Description
Styled by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro when he was only 19 years old as the definition of a “young man’s car”, the original Alfa Romeo GT Junior became one of the most desirable cars of the late Sixties and early Seventies, evolving into the 1750 and 2000 GTV models from 1971 onward, with flatter frontal styling and larger, more powerful evolutions of the legendary Alfa Twin Cam engine.
Enjoying a production run of over 14 years, the Alfa Romeo 105/ 115 models were hugely desirable sports coupés when new and are even more so today, with collectors actively seeking out the very best examples.
This one – a Series II GTV model – was recently imported from South Africa, where the dry climate has kept the dreaded Seventies Alfa Romeo tin worm at bay. It’s an unusual GTV derivate as it features the model’s optional automatic transmission, which was a rare specification outside of the USA. Right-hand-drive autos are especially unusual. The Type 105/ 115 Alfa Romeos are going through a bit of a purple patch right now in terms of their popularity, their appeal being just as strong to younger enthusiasts as it is to those who are fuelled by nostalgia. The romance of the Alfa Romeo badge, coupled to those drop-dead gorgeous lines, means the GTV is a car that appeals to all.
This one is also a massive rarity, being a right-hand-drive automatic. It could be just the ticket for cutting a stylish dash around London’s expanded ULEZ zone, where historic-registered vehicles are exempt from daily charges. But then, an Alfa really comes into its own on the open road, regardless of how many pedals it has.
Either way, this is a truly desirable car.
