Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprints are possibly the most affordable and fun-to-drive classic Italian small-bore GT cars available today. They offer striking Bertone closed-body styling combined with easy-to-service four-cylinder 750/101-series Alfa mechanicals and are eligible for scores of driving and show events. Many people prefer the open-top Pininfarina Spider variants, but as a driver, I honestly prefer the closed-top Sprint models as they are better-driving cars, more elegant-looking, and much more rare sights than their open-top relatives. It is also cool that the Alfa Giulietta Sprint is the first of the new Alfa Romeo cars and was introduced before the Spider.
The Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a second-series 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint located in Sacramento, California.
The private seller describes this Alfa Sprint as having “a stunning red exterior, perfectly capturing the essence of Italian sports car design. The elegant lines of the body are complemented by an interior that features black leather seats, a perforated cream-colored headliner, and black carpets.”
Looking at the photos of the exterior, I see that, while the paint is not show-quality, it is in acceptable, driver-level condition. The brightwork, bombers, grill, and such all seem to be in good condition as do the original wheels and hubcaps. The car rides on Vredestein Sprint Plus tires, which are the correct size and have a vintage-style tread pattern. When I see cheap tires on a classic car for sale, I wonder what else the seller skimped on. That is is not the case with this Alfa.
The interior of the car is interesting in that so much of it – the door cards, steering wheel, and instruments – all look original and in the correct materials. Yes, the door cards seem a little weird and worn, but they are correct for a 1960 Alfa Sprint and I like the patina on them. The seats appear to be in excellent shape, as do the carpets.
Under the hood sits this Alfa’s original DOHC 1,300cc I4 engine. It is a Normal version and has the correct single Weber carb and the correct air cleaner assembly. All the body tags are in place and the engine compartment looks pretty tidy. The red spark plug wires are incorrect, but I am nitpicking. If that bugs you, it can be easily remedied with the correct green wires for about $100.
As an added bonus, a 105-series Alfa 2.0-liter engine, which includes dual Weber downdraft carburetors, and a five-speed manual gearbox come with the purchase of the car. These additions would add a lot more power and make the car more drivable.
This Alfa looks like a really nice driver-level 1960 Giulietta Sprint. I would happily add it to my collection and use it on vintage rallies and such. I think it would be a fun car to drive during Monterey Car Week or down to Amelia Island. With an asking price of only $44,995, it represents what has to be the best value in classic Italian GT cars.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com