Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, 1961
Alfa Romeo Giulietta I
Alfa Romeo Giulietta I•
•42 views
Chassis No.: AR1012000320
Auction: Monterey 2016
Auction date: August 20, 2016
Lot No.: F93
$115,500 | Sold
- Exterior: Red
- Interior: Red/white
- Body: Sprint Speciale
- Comprehensive restoration by Guatemalan automobile collector Mario Sueiras in 2007 using original parts
- Approximately 150 miles since the restoration
- Stored in climate controlled garage
- 1.3/100 HP Veloce-spec twin cam engine
- Twin Weber 2-barrel carburetors
- 4-speed manual transmission
- Independent front and rigid rear suspension with coil springs
- 4-wheel drum brakes
- Superb chrome and polished alloy trim
- Red and White leather interior with White piping
- Restored gauges
- Detailed engine bay
In 1954, Alfa Romeo followed up on the success of its 1900 series with the handsome Bertone-styled Giulietta Sprint coupe powered by a 1.3-liter aluminum-block version of Alfa’s famous twin overhead cam inline-4 engine. A two-plus-two coupe of obvious sporting nature, the Giulietta Sprint used a twin-choke side-draft carburetor and a high-compression aluminum head, producing 80 HP and a top speed of 103 MPH. In 1955, Alfa added the Giulietta Salon, which became a huge commercial success, and a Pininfarina-bodied Spider. Alfa sold more than 16,000 Giulietta Salons by 1958; by 1961 it had also produced more than 14,000 Giulietta Spider convertibles.
Perhaps the prettiest Giulietta was the lovely Bertone-bodied Sprint Speciale or SS coupe. Built in limited numbers from 1957 through 1962, the Sprint Speciale boasted a 100 HP version of the 1.3L engine with twin Weber twin-choke side-draft carburetors, giving it a top speed of 125 MPH. The suspension layout is typical of the period: unequal length a-arms, coil springs, tube shocks and an anti-roll bar up front, and at the rear a live axle located with trailing arms and an upper triangle link, tube shocks and coil springs.
With that arrangement and reliable 4-wheel drum brakes, the SS was quick and nimble enough that many owners drove them in competition; indeed, they are still popular in vintage rallying and racing today. Collector Mario Sueiras purchased this 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale coupe in August 2006 from Joop Stolze Classic Cars in the Netherlands. Mr. Sueiras imported the car to his home in Guatemala and in 2007 commenced a comprehensive restoration using original parts that included rebuilding its Veloce-specification 1.3/100 HP twin-cam engine and fully detailing the engine bay.
The completed car is the very picture of a classic postwar Alfa sports coupe, its flowing Bertone-designed curves cloaked in Italy’s official racing color and showing off superb chrome and polished alloy trim. Contrasting red and white leather upholstery with white piping adorns the cleanly designed cockpit, which features restored gauges and the comfortable bucket seats and driver-friendly controls that have come to typify Alfa Romeos of all generations. This pristine Sprint Speciale coupe has been kept in a dry climate-controlled garage and has been driven just 150 miles since its restoration.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/244360/1961-alfa-romeo-giulietta-sprint-speciale/
