The 1960s saw a second golden age in the competition history of Alfa Romeo. Models such as the SZ, TZ, and TZ2, along with the Tipo 33 sports racing prototypes, made Alfa Romeo a potent force on the world’s circuits. The exciting production racing classes were not ignored either, with the 105-series Giulia Sprint GT providing the base for a highly tuned racing version – the GTA. The “A” stood for alleggerita, or “lightened.”

The GTAs that were destined for racing were carefully prepared under Autodelta, Alfa Romeo’s in-house competition department, run by engineer Carlo Chiti. The GTA was successful in Europe and the US, winning numerous championships and class victories. Developed over nearly a decade, several GTA variants were produced, though today it is the original GTA 1600 that is most prized by collectors, a credit to the model’s aesthetic purity and dual-purpose character.

The GTA presented here, chassis 613115, is among the finest examples of Alfa Romeo’s Alleggerita, boasting a rich competition history, impressive documentation, and a recent professional restoration. The history of this car can be traced back to August 1965, when the white GTA was sold to Berlin Alfa Romeo dealer and racer Herbert Schultze through the distributor in Frankfurt am Main. According to Tony Adriaensens’ definitive book Alleggerita, and confirmed by copies of original sales records on file, 613115 was sold as a used car, after having been retained and prepared by Autodelta.

Among the first GTAs to race in Europe, 613115 was campaigned by Herbert Schultze Automobil throughout 1965 and 1966, primarily in events associated with the popular German Touring Car Championship. In its first outing, at Wunstorf in October 1965, 613115, identified by a red central stripe and Berlin registration “B-HS 3,” was driven by Schultze to a 1st Place finish. Herbert Schultze’s continued racing efforts in 1966 were hugely successful and, at the end of the season, 613115 had captured eight outright wins, resulting in a tie for 1st Place in the German Touring Car Championship.

Early in 1967, Schultze began racing another GTA, chassis 613028 , distinguished by a dark blue central stripe. Later that year, 613115 was sold to Ulrich Schliefer and raced through the 1968 season, during which time Wolfgang Thiele was the primary driver. As noted in the original ONS wagenpass, Herbert Schultze Automobil reacquired 613115 in April 1969 and the GTA continued to race in German club events through fall 1971.

After its racing career, 613115 was sold to Peter Herke, a Berlin native who, in 1972, opened Europa Motors in San Francisco. A semi-professional racing driver, Mr. Herke prepared the GTA for historic racing and campaigned it in West Coast events throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The most memorable vintage race outing for 613115 took place at Sonoma Raceway in 1987, where Herke and Wolfgang Thiele, reunited with his former GTA, won both sprint events and finished 4th Overall in the group enduro.

The current owner, a prominent American collector with a passion for significant European GT cars, acquired this GTA in 2016. Although it had been restored by the previous owner, the consignor entrusted 613115 to Custom Cars Unlimited of La Grange, Illinois, for a comprehensive bare-metal restoration at a cost of over $300,000. Faithfully presented today in its original and highly attractive racing livery, the GTA has not only been restored cosmetically, but benefits from a rebuilt tipo 00502 engine – dyno tested at over 150 bhp – and rare competition equipment, including a period-style roll bar, twin-plug cylinder head, 45 mm Weber carburetors, cold air box, and sliding-block rear end.

A well-known and highly regarded example, this GTA is offered with a file of important documentation that includes its original German ONS wagenpass (1967–1971), vintage racing logbook (1986–2001), archival photos, and restoration records, as well as copies of the original delivery records, FIA homologation sheets, and news clippings. A truly outstanding example of Alfa Romeo’s legendary 1960s homologation special, 613115 is an historic GTA worthy of serious consideration.