The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale really is a car that manages to have it all. Not only are its Franco Scaglione-penned lines a voluptuous treat for the eyes, but it really does look futuristic. It looks like it’s surging towards the horizon even when waiting dutifully for its owner.
When the very lucky owner returns to this Bertone-bodied beauty, the fun continues. Two engines powered the SS, the first was a four-cylinder 1.3-litre Twin Cam engine that delivered 100bhp. That may not sound like a great deal, but you have to remember that as these cars were essentially homologation specials, the luscious coachwork was made from a weight-conscious mix of aluminium and steel, and it had a drag co-efficient of just 0.28. This made them very fast – 125mph, a lot for the time.
Going fast, however, is only part of the car’s appeal. Like most Alfas the handling is a delight; communicating the road’s corrugations to the driver loud and clear – but begging to be chucked around much harder. It’s easy to see why even standard Giuliettas were popular racing cars.
As racing regulations changed, so did the SS. Gone were the Giulietta underpinnings, in came a 1.6-litre engine and Giulia underpinnings, all under a very similar Giulietta shape. It retained the name, but gained extra power – 112bhp.
It’s an example of the latter that you see here – and while it may be grey, miserable and cold outside right now, it’s not hard to dream of flicking through an Alpine pass, the perfectly positioned gearbox happily doing your bidding. The rasping Twin Cam engine will be ricocheting off the hills as it excitedly fires you from one hairpin to another, each corner an object lesson in engaging and satisfying handling. It’ll be delicious.
You’ll be glad to know that because this is a Giulia-based car, it’s fitted with front disc brakes – it being an Alfa, the sheer joy of revving that sweet engine is highly addictive, to the point where you may forget to brake. But you wouldn’t have to worry about this car’s age, though.
It’s had a comprehensive refurbishment by RM Restorations, which means the camshafts were re-shimmed, the gearbox was overhauled and the brakes were brought back to their best. A fresh exhaust was installed before a full service and tune-up.
But even if you were lucky enough to be this Alfa’s custodian, using it in the middle of winter may not be the best idea – salt and Alfas do not mix well. But with this sitting in the garage, you’ll be begging for the seasons to change. Now, where did I put my Euromillions ticket?