For many of us, owning an Italian sports car is a dream, a dream that is most often well out of reach. All Italian sports cars have some sort of following, and as a result of that their values stay pretty high, especially old Alfa Romeos. So unfortunately, although there are a couple exceptions, these cars are often highly collectible and reserved for the ultra wealthy.
So if you ever do get a chance to drive them, you should jump at the chance, it is the only way you can truly understand the irrational fascination people from all walks of life have for these sports cars that rarely run.
10 GTV6
One of the last truly exceptional transaxle sports cars made by Alfa Romeo, it made a good, reliable 150 horsepower and still is one of the most perfectly balanced sports cars with a 50/50 weight distribution.
Unfortunately, like so many of their cars from the 80s it suffered from rust issues, albeit not quite as bad as their more affordable cars. It is one of the reasons they remain affordable and accessible today.
9 4C
If you want a truly authentic modern Alfa sports car the mid-engine 4C is easily the best option (well, if you can actually fit inside the thing), and prices are as low as they ever will be.
It only makes around 240 horsepower, but because of its lightweight carbon fiber tub, it handles and feels very much like a supercar.
8 Spider
The Spider is one of the longest running sports car models ever made, making its debut in 1966 and only officially going out of production in 1993.
Finding an affordable example is not hard, but the vast majority of these cars are basket cases, still well worth driving at least once.
7 GT Junior
Although the Junior is a little slower, it certainly does not lack in terms of driving dynamics. It is still a relatively lightweight car, and the Alfa Romeo twin-cam is one of the most characterful engines money can buy.
It certainly isn’t the most reliable, though, as these were strung out little 1.3 liter and 1.6 liter lumps, looking for the best power to weight ratio possible. Today prices are going up for well-kept cars, ragged project cars are still accessible though.
6 GTV/Spider
The front drive GTV sports cars are chronically underrated, although they were technically met with critical acclaim, Alfsti were up in arms over the fact that the drive wheels moved to the front.
It is understandable, and the beautiful sounding Busso V6 handles rather poorly, but the base trim twin spark is light on its feet and truly fun to drive, it is a balanced performer that offers extraordinary value.
5 Giulia GTA Junior
Pretty much anything with the famed GTA badge is worth a mint, these cars were always rare and in their day were raced, so few survived unscathed.
With 447 of these lightweight little cars produced, they are the most accessible of all the classic GTA models. They still regularly fetch six figures at auction though, in this instance accessible does not mean affordable.
4 Giulia Sprint GTA
Although they look very similar, the Sprint was both lighter and more powerful with its 1.6-liter engine.
At just over 1,800 pounds, its 113 horsepower was more than enough to blow away any of its contemporary competitors, including many with more displacement and/or horsepower.
3 SZ
Known colloquially as “Il Mostro” the SZ is arguably the ugliest Alfa Romeo ever built. At the time, it was also one of the most advanced cars on the road. With just over 1,000 cars made, it is now also one of the rarest…
The styling might be polarizing, but that isn’t enough to put off true enthusiasts, it was able to produce more grip than just about anything on the road back then, in the right hands it could generate up to 1.4G in the corners.
2 Giulia SS
Displacement went up from 1.3 liters to 1.6 liters, and that unlocked 113 horsepower, which was enough to get the classic Alfa up to top speed of around 120 mph.
For a car initially designed in the 50s, that was an impressive achievement, thanks largely to their philosophy of less is more, today, less certainly costs more.
1 Giulietta Sprint/Spider
In its day this was one of the more accessible sports cars made by the famous brand, although they are now also fairly rare, and expensive, the Sprint is arguably the original Alfa Romeo sports car.
It would later give birth to the pretty Spider version, which would lay the foundation for the success of all the future Spider models.