Fantasy Junction

Description

1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Stradale
s/n AR613590, eng. no. AR00502/A*18702*
Red with Dark Grey Interior

Introduced in February of 1965, the Alfa Romeo GTA rightfully earned high praise for its agility and performance in competition and as a “Stradale” road car. Since its launch, the GTA has become an icon of motorsports history, combining a lightweight compact design with a high-revving performance engine. Although visually similar to the standard Giulia GT, the GTA was significantly re-engineered, transforming the beautiful and affordable Bertone bodied GT into a spectacular giant-beating race car. The GTA (Gran Tourismo Alleggerita or ‘lightened’) was built by Autodelta, a specialized race preparation house founded by two former Ferrari employees, launched upon their uprise during the now infamous 1961 Ferrari “palace revolt”, which nearly closed the doors on Ferrari. In 1964, realizing their value as a precise and respected operation, Alfa Romeo purchased Autodelta for the purpose of advancing their racing prowess. Autodelta was immediately relocated to Alfa Romeo’s Milan facility where all GTA series cars, the first of their kind in volume production, were conceived, prototyped, and eventually constructed in order to meet homologation requirements.

Developed as a purpose-built homologation special, the GTA was conceived with an unyielding focus on weight reduction. The demands for such changes were so rigorous, they resulted in an astounding 450 pound reduction over the standard GT, bringing the dry weight to an unfathomable 1,640 pounds. To accomplish this level of savings, significant changes at all levels of construction had to occur. Beginning with the unibody structure, the inner steel substructure was fabricated using thinner gauge steel, and the inner and outer body panels were bonded, and pop riveted together in final assembly. The heavy production steel hood, doors, and trunk lid were abandoned completely, and new units were hand formed in alloy. For added structural integrity, the roof section was formed using Peraluman 25, a relatively new mid-range corrosion resistant alloy suitable for light stresses, consisting of aluminum, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. Alloy was used extensively in the inner structure as well, including the inner rear support, parcel shelf support, dashboard, and rear seat support. In addition to the weight savings found in the body, lightweight magnesium wheels were installed on all GTAs. Further weight savings including eliminating all sound deadening material, and the heavy side glass was removed and fitted with Perspex (a specialized clear plastic). Even the window winders and lightened exterior door handles were redesigned and specially constructed for the sole purpose of saving weight. Bucket seats were also fitted and sparsely trimmed rear seats installed in the Stradale or street version. Only 501 GTA models were built from 1965-1969, all of which were constructed at Autodelta specifically to meet homologation requirements.

The final GTA design proved to be an extremely capable car in every respect. Even without mechanical changes, the car accelerated and stopped with significant improvement over the standard GT. But Alfa and Autodelta did not stop there. The GTA was mechanically upgraded as well, with specifications varying from car to car depending on the intended competition use. Most GTAs were fitted with a specially developed twin-plug cylinder head. This twin-plug design also had significant porting modifications to improve flow. It also used a larger volume cast magnesium oil sump, oil cooler, high compression pistons, and hotter cams. The entire engine components were precisely balanced to allow optimum performance, with each GTA engine built by a single mechanic at the Autodelta facility, then tested to meet strict horsepower output and specifications. The driveline was also upgraded with close ratio gearboxes, sliding block suspension, lightweight flywheel, a magnesium bell housing, limited slip differential, hollow shafts inside the gearbox, external hollowed drive shafts, and drilled gears. Deceptively similar in looks to a standard GT, the GTA was a powerful package cleverly refined within a beautifully compact Giorgetto Giugiaro design.

From the outset, the GTA was dominant in world competition, earning a well-deserved reputation as a giant killer. On their first outing (at Monza), GTAs took the first seven places, and later won in the 6 Hours of Nurburgring. Shortly after, the GTA became the first touring car to lap the Nordschleife in less than 10 minutes, a remarkable achievement for that time. Ultimately, the GTA would go on to win the driver and manufacturer championship, with further successes achieved in North America as well, winning the SCCA Trans Am championship. The GTA would continue to advance year after year in competition, winning the European Championship an unbelievable seven years in a row.

In the half century since the GTA was conceived and developed, many have succumbed to the ravages of racing, pressed into racing duty, often pushed to the limits. As a result, it is all the more remarkable when an original example of documented provenance and superlative cosmetics emerges as a properly retained artifact of care and preservation. Such is the case with this particular car. Showing just over 46,000 original miles, this example is largely original with the exception of a single repaint performed with absolute care in preserving the original body and specific alloy traits. Sold new through Griswold & Company, and delivered to North America, the car has previously remained with three prior owners in the Bay Area since new. In addition to the wonderfully original condition of both the exterior and interior, the matching numbers engine, transmission, differential, suspension, and Girling brakes remain on the car today.

