French title

Chassis no.177501 Moteur no. 0012001793

- Sold new in France

- Same owner for the past 60 years

- Carefully preserved and serviced

- Breathtaking design!

Introduced in the late 1950s, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale was born out of the Milanese manufacturer's ambition to offer a higher-performance and more aerodynamic version of its brilliant Giulietta.

Its build was entrusted to Bertone and the design to Franco Scaglione, already renowned for his mastery of aerodynamic forms, as demonstrated by his spectacular Alfa Romeo B.A.T. prototypes.

With its very low profile, long sloping bonnet, curved wings and tapered rear, the Giulietta SS has a striking and highly efficient appearance.

Powering the car beneath this bodywork is the famous 1,290 cc Alfa Romeo ‘bialbero’ twin-cam four-cylinder engine, fuelled by two twin-barrel carburettors and producing around 100 hp. Coupled with a five-speed gearbox and benefiting from the car’s excellent aerodynamics, it could reach close to 190 km/h: a remarkable achievement for a 1300 of that era.

More sophisticated and better suited for the road than the radical Giulietta SZ (designed for racing), the Sprint Speciale combines performance, agility and elegance in the purest Italian tradition.

Produced until 1962 before giving way to the Giulia Sprint Speciale fitted with the 1,600 cc engine, the Giulietta SS is today regarded as one of the most remarkable Alfa Romeo models of its era. Its design by Scaglione, its twin-cam engine and its limited production run make it a car both historically significant for the brand and highly sought-after by collectors.

This Alfa Romeo was sold new in France in 1962 to its first owner. He rapidly decided that the car was too powerful for his liking and “got rid” of it four years later! In 1966, it became a godsend for its second and final owner Henri Bourion, a huge Alfa Romeo enthusiast who kept it until his passing last year. Henri’s love for Alfa Romeo was shared by a close circle of enthusiasts. In fact, he was a close friend of Guy Steinbach, a well-known local enthusiast among the Alfa Romeo community and gentlemen driver of that era. Guy Steinbach had raced for the manufacturer in France as co-driver of an Alfa Romeo SVZ in the Tour de France Automobile in September 1960 (the Pasquier/Steinbach duo finished 15th overall), as well as being an Alfa collector. It was this environment of amateur racing drivers that inspired Henri Bourion to acquire this car – not to race it, but for the prestige and exclusive pleasure that this Giulietta bestowed upon the great charmer that he was. The car has been regularly and meticulously serviced, including the most recent servicing carried out by the excellent mechanic Franck Opderbeck, ensuring that this superb Alfa SS remains in a beautiful condition. Its interior was redone in beige leather, and it was repainted in 2018. Numerous expenses were incurred at that time. As for the engine, it is the original one. Owned for 60 years by a genuine enthusiast who has always looked after it with great care, this is a highly desirable car, particularly for collectors across France who will appreciate the distinctive yellow Carello headlights characteristic of its French origins.

Photos © Nino Hamet