Highlights

One of only 363 Giulietta Sprint Veloce 750E models made in 1959
Early car hand built by Bertone before series productton began
Comprehensive restoration 2014 to 2021 to concours standard
Highly sympathetic restoration that preserved unique Bertone detials
Retains original Bertone bodywork details and stamping
Only 600kms since restoration completed
Registered in Denmark with historical black number plates
One of the very best Sprint Veloces we have ever seen

The Appeal

Success at the Mille Miglia was the springboard for one of Alfa Romeo’s greatest-ever cars: the Giulietta Sprint Veloce 750E. As beautiful as it was capable, a batch of 600 were built. These cars were lightened. It worked: the car won its class in the Mille and finished 11th overall behind far more powerful machinery by Ferrari and Mercedes.

The run would continue with the Sprint Veloce securing all six top 1300GT class places in the 1000kms Nurburgring. These cars were hand-built by Bertone before series production began and therefore contain a raft of bespoke, crafted details that the later versions lost. The trick when buying of of these cars now is to ensure that those intricate details have been carefully retained.

And that is exactly where this 1959 car scores. It is one of 363 made i 1959. It was built by Bertone on 21st January 1959 and sold new by Max Hoffman Motor Company, the famed USA car dealer on 7th February 1959. It lived a sun-kissed life in dry California for most of its time in the USA before being acquired by the current keeper in 2012. Until he acquired it, the car had never been restored.

Then began a comprehensive, extremely high end and very detailed restoration that took 7 years to complete. That timescale is explained by the attention that went into the work, which carefully retained the minute intricacies of the car’s hand construction by Bertone. You can read all about that below. Every area of the car was attended to being either refurbished or replaced.

The renovation work not only preserved those details, it restored the car to what the vendor describes as concours standard. Looking at the photos, we have to concur. This is a genuine collector quality vehicle.

It has only covered 600kms since completion so remains much as it did when finished. Equipped with a correct 1.3L Busso-designed twin cam engine and 5spd gearbox, this astonish car is ready for the most discerning and exacting collector.

The vendor says:

“The restoration of this car started in 2014 and was finished in 2021, it was a passion that led to many hours of studying books and resources on the web and thousands of hours working on it. In 2021 I went to the MOT and the car was registered and all Tax paid. It is now on Danish Historical black number plates wearing the last tree digits (933) as on the original 1963 California numberplate, this numberplate will of course come with the car.

“Driving this Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce is like going back in time, when Phill Hill and Dan Gurney was racing 43° Targa Florio. It is a small car, and you will sit tight, both hands on the large diameter steering wheel. The suspension is stiff, and steering is accurate, easy to manoeuvre through the corners. 90 hp don’t sound like much but for 888 kg it is convincing, at cruising speed 80 km/h it follows the traffic easy and quiet. When giving some throttle it becomes noisier due to no soundproofing and air filter mounted directly on the firewall. The fifth gear is very long and makes it more comfortable at high speed.”

The History and Paperwork

Manufactured on 21st January 1959 by Bertone by hand
Sold to Hoffman Motor Car Co. in New York on 7th February 1959
Lived in California since 1963, contributing to its minimal rust condition
Purchased by the current owner in 2012
Comprehensive restoration began in 2014 and completed in 2021
Registered in Denmark with historical black number plates
Original engine number AR131531739 replaced with AR131531963 during an engine swap in the seventies
Danish MOT completed in 2021
All importation taxes paid

The vendor says:

According to Museo Storico Alfa Romeo Centro Documentazione: AR1493 E 07984 is an original Giulietta Sprint Veloce type 750E with body colour Rosso Alfa, it left the production line Wednesday 21st of January 1959. On Saturday 7th of February, it was sold to Hoffman Motor Car Co. in New York, USA.

“This Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce AR1493 E 07984 is 1 of 363 ever made in 1959.

“AR1493 E 07984 was given Bertone body number *657370*. 65 is the designation of a sprint bodywork and 7370 is the fabrication number of the body. At Bertone the series production was not ready before end of 1959 when they launched the type 101. Until then all the cares were made by hand and welded with autogen they are called Interim. This car has all the handcrafted details and original welding documented by photo.

“In the fifties, manufacturing at Alfa Romeo and Bertone was very different, more passionate. The floor section was supplied by Alfa Romeo and Bertone made the beautiful Sprint bodywork by hand. When this body was finished, all the trim, which are made in aluminum on Veloce model, glass and interior was fitted. Afterward it was disassembled, and all the parts were marked with bodywork number 370 by stamp or blue oil color. Then the paintwork was done, and they did the finished assembly of the car. This SV still have all the original parts with stamping of Bertone bodywork number 370, it is documented by photo and still visible on the parts of this car.

“In 1956 Alfa Romeo decided to participate in Mille Miglia they developed a race version of the beautiful Giulietta it was named Sprint Veloce and designated type 750E. the series 750E was running in a 4-year period from 1956 to 1959 and was very successful on the racetrack. The Veloce version was very different than the Normale.

“When I purchased AR1493 E 07984 in 2012 it has never been restored. An engine swap in the seventies has been done. Everything else has never been disassembled before I restored it.

“In 2014 it was completely disassembled, and everything was restored, no matter the costs.

