When it comes to the question of vehicle styling, Alfa Romeo has always tended to march to the beat of a different drummer. Sometimes the results have been vehicles of incredible beauty, while some of their offerings have been somewhat less than attractive…to be diplomatic. The GTV6 is definitely one of their more successful designs, and the basic body shape remained in production in various guises largely unchanged for a total of 15-years. This 1981 GTV6 is in better than average condition for its age, and the owner has decided that the time has come to part with the little thoroughbred that is located in Flanders, New Jersey. It has been listed for sale here on eBay, and bidding has reached $5,200 in what is a no reserve auction.

The GTV6 is finished in the very imaginatively named Alfa Red and generally presents quite nicely. The body wears a few minor blemishes, but there is nothing that is severe enough to warrant immediate attention. The owner supplies a great selection of photos of every aspect of the vehicle, and for those who might be worried about the Alfa’s reputation for rust problems, you will be relieved to learn that the floors appear to be completely solid and clean. Oh, how I wish that I could say that the vehicle is completely rust-free, but unfortunately, I can’t. However, the rust that is present appears to be of a very minor nature, and if this was addressed quickly, its progress could be arrested before it had a chance to gain a stranglehold on the Alfa. It is confined to four very small spots, including the top of the front fender on the driver’s side, a couple of small bubbles on the driver’s side rear wheel arch, and a small area in the rear edge of the roof. These are all pretty minor, but attacking them now would potentially save a fair amount of heartache in the future. The exterior trim looks to be in good condition, the factory alloy wheels are in excellent order, while there is no sign of any problems with the glass.

Apart from a reputation to develop rust problems, one of the other aspects of any Alfa that can cause grief is the interior trim and plastic. It wasn’t unusual to find early examples where the carpet started to accumulate a fair collection of little pieces of plastic as things began to crumble and fail, but if you find one today that hasn’t suffered that fate, then the chances are that you are onto a bit of a winner. The most pressing issue is the fact that below that cover, the dash pad is cracked. It isn’t clear just how bad this is, but it might be worth investigating whether it could be repaired. If it can’t, then it isn’t the end of the world. Finding a replacement cap is actually pretty easy, and they generally sell for around the $180 mark. The upholstery on the driver’s seat is stretched a bit, but the remaining upholstery and the carpet look quite good. There is an aftermarket CD player fitted in place of the original radio, but otherwise, the interior appears to be original and is generally very serviceable.

What made the GTV6 such a formidable vehicle and an absolute giant-killer was what could be found lurking in the engine bay. In this case, it is the fuel-injected 2,492cc V6 engine, which sends its 158hp to the road via a 5-speed manual transaxle. Now, 158hp doesn’t sound like a lot, but with a relatively light vehicle weight of 2,668lbs, and a smooth and aerodynamic body shape, the GTV6 could not only cover the ¼ mile in a respectable 16.4 seconds, but it could wind its way to a top speed of 132mph. The good news, in this case, is that this is a car that would appear to have been properly maintained. The owner says that all of the fluids are fresh, that the engine starts and runs well, the clutch and transmission operate smoothly, and overall, the Alfa drives nicely. It sounds like the wide-open roads are beckoning this little classic and its next lucky owner.

If the rust that the owner identifies in this 1981 Alfa GTV6 is all that is present in the entire car, then this is an Italian classic that shows a lot of promise. Of course, it will take a personal inspection to confirm whether this is accurate, but this is something that the owner is actively encouraging potential buyers to do. When owners follow that line of thinking, it generally indicates that they don’t believe that there is anything to hide, which is always an encouraging sign. These are by no means a rumbling muscle car, but slipping behind the wheel of a GTV6 can provide even the most skeptical of drivers with a pretty pleasant surprise. Not only does the engine provide impressive levels of performance for such a small capacity, but pointing a GTV6 at a twisting piece of road can provide one of the most enjoyable driving experiences that you can ever imagine. Enjoyment. Isn’t that what owning a classic car is supposed to be all about?