charismatic flat-four boxer engine.
Launched in 1976, the Alfasud Sprint clothed this advanced mechanical package in one of the most elegant sporting coupé bodies of the era. Penned by the young Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign, the Sprint combined crisp styling with the sharp, responsive handling for which the Alfasud became renowned. Today, early Sprint Veloce models are among the rarest and most sought-after variants, their scarcity heightened by the well-known corrosion issues that claimed so many examples during their early lives.
First registered in April 1978, this original UK-supplied Sprint Veloce is believed, according to the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, to be the earliest surviving example currently on Britain's roads. Acquired by the vendor in 2017, the car subsequently became the subject of a painstaking restoration inspired by a long-held admiration for the model and its distinctive boxer-engined character.
Undertaken from 2022 by the award-winning Wraith Motors of East Barnet, the restoration saw the car stripped back to its bare shell before being rebuilt from the ground up. Remarkably, given the reputation of the model, the body required only minimal metalwork, with the rear valance being the sole panel replaced. The remainder of the body is understood to be original, a testament both to the car's survival and the quality of its underlying structure.
Finished in striking Giallo Pozzuoli Yellow, an original Alfa Romeo colour, the restoration was deliberately sympathetic rather than concours-oriented, preserving the character and authenticity of the car while returning it to an exceptional standard. Significant effort was devoted to sourcing correct components from across the United Kingdom and Europe, with parts located through specialist suppliers, owners' clubs and enthusiast networks in Italy and Greece. A photographic record documents the restoration process.
The interior was completely retrimmed by specialist craftsmen in Kent, with the seats rebuilt from their frames and trimmed using painstakingly sourced materials closely matching the original brown vinyl and distinctive check-pattern cloth. The boot compartment was similarly restored, while suspension, trim and mechanical components were renewed or refurbished as required.
With just 52, 000 miles recorded, the original 1. 3-litre boxer engine required only sympathetic refreshing rather than a full rebuild. Renowned for its eager nature, distinctive exhaust note and willingness to rev, the compact flat-four remains one of the defining characteristics of the Alfasud driving experience. The vendor advises that the car performs exactly as an Alfasud Sprint should, combining lively performance with the exceptional handling and road-holding for which the model is celebrated.
With restoration expenditure exceeding £20, 000, extensive photographic records and now huge rarity, this outstanding Sprint Veloce represents a rare opportunity to acquire possibly the finest early Alfasud Sprint currently on the road today.
