HIGHLIGHTS

Sharp Pinifarina design
All standard, seemingly unmodified
Substantial history file
Peppy performance and great handling
Scarcest of the 916 generation being a Phase 3 with JTS power
ULEZ Compliant

THE APPEAL

With legendary styling courtesy of Pininfarina, it is rare you will come across an Alfa Romeo that isn’t instantly recognisable from any angle and the GTV 916 (Gran Turismo Veloce) is no exception. Beautifully styled and made and with extraordinary finesse.

The Clam-Shell bonnet design with Kam-Tail rear were enhanced by Pininfarina for the final twelve months production run (2003 - 2004), ahead of the launch of the Brera model that ultimately replaced the GTV. This included a new deeper shield grill, new bumper design (with offset number plate position) and the improved JTS 2-Litre engine (the lower emissions of which, qualify this car for driving in London’s recently expanded ULEZ zone without having to pay a fee).

With production ceasing and the new Brera on the close horizon, not a great quantity of Phase 3 models were built and certainly not many of those were produced in RHD for the UK market. Eye-catching, rare and wonderfully engaging to drive, these little Alfa Romeo’s are truly a work of art that touch your soul. It is often said you're not a true petrolhead until you have owned an Alfa Romeo, so what better way to tick that box than to call this fine GTV your own?

THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK

First registered 25th May 2004
UK Market vehicle, new at first registration
Existing registered keeper since April 2019
‘GTV’ cherished registration number was allocated to the car in 2011 and remains with the vehicle
Receipts from ‘Autolusso’ for supply, fitting of reconditioned 2.0 JTS engine in 2015 at which time the odometer was reading 66,249 miles
Thick history file in a folder, containing old invoices and vehicle-related paperwork
Two keys plus remote alarm fob
Three-piece clutch kit replaced in September 2019 (at 84,328 miles) £1,045 invoice in the history files
The cambelt / timing-belt, water-pump & tensioners were replaced in November 2022 at 92,155 miles
MOT’d until 2nd February 2024 and has covered less than 50 miles miles since the last test

THE INTERIOR

Deep Red ‘Lusso’ upholstery has lasted very well indeed and gives quite a fabulous first impression when you open the doors
No sign of age or wear in the rear compartment
Minimal signs of wear in the front with excellent door cards and primarily just some wear on the driver's upright bolster, where the leather is wearing a little, though all stitching looks to be intact
Aluminium-style foot-pedals are a nice touch and were perhaps factory-fitted
Original leather gear-knob has minimal wear and the gator looks original and excellent (these are commonly one of the first things to wear on a GTV and are typically replaced with aftermarket products)
Original Handbrake lever with chromed button - original, with no signs of wear (commonly worn or replaced on many of the 916 generation GTVs)
Red carpets are very smart throughout and haven’t suffered any fade or wear except close to the right pedal area to the footwell
A plastic clip is missing on the driver's footwell plastic cover (where the steering wheel comes up from the footwell, housing the bonnet pull) so the cover drops if not otherwise supported
Interior door handles look excellent and free of chips or seat buckle scars
Centre-console plastics and switch-gear surrounds are very smooth, smart and original
Switchgear appears unmarked with perfect cubby doors, clips and even the fine vent plastics all present and correcting, appear in perfect order
The dashboard is original and in excellent order, showing no visible marks and no colour fade. There are no splits or cracks in the dash top, nor to the excellent rear parcel shelf
Clear dials and controls are all working correctly
All in all, the interior is in excellent order. It’s a very nice place to be
A spare space-saver steel wheel is fitted in its original popper-fronted Alfa Romeo cover, within the narrow boot
The jack and tools all seem to be present and correct in the Alfa Romeo holders
The alloy wheel locking nut is in its original box

THE EXTERIOR

Black paintwork is in good order and gives the elegant Pininfarina lines a very sleek and purposeful look
The paintwork does have a small number of chips and marks. There is one low scuff to the off-side rear bumper corner and three shallow trolley dings on the off-side also (one on the door, one above the sill and one close to the filler cap)
Correct, original Pininfarina Shield and side scripts in excellent order on both flanks
The front bumper has all trims, badges, lattice-works and vents in situ, with no signs of cracks, broken clips or anything missing. Just a few light scuff marks at the very front beneath the grille
The front bonnet emblem has slightly faded
Close-up, the bonnet does have a few stone chips and blemishes, plus, from some angles, a larger area where the paint lacquer looks to have faded or bloomed
A few tiny chips on both door upright edges
Wing mirrors are tight, secure and free of any battle-scars but aluminium base mounts have minor oxidisation
The 17” 5-petal Cloverleaf style Alfa Romeo alloys really look the part - they present well and appear original to the car
The wheels don’t look to have been refurbished, carrying a few small marks but all have the original serpent badge centre-cap badges and set the car off very nicely indeed
All four tyres match and have even tread (the front two are getting fairly close to their 2mm tread markers)
All tinted glass looks free of any obvious scratches, chips or fractures
Lights are in very good condition with no signs of clouding, fracture or issues
Number plates are bright, legal, clear and easily legible. The cherished ‘GTV’ number will stay with the car
All drainage channels look clean and free of corrosion
The aerial retracts but not fully. It may require lubrication or replacement
All exterior trims and fittings look original, unmodified and good throughout - even the door-shut rubber B-post sound-proof strips, (which so commonly get broken and discarded on GTVs of this period) are present and in very good shape

THE MECHANICS

1970 cc 2.0 JTS engine with direct fuel injection
Five-speed manual gearbox
Starts effortlessly, settles quickly into a gentle, even idle and revs freely
It would appear the reconditioned engined fitted by specialists ‘Autolusso’ has now only covered some 26,000 miles since being fitted
Gear selection feels clean and precise
Clutch engagement is mid-pedal range, fairly light and free of any noise or fuss
Brakes require plenty of pressure to pull the car up (typical of infrequently used cars) - the vendor states that there could be some rust on the disc surfaces

SUMMARY

This handsome little Alfa is a real joy to see… the Pininfarina styling is both timeless and charming. Particularly rare with it being in Phase 3 guise, as they really do only come along quite infrequently.

The combination of the black exterior and the red leather ‘Lusso’ interior make for a particularly striking combination. Renowned for good balance and peppy performance, there is much to be seduced by when it comes to the mechanicals and the big jobs such as the timing belts and clutch have already been attended to.

Don’t miss the chance to add this scintillating little Alfa to your driveway.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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