Alfa Romeo Giulietta

More about this Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Our car is a cosmopolitan little number. It left the factory in 1961 and little is known about its first 26 years suggesting, perhaps, that it remained in its motherland until around 1987. The Sprint hits the radar again at that point by being exported to the USA. Over the next 33 years the car passes through the hands of five US based owners. At some point during this period our car underwent a thorough and highly professional restoration, seemingly addressing every aspect of the car. The last of these US owners was a privately held, 240 car collection called the Elkhart Collection based in Indiana. The collection’s history sadly ended in bankruptcy and our little Sprint was auctioned off as part of a $44M sale conducted by RM Sotheby’s in 2020. At this point the car recrossed the pond to arrive in the UK and into the care of its current owner.

This Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint is presented in bright “Rosso Corsa” paintwork. It seems clear that this was professionally applied during the earlier restoration, and it presents very well today. It seems thickly and evenly applied and exudes a deep shine. The red hue is surely the best one to help highlight Mr Scaglione’s fine work. The front-end treatment of the Sprint is especially attractive and recognisable with its three separate, chromed grill pieces. The centre, vertically orientated of these proudly wears the Alfa Romeo roundel. The base of this grill fits neatly into a centre notch in the deeply chromed front bumper.

The compact rear end of the car is equally well presented. This time the chrome bumper wraps around the rear wings and features a similar centre notch. This one houses the boot lock, and the twin numberplate lights stand proudly either side. A charming, chromed original boot handle is present, which is almost aircraft shaped with a small Alfa badge on its “nose.” There is an area of cracked paint noted at the right-hand edge of the boot aperture. The owner reports that the fit of the doors may need addressing and that the rear windows don’t currently secure fully.

The Sprint’s interior is simple and relatively minimalistic by today’s standards but all the better for it. Despite that it manages to be achingly stylish in a way that only the Italians can seem to master. Upholstery is a mix of self-patterned grey, woollen fabric and black vinyl. The compact seats feature fabric centres paired with black vinyl bolsters. They are in great condition overall. Behind the seats is a useful luggage shelf where back seats probably once were. The removeable wooden bases are finished in grey carpet that matches the remainder of the cabin. The side panels are a mixture of the self-patterned fabric and black vinyl. Surface mounted speakers are cut into these. The rear panel is fabric finished and the wooden shelf panels can be removed to reveal the original body cavity and paintwork.

Judging by the paperwork our car has been well cared for throughout its life and its under-bonnet presentation certainly supports that view. On lifting the bonnet your eye is immediately drawn to the black, crackle-finished cam covers compete with polished alloy Alfa Romeo script. Everything in here looks great with plenty of new parts in evidence including matching red HT leads, radiator and coil. All the expected data plates are present, and the considered look is rounded off by pristine, diamond quilted bonnet insulation.

Even if you aren’t a dyed-in-the-wool “Alfista” the Giulietta Sprint is a hard car not to fall in love with. It harks back to simpler times and benefits from inputs from automotive luminaries like Bertone, Ghia, Busso and Scaglione. It is beautifully conceived exhibiting both delicacy, finesse and latent sporting prowess.