Offered from The Chester Collection
1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Bertone
Registration no. FBH 276C
Chassis no. AR 380785

By the time of the Giulia's introduction in 1962, Alfa Romeo's highly successful 'small car, big performance' formula, begun by the 1.3-litre Giulietta in 1954, was well established. The Giulietta range's ultimate incarnation - the Sprint Speciale - arrived in 1957. Built on a slightly shorter wheelbase than the standard Sprint coupé, likewise the work of Carrozzeria Bertone, the mouth-wateringly curvaceous SS came with 100bhp and a five-speed gearbox, while the wind tunnel-developed shape made for an impressive top speed of 125mph. A masterpiece of automotive styling, the SS's extraordinary body was the work of Franco Scaglione, Bertone's chief designer and the man responsible for the amazing BAT series of concept cars, based on the Alfa Romeo 1900.

Outwardly almost indistinguishable from the outgoing Giulietta, the Giulia boasted front disc brakes and a more powerful (112bhp) and much less fussy 1,570cc version of Alfa's classic twin-cam four. Other notable improvements included a redesigned dashboard with additional instrumentation. Only 1,399 of the Bertone-bodied Giulia Sprint Speciales were built up to 1965, and today this rare model is highly prized by Alfa Romeo connoisseurs.

A very rare official UK-market car, this Giulia SS was manufactured on 8th January 1964 and sold new to Alfa Romeo UK in London on 29th May '64. The Alfa was first registered on 29th January 1965 to Ian Pelling of Farnham, Surrey and still retains its original registration. In 1997 'FBH 276C' caught the attention of marque specialist Nick Nicholas of Lombarda Sport in Notting Hill, who had the opportunity to purchase the car in 2000. Lovingly cared for, the Giulia remained with the family until its purchase by the current vendor in July 2015, since when it has been carefully stored at a professional facility and checked over regularly by his own mechanic. While in the vendor's care the car has been repainted black (from red).

The substantial history file contains email correspondence from Marco Fazio of Automobilismo Storico Alfa Romeo confirming the car's early provenance; the original 1965 logbook; the current V5C; and a quantity of bills from recognised marque specialists for parts purchased and works carried out. Also included are 17 old MoT certificates dating back to August 1990. The car has covered only some 9,000 miles in the last 30 years (the current odometer reading is 29,223 miles).

Its unique styling increasingly appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts alike, Carrozzeria Bertone's iconic Giulia Sprint Speciale is one of the rarest and most desirable of post-war Alfa Romeos.