The 75 has a special place in the Alfa Romeo lineage, and not just because it was built to celebrate the firm’s 75th anniversary. It is the last car fully designed, developed, and built using Alfa-only engineering, rather than parts shared with Fiat models. That it also evolved the beautifully balanced transaxle layout of the Alfetta and Giulietta merely adds to its appeal.
The marriage of all that with Giuseppe Busso’s 3L V6, aptly nicknamed the ‘violin of Arese,’ and a five-speed manual gearbox makes this 1988 car a proper treat for Alfisti. The eagle-eyed will also spot that it is one of the exceptionally rare European market ‘America’ models. These cars were based on the USA-market ‘Milano’ and featured an ‘aero’ body kit, a repositioned fuel tank, and electric windows, and can be identified by their US-market ‘accordion’ impact bumpers.
The car comes with a fascinating history. Documents with the car indicate that it was a service vehicle for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta during 1990. For many years, subsequently, it was owned by an Italian family with a well-known restaurant in Keighley. The owner was on a trip to Rome in the early 1990s when his flight was cancelled. Spotting this car in a garage across the road from his hotel, he bought it and drove it home. The car was then run on its original Roma plates for several years before being UK-registered in 1994. Those plates are provided with the car.
The current keeper is a marque enthusiast who has owned several 75s. He specifically wanted an America in this car’s colour - Grigio Medio Metallizato - and discovered it with a collector. We’re told that it had been unused on the original UK keeper’s driveway for 16 years, so between 2019 and 2020, the current keeper commissioned its restoration. 75-specialist Walshaw Motors was entrusted with a full respray in the original colour and Firdy’s Garage did the mechanical work. This included new springs, rear brake overhaul, new grooved discs and Bilstein shocks.
The car comes to market with a recent service. The timing belt was replaced in 2023 . The current MOT runs to May 2027 with no advisories. A range of useful parts are included with the car, including a timing belt kit.
The vendor would like this car to go to someone who is as enthusiastic about 75s and Alfas as he is. Judging by the provenance and condition, that seems highly likely. image.png1.28 MB
Key Information
Mileage: 82,495 miles (odometer replaced, see photos, mileage not warranted)
Country of registration: originally Italy, United Kingdom
Technical inspection status: MOT valid to 1st May 2027 with no advisories
Technical specs: 2,962cc ‘Busso’ V6, 5spd manual
Paperwork: good history file verifying car’s story, photo of odometer change, 2 keys, lots of paperwork, photos of restoration, Roma plates, V5C, over 250 photos of restoration available on Walshaw Motors Facebook page
Summary of history:
Service vehicle for Sovereign MIlitary Order of Malta 1st to 31st December 1990
Acquired by a previous Italian keeper in Rome in early 90s and then owned for many years
Acquired by the current collector-keeper and restored in 2020
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