Cover Car: 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulia
This gorgeous Alfa Romeo Giulia has been enthusiast-owned for at least the last 23 years and has been featured in an Alfa owners’ magazine. It’s offered for sale here on eBay, where bidding is already over $25,000 but has not yet met the reserve. The Italian coupe currently resides in Prairieville, Louisiana while it waits for you to be the high bidder.
The Rosso Amaranto paint dates from 2015 and shines like new. The seller states the car has never been driven in the rain during their ownership, which is doubly impressive considering the car has covered 20,931 miles since an engine & transmission rebuild in 2003. The seller gives their reason for selling as reducing their collection size; they also have a 1967 Renault Caravelle for sale.
I found where this Giulia Sprint has recently been auctioned unsuccessfully and there was some more detailed information there. It was originally delivered in Switzerland and was actually vintage raced in the late 1980s before being purchased by the current owner in 1999. It was originally blue, although I can’t imagine that looking better than the current burgundy hue. The owner did note at that point that there is some gearbox noise.
Here’s where the car was on the cover of the Alfa owners’ magazine. Quite a nice display piece if you are headed to a show!
It stated in the other for sale listing that the interior was refurbished at the same time as the last repaint in 2015. Honestly, it seems rather worn for that date, although it’s obvious that the car has been driven regularly.
While not the original engine, the 1.6 liter, DOHC four-cylinder is from a higher-specification Alfa Spider Veloce and is equipped with twin Weber DCOE carburetors. This generation of Alfa is known for its free-revving, delightful four-cylinder engines and how fun they are to drive, and I’m sure this 1962 Giulia is a fantastic car to take for a road tour. What do you think, readers? Have you owned or driven one of these vintage Alfas? Tell us about it in the comments!
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Comments
Here’s a Renault Caravelle story…
Back in 2012, we went on vacation to Paris for 2 weeks, and I gotta tell ya fellas, go to Paris. I saw quite a few cool vintage French cars there, so when I got back home, I decided to look for a French car.
The selection on Ebay was scant, and the cool Citroen 2CVs and DS cars were too pricey. So, I bought a 66 Caravelle out of West Virginia for just 2K. The owner was 92, bought the car at age 68. He rebuilt the engine, painted the car, and it was complete. No brakes. There was just no support for the marque out of BFE West Virginia, so the poor guy could never get the parts necessary to get the brakes to be operable. Included in the paperwork from this owner was copious correspondence with anyone and everyone, trying to obtain brake parts. No dice. That place in WV was extremely hilly, so of course you needed brakes.
I get the car home, get it running, and find a Cuban guy out of Miami to rebuild the calipers. I re-did the interior, and I drive the car for the summer and have some fun with it, but I quickly realize it’s more dangerous than a motorcycle. It’s a tin can on wheels. It’s barely an actual car. So I sell the car on Ebay to a guy in California for 6K, and off it goes.
5 years later I’m living in Florida, and I visit a classic car dealer down in Sarasota, and there’s the Caravelle. Asking price $25,000. As crazy as it sounds, my buyer shipped the car to CA, did some cosmetic stuff on the the car, and then took it to BJ in Scottsdale, where it was purchased by a guy out of Seattle for 11K.
How the hell it ended up in Sarasota, I have no idea. And who in their right mind would pay 25K for a Caravelle is the ultimate mystery.
Hey, bad brakes never stopped me!!
GitterDunn,
That has got to be the best one-liner ever written on Barn Finds!
There is a Caravelle in lilac on eBay for $45k.
Exquisite! That has to be the most beautiful Caravelle I’ve ever seen. I always did like them with the faux grilles, but am no fan of the fake wire wheels – for that money, I’d want the real thing.
Once again, and sadly, I’ve driven but never owned…. I consider this to be one of the best-looking GT cars of all, Time behind the wheel is even better than looking at it. It’s difficult to keep from winding the daylights out of those Alfa engines (why try?), the shifter is easy and precise, and the chassis delivers an excellent blend of ride and handling. It’s not the fastest car in the world, especially by today’s standards, but I strongly doubt any modern computer-controlled 500-horsepower monster is anywhere near as much fun as a vintage Alfa.
The original blue was a very pretty color. Much as I like the current hue, I doubt I’d have changed it. Other than that, wish I could toss in a bid!
If you think these cars aren’t sought after here’s a little information for you. In the mid ’70s a friend who was a mild collector of special sports cars came up with a ’57 roadster that had more rust in it than I’ve ever seen on a car. While looking over the car I noticed the steering wheel had survived the trauma and asked the owner if he’d sell me the wheel. As he was going to junk it he said I could have it. Took it off the car, cleaned it up, put a Porsche 356 horn button on it and hung it on a wall in the house office. Last year I noticed a lot of folks looking for restoration pars for the Alphas. Put an ad in Classics Motorsports magazine with a $800 asking price. Two days after the issue came out a restoration shop in California called for my address to send a check for the wheel. The cars were works of art and still are.
Alpha? Sheesh…
Point of order: this is a Guiletta NOT a Guila. The 1600 engine might well be a later engine though.
Those are spelled “Giulietta” (pronounced Julietta) and “Giulia” (pronounced Julia)
Correct per the hood. I had a 63 Guilia spyder with a 1600 Normale and itn had the scoop looking hood.
Correct. Here is a link which helps to explain the differences.
https://www.italclassic.com/en/alfa-romeo-model-guide-list/alfa-romeo-750-101-model-guide/
In all likelihood the engine does not match the build year of the car, but as it is swapped and most Alfa owners don´t care that much, am not sure that it would make a big difference.
Again, am surprised that an Alfa enthusiast would choose ebay to market a nice car. Very often these sell to local Alfisti who know the car.
