1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA 1600

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA

Behold the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA, the history-steeped Italian marque’s fabled touring car. Timelessly styled by Bertone, the GTA’s body was crafted from a new-fangled and very light alloy dreamt up by Alfa’s Servizio Esperienze Carpenteria, comprising aluminium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. Once the magnesium wheels, Perspex windows, aluminium suspension components and lightweight door handles (yes, really) were thrown into the mix, the Giulia Sprint tipped the scales at a mere 740kg, earning the car its Gran Turismo Alleggerita (Italian for lightweight) nomenclature. 

The GTA’s weight – or rather lack of – equated to nimbleness. And the legendary 1,570cc twin-spark engine, fed by two twin-barrel Weber carburettors, equated to speed. Alfa’s intentions for the Giulia Sprint was for it to win races. And win races it most certainly did. The factory’s decorated racing outfit Autodelta enjoyed great success with the GTA, clinching European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) titles in 1966, ’67 and ’68. And the factory’s more potent GTA 1300 Junior and GTAm scored a further two ETCC victories in 1970 and ’71.

Chassis no. 752540

One of just 501 GTA 1600s constructed, chassis AR 752540 was completed at the fabled Arese works on 22 July 1965. Factory archives detail its finish in the quintessential GTA colour scheme of Rosso with Nero interior. On 2 March 1966 the car was dispatched to US Importers Alfa Romeo Inc. of Newark, New Jersey.

It was one of just 14 right-hand drive GTAs exported to the US that year. This select batch of cars were intended primarily for use in the burgeoning Trans-American Sedan Championship – colloquially known as ‘Trans-Am’ – as logic suggested that their configuration would offer superior weight distribution on the predominantly clockwise US tracks.

Supplied to first owner Dick Peritz of Little Neck, New York via Brooklyn-based agents Carmelo Giuffre Alfa Romeo, 752540 made its competition debut on 19 June 1966 in the SCCA Regional meeting at Bridgehampton, New York. Driven by Peritz himself, the pair finished a fine second in class and third overall in the Sedan race, beaten only by future Sports Car luminaries Bob Tullius and Tony Adamowicz.

Three weeks later, the car was entered for the third round of the 1966 Trans-Am series at Bryar, New Hampshire; the 250-mile race representing a noticeable step up both in duration and prestige. Facing Lotus-Cortina mounted opposition from the likes of Frank Gardner, Sir John Whitmore and ultimate winner Allan Moffat, Peritz acquitted himself well, finishing sixth in the under-2 litre category and 11th overall.

The series reconvened at Virginia International Raceway in late July for the VIR 400; a two driver, 400-mile blast through the undulating countryside outside Danville, Virginia. Alfa Romeo’s early season form saw the Lotus-Cortina attack bolstered by Jacky Ickx and Richard Attwood, while the entry list also featured – somewhat incongruously – local NASCAR stars Richard Petty, David Pearson and Curtis Turner in the over 2-litre class. If Ford’s eventual Mustang 1-2, after more than five hours of racing, was emphatic, then so too was Alfa Romeo’s performance in the under 2-litre category; GTAs accounting for the entire class podium. With Peritz ably assisted by fellow New Yorker Gerry Dorman on this occasion, 752540 finished a creditable ninth in class and 12th overall.

Following a comprehensive rebuild over the winter of 1966/67, the GTa was duly repainted mid-blue. Gerry Dorman drove the revamped car to a class win at the SCCA meeting at Lime Rock, Connecticut in May 1967, before once again partnering Peritz to finish 18th overall – and eighth in class – in the 4 Hours of Mont Tremblant the following weekend.

Acquired by Dorman from Peritz in mid-1967, 752540 practised for the 4 Hours of Lime Rock–round 4 of that year’s Trans-Am Championship–but did not race; this event marking the last known involvement of either with the car. It is understood that it was subsequently repurchased by original supplier Carmelo Giuffre, and that he contested the 1970 Trans-Am round at Lime Rock, albeit retiring after just six laps.

By 1978, 752540 had been acquired by Pennsylvania-based enthusiast Bill Winne, who registered the car in his home State prior to its sale in 1981 to Californian Al Cortes. After more than a decade in the Golden State – during which time it had commenced historic racing in the hands of erstwhile owner Joey Mazzotta – the car returned to Italy in 1992, when purchased by Pier Enrico Tonetti.

Having retained the car for some 19 years–and converted it to left-hand drive form–Sig. Tonetti then sold 752540 to renowned Italian car connoisseur Dr. Paul Schouwenberg of Haarlem, Netherlands in 2011, who in turn sold it to Charles ‘Chuck’ Wegner of Del Mar, California, in 2015.

An esteemed collector of rare and interesting Ferraris, Mr. Wegner opted to sell 752540 to the present owner in 2017; his decision being prompted–not unreasonably–by the imminent arrival of no lesser car than a Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. Retained, raced and enjoyed by the vendor ever since, 752540 has benefitted from fastidious preparation by marque specialists GPS Classic; the total expenditure during the current ownership amounting to some €225,000.

Brilliantly conceived, exquisitely executed and hugely successful in period–as evidenced by six ETCC crowns in seven years, and Under 2-litre Trans-Am titles in 1966 and 1970 – the GTA indubitably remains one of the all-time Touring Car greats.

In the case of this magnificently presented example, these attributes are further supplemented by its fascinating competition history, comprehensive accompanying documentation and exhaustive recent maintenance. Finally, its enormous versatility – and eligibility for events as diverse as the Tour Auto, Spa 6 Hours, Goodwood Revival and Monterey Historics – render it the consummate Historic Racing ‘all-rounder’, and one assuredly worthy of inclusion in any appropriately discerning car collection.