The Condition

Body stripped to bare metal and restored with minimal rust repairs
Exterior painted in Alfa Corsa Red with concours-quality finish
Interior newly upholstered by Elvezio Esposito in Bianco Spina and rosso Vipla
Original chrome parts restored and re-chromed, including headlight rims and bumpers
Instruments and gauges restored to as-new condition
Correct Veloce instrumentation with speedometer to 220 km/h and tachometer to 8.000 rpm
All trim is aluminum to reduce weight
Wiring harness replaced with correct connectors and braided wire

The vendor says:

“Body was stripped to bare metal. Due to its life in California since 1963 it had minimal rust. Repairs were done to front, floor, front arches and engine mounts due to engine swap. Rear corners were repaired due to rust.

“The body was restored with sympathy to the life it has lived. On the outside it is painted to perfection in Alfa Corsa Red with multiple layers of clear lacquer to obtain a perfect concours quality. Inside and underneath thinner layers of paint were used to enable visibility of the craftmanship performed in 1958/59 at Bertone Carrosserie by hammer and dolly. It tells a story of its own.

“The louvred hood was possibly made in the factory. When it was restored the marking lines scratched into the metal of the hood became visible. There were several indicators that it could be original and made by Bertone. The lines were underneath the original Alfa Rosso paint; the lines continue underneath the hood frame that still has the original spot welds on the small edge. One thing is for sure: it is a part of this Veloce’s life.

“The interior is new and was made by Elvezio Esposito in the correct material, Bianco Spina and Rosso Vipla. The same firm also made the headliner with correct Diamond pattern, the door panels and seat covers too. The carpet is original Italian Wool and was also from Elvezio.

“The original chromework such as headlight rim, front and rear bumper, door handles, Aeroplan, lights, interior trim, grille and scudetto were restored and re-chromed.

“All instruments and gauges were restored and in new condition. The wiring harness is newly made with correct connectors and braided wire.

“The original rims are also on the car. They are manufactured by Borrani in Milano and made specially to fit and cool the big aluminium drum brakes on the Giulietta. 4 of the rims are stamped 12/58 and the last 1/59, that makes sense, the one marked 1/59 must be the spare wheel.”

The Mechanics

1,290 cc Busso twin cam engine with 90 hp output
Fitted with rare twin Weber DCO3 carburettors
Split case 5-speed gearbox installed
Suspension and driveline renovated with new bearings, bushes, and dampers
New Girling brakes, wheel cylinders, and original Ferodo brake linings fitted
Engine and car have only run 600 km since restoration completion
Ram-Air air duct mounted in the front connected to air filter and plenum on the DCO3 carburettor by hose to increase the airflow and maximize the horsepower at high speed
Special pipe headers and exhaust
Distributor Magnetti Marelli type S73A
Ignition coil Magnetti Marelli B200B

AR1493 E 07984 has the original parts, such as:

Engine:

750E racing engine tuned to 90 Hp on 1,290 cc
Twin overhead camshaft ground to 277°
Lower cylinder head
Two very rare sandcasted 40mm horizontal twin Weber Carburetor type DCO3
Sandcasted oil sump designed with sandwich construction with labyrinth for oil cooler
Baffle system to make sure not to lose oil pressure in high-speed curves

Notes by seller on mechanicals:

To make room for the side draft DCO3 Weber carburetors and the Plenum they had to tilt the engine 8° and install a bump stop on the frame
Correct 84-liter fuel tank for long distance racing
Bendix platin electric fuel pump
Channel in boot to make room for the fuel tank breather pipe
Fuel tank was taking up all the room at the rear axle
Handbrake is therefore mounted on front of rear axle
No choke on Weber DCO3 so hole on the dashboard fitted with a blank chrome knob
Electrical system on all 750E had only 6 fuses and all of them had braided wire

The vendor says:

“From VIN number 7300 all Sprint and Veloce were fitted with split case gearbox. AR1493 E 07984 is fitted with a split case 4-speed gearbox, but a very early option type of 5 gear was added. The housing is for a small rubber bush and 5 gear is mounted on bronze bush bearing.

“Suspension and driveline have been renovated with new bearings, bushes, gaskets, measured and adjusted to as-new condition. New springs, and dampers were made with the original Girling stamping as this car was delivered. New Girling brakes, wheel cylinder, main cylinder, piping and hoses, original Ferodo type MZ41brakelining is fitted.

“AR1493 E 07984 was built with engine number AR1315*31739* but due to engine swap in the seventies, it is now fitted with AR1315*31963* - an original 750E Veloce engine. It is renovated with new liners and piston, ground crankshaft to 2nd oversize, bearings from Alfa Stop, balanced with flywheel. Renovated water pump, machined cylinder head, new valves, valve guide, and timing chain. It is fitted with an electric ignition (123) and a new type of starter. Distributor Magnetti Marelli type S73A and ignition coil Magnetti Marelli B200B follow the car. Engine and car have only run 600 km on short trips over the last 4 years.

“The engine runs very smooth and responds very well with the DCO3 Weber carburettors, giving it the beloved sound of an Alfa Romeo. The sought-after sandcasted DCO3 carburettors were made for racing, full throttle and roaring down the street of Targa Floria. They do not have any choke function and can be a little tricky to start, but if the instruction from the instruction book is followed, it starts at the first kick. Turn the ignition key on to the right, listen to the Bendix fuel pump for a few minutes, pump the accelerator 6 times to the floor, push the accelerator down 1 cm, push in the key and turn on the starter motor, it will be live…. “

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Comments

dominiq••••

3 days ago

Hello, I own a Giulietta Sprint manufactured 2 days after the red Veloce. Thanks to the details in the ad, I learned the composition of the production number at Bertone. In my Giulietta Sprint I found the last 4 digits of this number in blue ink on the back of the wooden plates covering the rear space. I would like to thank the writer of the advert. I thought I knew everything about my car... Dominique.

Translated from: Français