1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale

The foundation of Alfa Romeo's post-war reputation centered on advanced, lightweight sports cars created in partnership with Italy's finest styling houses. The list included Pininfarina, Zagato, and Bertone and these unions birthed some of the most beautiful and finely crafted machines ever created. Among them was the Giulietta Sprint Speciale (the first of the new 101-Series cars), which drew design inspiration from the Disco Volante and futuristic Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica (BAT) cars. Franco Scaglione designed the prototype, and Bertone brought those drawings to life. Unveiled in 1957 at the Turin Motor Show, two additional designs were released before the final production model was presented in 1959 (June 24), appropriately at the Monza race track.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale (SS) was based on a shortened Giulietta chassis with a wheelbase size of 88.6 inches (2250mm), a length of 162.2 inches (4120mm), a height of 49 inches (1245mm), and a width of 65.4 inches (1660mm).

The aerodynamic Bertone-bodied Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS had lower floor pans that allowed for a lower roof line, and its radiator was also lowered, resulting in a sleeker bonnet line, which earned it the 'low nose' moniker. The first 101 examples had 'low nose' and 750 SS designation (FIA Homologation required a minimum of 100 cars). The model was updated in 1960 with a higher nose and bumpers to comply with U.S. regulations. The low nose examples were also paired with a smaller bootlid and different side profile lines on the fenders. A few all-aluminum examples were produced, but the majority wore steel bodies with aluminum boot lid, engine bonnet, and doors. Early examples also used Weber 40 DCO3 carburetors, while later examples switched to 40 DCOE2 carburetors.

The Giulietta SS was company, aerodynamically efficient (drag coefficient of 0.28), and potent for its size, with considerable success in 1,300cc class racing the world over. A mere 1,366 had been produced by the time the model was superseded in 1963.

The Geneva Motor Show of 1963 witnessed the arrival of a larger engined Giulia series. The 1,570cc engine had Weber 40 DCOE2 carburetors sourced from the Giulia Sprint Veloce and produced 112 horsepower. Most examples of the Giulia SS had front disc brakes. Distinguishable features of the Giulia, as opposed to the Giulietta SS, were a unique dashboard, a leather underside with the glovebox at a different angle (the Giulietta had a sloping dashboard that was painted in one color, devoid of a leather underside), and 'Giulia SS' scripts.

Production of the Giulia SS ended in 1965 (a single Sprint Speciale was completed in 1966) with 1,400 examples built.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024

Sold for $67,200 at 2024 RM Sothebys : ModaMiami.
This 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale by Bertone completed assembly in February 1962, and was subsequently sold to an owner in Forli, Italy/ By 1988, the car had been acquired by Conrad 'Bud' Brickman of Loudonville, New York, who commissioned a restoration by Peter Markowski's RPM in Vermont. Upon completition, hte car was driven in several events including the Copperstate 1000, and three tours through New England.

The car was sold in May 2006 at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum and acquired by its current Massachusetts-based caretaker. A sympathetic referbishment followed with receipts totalling over $91,000, including mechanical attention as needed by Bonfanti Garage in Italy, a re-plating of the chrome, and installation of a new two-tone interior.

At some point, the car was given an incorrect 1.6 liter engine from a later Giulia example. The current owner had a Type 539 engine installed, which although originally specified for the uprated Giulia 1300 TI model, retains the proper 1.3 liter displacement. A correct Veloce intake system was also installed which included air filter, plenum, and manifold.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024