Fantasy Junction

Description

1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Lightweight
s/n1493E02239, engine no. 131530135
Le Mans Blue with Two-Tone Grey and Blue Leather Interior

While the standard Giulietta Sprint and Sprint Veloce are charming and capable little sports cars, the lightweight variant is a surprisingly different animal. Using a tried and true technique of reducing weight and increasing power, the lightweight was a legitimate high performance sports car that wowed the writers at Sports Cars Illustrated. With only a few hundred examples built, they had a difficult time getting a hold of an example to test, but once they did, they reveled in how well it revved, how marvelously capable it was, the quickness of the steering, and the car’s maneuverability and agility. This allowed them to “put the Veloce into slots where even 300SL’s fear to tread. This is what a real Gran Turismo machine should be able to do and this Alfa never lets the driver down,” they gushed. They also found the car to be very forgiving, which further builds the driver’s confidence.

To reduce the weight of the car, the hood, trunk lid, doors, and bumpers were made of aluminum. The license plate lamp was even refashioned in alloy, and the car fitted with alloy door window frames. The side and rear windows were done in Plexiglas, the trunk floor ribbed, and the car fitted with magnesium oil pan and intake plenum. The rear seats and sound deadening were also deleted and the engine tuned, to include the fitment of twin Weber 40DCO3 carburetors.

This particular car is a matching numbers example that was completed 9th July 1956 and sold new on the 19th of July to Fabrizio Corcos of Rome. The car has been in California for approximately fifty years, having been owned by the same fellow, a Jim Allen of Nipomo, California from the mid 1960s until the 1990s. Its current owner had the car comprehensively restored to high standards, an endeavor which was completed in 2005. There are many photos from the restoration, showing a complete and fundamentally undisturbed car prior to the work. The restoration was performed by Coachcraft and the completed car was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2005. The car has been minimally used since and is extremely fresh cosmetically, although it does have a few minor mechanical issues to be resolved from lack of use.

Cosmetically, the car makes a superb impression with high quality paint over a straight and solid body. The panel fit is very good and clear bra has been applied to the front of the car to protect it from paint chips. The car sits on Borrani wire wheels with Michelin XAS tires, a desirable period option. The brightwork is excellent throughout and is a mixture of chrome and polished aluminum except for the side mirror which is a Talbot item with a spun finish. The lights and glazing are excellent, including the Carello headlamps.

The interior is excellent and universally fresh in its presentation. The leather upholstery is excellent throughout, as are the high quality grey wool carpets with contrasting dark blue binding. A desirable flat Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel is also present. The rest of the interior, including the dashboard and headliner, are excellent. The gauges were restored and all of the chrome trim is also in excellent order. It should be noted that the driver’s seat mounting is somewhat flexible and should be rectified prior to covering any significant distance in the car.

The presentation of the engine compartment is consistent with the rest of the car being very nicely restored. The inner fenders and other painted surfaces are excellent, and the engine itself is very clean and nicely detailed. It retains its original magnesium oil sump and airbox, and has black wrinkle finish to the valve cover. Many of the decals have been reproduced and applied to components such as the brake fluid reservoir and coil. The engine is matching to the chassis. The trunk has similar treatment, with the Herbol paint sticker and even a sticker on the jack. A matching wire spare wheel is in place, as is a correct rubber mat. A photocopy of the owner’s manual is also included, along with a tunnel case 4-speed gearbox, and aggressive Conrero camshafts and original distributor. The car currently has European specification 2000 camshafts to improve its streetability.

The restoration clearly included all mechanical and cosmetic aspects, and the car does run and drive. However, a few minor mechanical issues that should be rectified before embarking on a significant drive. This includes the following: the brakes drag somewhat, the starter operates only intermittently, the carburetors should be adjusted and tuned, the steering box should be adjusted and lubricated, and both the seats and the battery should be better secured.

This is a very rare opportunity to acquire one of a handful of lightweight Giuliettas built. The consummate sleeper, the Veloce Lightweight is an unpretentious yet rare, reliable, and entertaining sports car that is eligible for a wide variety of events. For this reason, along with the fact that the lightweight specification is the ultimate specification of the Giulietta, it is no surprise that they share space in many high caliber collections. This car is eligible for virtually every important historic racing and rally venue around the globe including the Mille Miglia, Tour de France, Colorado Grand, and California Mille. Once sorted, it should prove to be the ideal event car in these and other prestigious events around the world.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608