Vehicle Description
Alfa Romeo made its name building big powerful sports cars, touring
cars and luxury sedans for the Italian elite. In the early days of
the company and leading up to WWII, they enjoyed great success in
motor racing and were responsible for some of the most beautifully
engineered automobiles of the pre-war era. After suffering
devastating losses during the war, Alfa gradually resumed
production, mainly offering bespoke coachbuilt cars based on their
pre-war supercharged 6C chassis. Thankfully, those in charge of
Alfa could see these sorts of cars would not sustain the company
for very long and they realized that mass production was the key to
survival. The subsequent 1900 series was a good step in the right
direction, particularly as it was Alfa's first unitary-construction
chassis, but it was still a relatively expensive car and many
examples were coachbuilt to client's orders. But the stage was set,
and Alfa Romeo's next project struck the perfect chord with buyers
and pundits alike. The 750-series Giulietta caused a sensation when
it was first shown as a prototype to the Italian public in the
early 1950s. By the time the first cars reached the public hands in
1954, word had traveled quickly about their incredible ability and
quality, and the orders poured in. Virtually overnight, Alfa Romeo
- and its preferred Carrozzeria Bertone - found themselves in the
volume car building business. Production expectations were
multiplied many times over, and the range was expanded to include
not only the standard saloon and coupe, but a 2-seat spyder which
was built by neighboring Pininfarina. The Pininfarina design was
chosen not only on its merit (the beautiful, fluid lines were
better resolved than Bertone's proposal) but for the simple fact
that Pininfarina had the production capacity to handle demand.
Offered as either the 80hp Normale or 90hp Veloce the gorgeous
little Giulietta Spyder is the poster child of the Italian sports
car. It is light, mechanically robust and quite sophisticated. The
chassis comprised of wishbone independent front suspension,
live-axle rear suspension with coil springing, twin radius rods and
a triangular locating member. Alfa's famous finned alloy drum
brakes were fitted to all four corners, and the jewel-like 1300 cc
twin cam engine featured an alloy head. A positively exotic 5-speed
gearbox was fitted later in the run, something that was virtually
unheard of at the time. The Giulietta in all forms is simply a joy
to drive, but with the top down and the full aural experience, the
Spyder is the purest and most joyful of them all. This gorgeous
750-series Giulietta Spyder is one of the best examples we've
encountered in many years. This desirable short-chassis, small
taillight model wears a high quality restoration with an emphasis
on driving enjoyment. The striking color combination perfectly
suits the delicate Pininfarina lines. Panel fit and body alignment
is crisp and straight, evidence that this was a very solid car
before it was restored. The Grigio Grafite paint is beautifully
laid down with deep gloss and straight reflections. Chrome and
polished brightwork are likewise very high quality. The correct
original Boranni wheels are properly finished in silver with chrome
center caps and are wrapped with newer radial tires. The cabin is
sparse but elegant, with bright red seats and carpets contrasting
the gray bodywork brilliantly. All of the upholstery appears to be
very fresh and executed to a high standard, with correct detailing
such as the quilted foot pad on the transmission tunnel, and the
vinyl transmission gaiter. Proper rubber floor mats are fitted and
the original steering wheel and switchgear are all intact and in
lovely condition. It wears a black cloth top should you need
shelter from the weather. A Michelin spare rests correctly behind
the seats, and the trunk is similarly detailed with correct fluted
rubber mats and a very tidy and solid appearance. The
matching-numbers, 1300 c.c. Normale twin-cam runs beautifully,
thriving on revs and rewarding with a sweet soundtrack. The engine
is backed by a four-speed gearbox and fed by a single Weber
downdraft. The engine bay presentation is that of a well-detailed,
but not fussy, standard with an emphasis on reliability over
concours perfection. Many Alfisti will insist that the 750 Normale
is the sweetest and best of the breed to live with. The single carb
engine has only marginally less power, but possesses a flatter
torque curve. With less weight up front, it is said to give
slightly sharper reactions. Of course, much of that comes down to
individual experience, but one thing all Alfa owners agree on is
that the Giulietta is one of the sweetest and most rewarding of all
sports cars, regardless of the specification. �Our example's
gorgeous cosmetics and well-sorted mechanicals add up to make the
ideal Giulietta. It is stunningly beautiful to look at, and yet it
welcomes a good hard drive thanks to the strong running engine and
fully sorted chassis. The sale of this wonderful Alfa includes a
binder documenting the restoration, as well as the original data
plate and correspondence from Alfa Romeo Storica detailing its
origins.