In 1996, the car was carefully removed from long term storage where it had been preserved indoors since 1980. At that time, the owner was well aware of the rarity of the car and smartly brought the car to Italian car restoration specialists at Epifani Restorations, in Northern Ca. Epifani carefully recommissioned the car addressing nearly all the mechanical and hydraulic systems before road testing the car and performing a series of refinements as needed. During this process, the car was repainted in the original red color as delivered when new. Once again special care was employed to preserve precious and specialized GTA parts including the rare lightweight cast magnesium wheels, large volume magnesium oil pan, bell housing, cam cover, the correct notched rear bumper, and drilled spoke steering wheel, all of which remain on the car today.

Today this GTA presents as a hallmark of visual excellence and originality with beautiful paint throughout, high gloss to all surfaces and very fine detailing. The exterior finish is vivid red, giving a stunning visual impression, accented by minimal chrome, exceptional trim, and beautiful glass. The doors, hood, and trunk lid open and shut with confidence, displaying excellent panel gaps and high-quality surfacing, which is all the more impressive given the hand workmanship of the original aluminum panels. The door jambs, inner hood, and trunk surfaces are equally nice with correct finishes and exceptional detailing including the original body rivets located on the flanged areas under the hood as well as the beaded edges of the roof seams lining the gutter trim. The beautifully finished magnesium wheels are virtually unmarked around the perimeter, positioning the car in a tight, hunkered down stance, mounted with Michelin tires, ready for action. The trunk houses a correct spare wheel in the lower storage area. Here too further evidence confirming the original alloy riveted construction is evident in the seams and corners throughout the construction. All lights, lenses, and emblems are in excellent condition. Of particular note, the “step-nose” upper portion of the hood line delivers the perfect and unique touch to these early series cars, conveying the clean, uninterrupted lines of the original Bertone coachwork, further enhanced as a rare North American delivery Left Hand Drive GTA.

The original interior, so often dried out from sun exposure or modified over time, has been mercifully preserved in every respect and still shows beautifully. The distinctively contoured dark grey seats feature wrap around side supports showing just modest relaxing to the driver’s seat bottom cushion. The exceptional fit and finish on the inner door panels, center gear shift tunnel, and the top of the dashboard display a cohesive interior that can only be achieved with an original car and original materials. The warmly toned wood steering wheel with drilled alloy spokes invokes the competition nature of these cars, even though this Stradale configuration boasts amenities for street use. The instruments are in exceptionally nice condition with solid numeral indication and high contrasting dial faces, matching overall with the impressive original quality of the interior. The floor is covered with the correct black material, tidy and clean, as are the surrounding rear side panels and rear seating area. The trunk compartment contains correct type floor material as well as the original tool pouch and factory tools.

Under the hood, the engine and engine compartment have been correctly detailed to a very high level, once again allowing the original features to honestly show. The twin-cam, twin-plug head sits prominently atop the matching numbers GTA engine block, beneath the correct air cleaner, breather hose, proper fasteners, and correctly applied hardware leading to the twin Weber dual throat carburetors. The engine compartment is detailed to a high level of finish, including the correct blue washer fluid bag, fuse box, correct chassis tag, and proper green ignition wires. The underside of the car is clean and dry, with correct components, proper exhaust and muffler, correct suspension and brakes, finned casting drivetrain components, and correct leather axle straps. The condition of the chassis is excellent with no evidence of structural compromise. The condition of the floors and suspension components further validates the car having lived in dry California climate since new. All stamped numbers, chassis marks, and alloy features remain evident in all respects. Every aspect of this Alfa Romeo can be appreciated not just as an exceptional GTA but as an essentially unrestored original car with consummate attention to detail and authenticity.

Grasping the delicate, lightened door handles and pulling open the lightweight door, you ease into the driver’s seat, tap the throttle and light off the ignition. The car starts easily and settles into a smooth, distinctive idle, unique to these spirited, race bred twin-plug engines. The exhaust note is brisk and snappy, with an excellent tone at speed. Throttle response is spot on with progressive acceleration in every gear and great response in the higher revs. Driving any Alfa GT of this period, the handling is very rewarding, but in the GTA, the weight savings and added power make for a superb combination that brings a smile to every drive, particularly when summoning highway speeds. The clutch and brakes operate in delightful harmony with the gearbox delivering smooth shifts and easy engagement in each gear. The driving experience is brisk yet balanced, validating all the traits of a competition Alfa Romeo built in Stradale configuration.

The Alfa Romeo GTA has always offered the best balance of sporting, understated Bertone coachwork and competition-bred performance. The combination of great performance and rarity continues to inspire collectors and enthusiasts seeking the very best examples on the market today. With just 501 examples built and so few unmolested examples remaining today, this rare North America delivery, Left Hand Drive, California owned GTA will always attract the most discerning enthusiasts, particularly those seeking to drive their cars as originally intended.

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