While return of Alfa Romeo has not been the Audi-level hit Sergio Marchionne had planned, there is little doubt that classic Alfas are some of the most beautiful cars ever made. There is just something about their proportions and surfacing finesse that appeals to all of us. YouTube channel Petrolicious has given us a look at a perfect example of this with the the awesome classic Giulia Spring GTA, the touring car derivative of the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
A Lightweight Racer
This wasn’t just a road car for the race track though. Oh no, the Giulia Spring GTA was all about lightness and agility. The external body panels, for example, were constructed out of Peraluman 25, a unique and ultra-light alloy, while the glass windows were replaced with Perspex acrylic. Sound insulation, along with any other creature comfort was thrown out; sacrificed to the God of improved agility and handling. The effort shows as all-in, the car weighs just 740 kilograms, or 1631 pounds.
In full racing trim, much like the latest Giulia, the Giulia Sprint GTA was a track animal. It produced 170bhp, making it an incredibly potent machine for the time. To satisfy the homologation needed to enter the European Touring Car Championship, 500 of these cars had to be made in order for the car to be able to enter the series. Two specs were offered. The road spec called the Stradali. Or, the race-spec variant, the Corse. No matter what the spec, the Giulia was an amazing car to drive.
A Truly Dominant Machine
And in the latter guise, it would go on to dominate the European Touring Car racing scene. It won on its debut race and took three consecutive titles from 1966-68, whilst the Stradali was moderately more comfortable and refined everyday driving. But there is one thing both cars certainly have in common. And that is their unrivaled beauty.
Source: YouTube