From The Classifieds: 1967 Alfa Romeo 105 Giulia Sprint GTV Veloce

Few Alfas are remembered so fondly by so many as the 105-series coupes sold in Australia in various forms, from the 1964 Giulia Sprint GT 1300 to the GT Veloce 2000 that wound up the series when it was discontinued in 1976.

Then and now, the Bertone designed two-door coupe is a classic shape that was never really bettered by Alfa Romeo, even with its virtual successor, the 1981 Giugiaro-designed Alfetta GTV that peaked with the GTV6 model from 1983 to 1986.

The 105 Alfa is one of the few 1960s cars that successfully translates its pure good looks into a 21st century streetscape, especially the larger-engined Giulia Sprint GT Veloce version that followed the 1.3-litre GT 1300 in 1966.

With the classic 1.6-litre four-cylinder twin overhead camshaft, twin-carburettor engine driving the rear wheels through an all-synchromesh five-speed manual gearbox and all-wheel disc brakes (with separate drums for the parking brake), perhaps the only thing that dates the 105 Alfa is the live-axle, coil-spring rear suspension.

And although five gearbox ratios might sound pretty ordinary today, that was not the case in the mid-1960s when four speeds were about it, unless you factored in the overdrive manual transmissions used on cars such as the (less expensive, two-seat soft-top) MGB and the identically configured Sunbeam Alpine.

Developing 93kW and 139Nm, the long-stroke eight-valve Alfa Romeo engine provided the relatively light (just over one tonne) Giulia Sprint GT Veloce with strong, flexible and quite torquey performance that was backed up by adroit, sports car handling and commensurate braking capabilities.

The Alfa offered occasional four-seat passenger capacity in an interior that was quite luxurious for the era, as well as a useable boot.

Perhaps its nearest competitor was Lancia’s Fulvia coupe that was engineered somewhat differently with a front-wheel drive, narrow-angle 1.1-litre V4 engine driving through a four-speed gearbox. The Lancia was nowhere as familiar in Australia as the Alfa, however.

And all this was before BMW started making inroads into Australia with the likes of the 2002 two-door in 1968.

The Alfa Rosso Classico red 1967 Giulia Sprint GT Veloce featured on carsales.com.au was delivered new by Alec Mildren and features a mix of rebuilt drivetrain and a thoroughly detailed underbody with an original interior showing “very few blemishes”.

The owner has paid a lot of attention to the mechanicals, with a “complete mechanical rebuild in 2007 and 2008”. The intention was to keep the car as “original as possible” with only “sensible minor modifications such as installing an alternator”.

Featuring matching chassis and engine numbers, the car -- according to the owner -- has been rebuilt with “new and genuine Alfa Romeo parts, then genuine Alfa Romeo parts that have been restored/reconditioned and then finally, if needed, substituted parts from reproduction suppliers”.

The extent of the mechanical rebuild is impressive and covers engine, clutch, gearbox, brakes, steering and suspension.

The owner has put a price of $55,000 on the 105 (it was $4990 new in 1966) and it will be supplied with a roadworthy certificate.