1,450cc DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Weber Carburetors
Approximately 105bhp at 6,500rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Exquisite Conrad Stevenson restoration of a factory Spider Veloce
*Long-time, dry and solid Southwestern car
*Desirable, top-of-the-line Veloce version
*Eligible for many prominent Tours and Rallies

THE ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA

"The Alfa, in a few words then, is a small car with a rev-happy DOHC engine that can carry two people from point A to point B over all types of roads quicker than most cars twice its size. It does this not with blinding speed but with a wonderful combination of roadholding, compact size and sheer willingness" – Car & Driver on the Giulietta.

With the introduction of the Giulietta in 1954, Alfa Romeo established the 'small car, big performance' formula that would characterize its finest offerings from that point on. The Giulietta's arrival caused a sensation; demand quickly outstripped supply, causing Alfa Romeo to rethink its production strategy and become a high-volume manufacturer. Designed by Pinin Farina on a modified Sprint Coupe chassis, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider was the company's second post-war model. The little two-seat Sports Spider was introduced in 1955 at the insistence of New York importer Max Hoffman, who saw how well small British and German sports cars were being received in America. The Giulietta Spider offered brisk performance (almost 100 mph) from its free-revving, all-alloy, 1.3-liter twin-cam four, mounted in a steel unibody chassis that weighed less than 1900lbs at the curb. The design was unmistakably Pinin Farina – very elegant, sporting and lithe.

From the time of their introduction, both the Sprint and Spider provided an exhilarating combination of character and performance, within the limits of what was possible with the well-designed twin-cam engine. However, as with pre-war Alfa Romeos, the dealers soon saw a demand for an uprated version for buyers with competition in mind. In 1956, the Giulietta Sprint and Spider Veloces duly appeared, with high-performance engines and modified bodywork. High-crown pistons raised the compression ratio to 9.1:1 which, with a pair of twin-choke Weber carburetors and more peaky camshaft profiles, raised the power by about 15%. Performance was certainly improved, with a top speed of 115mph and a more responsive engine through and through. Just 2,796 Giulietta Spider Veloces were produced, and they remain among the most collectible of the model today.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Bonhams is honored to offer this beautiful example of the rare and ultra-desirable, factory Giulietta Spider Veloce. The is believed to have been sold new in Monterey, California, and retains the black California state license plate, with a handful of long-term California based owners recorded.

This sporting Alfa Romeo was comprehensively restored between 1994 and 1996 by Conrad Stevenson, the highly regarded Alfa Romeo specialist in Berkeley, California. During the restoration the car was disassembled, and the body repainted in its original white exterior color. The drivetrain, brakes, suspension and interior were restored as necessary. The engine had previously been rebuilt, reportedly to a 1,450cc displacement, with new cams, valves, springs and guides, while resealed with new gaskets. The suspension and brakes were also rebuilt with new bushings, new Koni shock absorbers, new springs, rebuilt wheel cylinders and master cylinder, and relined brakes with new brake lines.

The dashboard was beautifully restored and features correct Veloce instrumentation that includes the tachometer which starts at 2000 rpm and 140mph speedometer. The engine compartment is authentic and correct in appearance with silk-screened airbox, Veloce intake plenum and plumbing, correctly labeled brake reservoir and windscreen washer fluid bag. The carburetors are Weber 40DCOE2 units, serial numbers 8865 and 8795.

The car has exceptional provenance and integrity with long-term California ownership and only a handful of owners. Offered with the sale of the car are invoices from the restoration as well as original parts manual and other miscellaneous literature. This rare, top-of-the-line Spider Veloce is eligible for exclusive driving events around the globe and will surely provide its driver with many smile-inducing experiences. A fine example of open top motoring with excellent road holding and high-revving twin-cam performance, the Spider Veloce rightly claims the moniker "sports car" and one would be hard-pressed to find a near competitor at double the investment.