I looked at replacing a Bertone with a similar car to this, but it felt very old-fashioned in comparison, so didn´t. They make good historic rally cars, however.
All Giuliettas came with a 1300 engine and 4 speed
All Giulias have a 1600 engine and 5 speed
The Sprint coupe body remained the same hence the confusion here but this car is a Giulia from first year production 1962. Only 7035 were made, they are much rarer than the Giulietta Sprints.
The Spider body received a scoop on hood to fit taller 1600 engine.
A swap to the 2 liter motor – if I were to change motors – is what I would do. Also, Alfa gearboxes are notoriously ‘crunchy’. You can attempt to fix it but living with it is a viable option. The blue color often came with a navy interior – my favorite color combination.
The gearboxes in the 750 and 101 series Alfas had weak 2nd gear synchros. One quickly learned that fast shifts from 1st to 2nd or downshifting into 2nd required a momentary pause in neutral to avoid clash. Double clutching was practiced by some owners but, was not really necessary. All other shifts can be done smoothly and rapidly. FWIW, my new out of the box 1969 BMW 2500 had a similar 2nd gear quirk. I learned to live with it for 125K miles.
Please explain why you believe this is a Giulietta and not a Giulia. The seller lists the S/N as AR353700 which is well within the factory S/N range for 1962 Giulia Sprint production (10112.350001 to 10112.355702). The instrument layout differs from that of the Giulietta series and is the same as the 1963 Giulia Bertone Sprint that I had back in the day, although the actual instrument facias of the seller’s car are the same as my ’57 Giulietta rather than the white on black facias of my ’63 Giulia’s instruments. An early production ’62 may have used left over bits from the Giulietta parts bin.
While the North American market received Giulias with the 1570cc engine, European Giulias could be ordered with the 1290cc engine as fitted to the earlier Giulietta models (a good friend in Bologna had a 1963 Giulia Sprint 1290cc well into the 1990’s). Since the seller’s car was originally delivered in Switzerland, the original engine may have been a 1290cc. Swapping a 1290cc or 1570cc Normale engine for a1570cc Veloce engine for vintage racing is understandable. BTW, Satta’s engine design was an excellent platform for factory and aftermarket performance mods. While many 1290cc Giulietta Spiders raced in SCCA G Production, I recall watching Chuck Stoddard, Herm Melotti and Ed Astri running performance tuned 1290cc Giulietta Veloces in D Production at Cumberland in 1961 and beating the big Healeys. The larger displacement of the 1570cc engine would advantageous for street use as well as on the track.
Folks this is a real Giulia 1600 with later but correct 1600 veloce engine
Giulia Sprints are much rarer than Giulietta Sprints. Only 7035 were made.
Hello, I am the owner, the paint was redone in same color in 2015
the engine is a veloce 1600 from a donor 65 spider veloce,
engine was listed in spider veloce register to prove it exists 00121*02161*
the tan interior was done by first owner who restored the car in late 80’s and remains in very good shape,
the original 1600 engine was damaged in Michigan winter temperatures and the current more powerful engine was fitted, the velocity stacks are from FAZA a Florida company,
only 7035 Giulia Sprints 1600 s were made between 1962 and 1964.
Sprints are lighter than Sprint Speciales with same engine,
early Giulias had the 3 shoe front brake set up.
letter from Alfa storico Marco Fazio confirms this is a Giulia 1600 model 10112
made in July 1962 chassis #353700
Ah yes, FAZA. I remember the company and its eccentric and sometimes irascible owner, Al Consentino. I first learned of FAZA when I was looking for performance parts for my 1977 Lancia. Thanks to his instructions, I was able to de-smog the 1756cc engine, improve performance and still pass state emissions testing.
Al was a very successful tuner and driver. He managed to wring an outrageous amount of power from tiny Fiat engines. He claimed to have a close working relationship with Carlo Abarth and the Fiat factory. He had a remarkably successful record racing Fiats and Lancia (won 34 out of 35 SCCA races with his Fiat Abarth 1000TC). His X1/9’s were unbeatable. His numerous wins in SCCA and TransAm racing actually got him banned. He had some well chosen words about that action!
The FAZA Fiat-Abarth-Lancia Bible is the most disorganized automotive performance catalogue I’ve ever seen. The parts listed are overwhelmingly Fiat with some Lancia and fewer Alfa items. Many part listings were accompanied by Al’s personal commentary. Its worth a read.
Al Consentino passed on in 2012.
I owned a 1964 Sprint 1964-67 and it was a wonderful car. Bought it from a fellow who imported it from Italy. The Giulia came with a standard 5 speed but all only had a single solex carb and drum brakes. There was no Veloce model in the Sprint. I heard later that a few were made with front disc brakes in 1965 but were not imported to the USA. The front drum brakes with 3 leading shoes stopped thy car very well.
Drove it cross country from NY to Cal without incident and traded it in for a 67 Giulia Super which had discs and dual Webbers.
Mine was Alfa red and to my knowledge came only in red, white, blue and silver. No black or burgundy I believe. It’s correct that a change in the engine is not that important to Alfisti. Engine, carburetor and transmission upgrades are generally considered desirable. Front discs can be retrofitted if desired.
This car seems to have well worn non original seat covers and is missing the license plate holder in the back but presents well. The instruments are a carry over from the Giulietta and were changed by 1963. Pictures of the undercarriage would be useful to a bider.
I’m now driving a 1969 Spider Veloce but would love to have a Giulia Sprint.
Ended: Jul 22, 2022 , 1:37PM
Current bid:US $28,200.00 [ 31 bids ]
Reserve not met