With its Italian flair and iconic designs, there are only a few automotive brands out there that could match the likes of Alfa Romeo. If you believe such things, it was Jeremy Clarkson that went as far as to say that you’re not a true petrolhead if you haven’t owned an Alfa Romeo.
Alfa’s pre-war history saw them produce exotic cars for the rich and powerful. These machines utilized engines from their race cars on chassis closely linked to their successful Formula One cars. However, post-war, things would change. Alfa Romeo was forced to change their approach and purpose. Their creations became more affordable sports sedans and sports cars but retained those advanced-for-the-time engines.
The Alfa Romeo GTV was a significant breakthrough. It is perhaps the quintessential classic Alfa—which would explain why values are rapidly rising. The GTV has all the hallmarks of a classic Italian car. It features a body penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone, and it was a car known for its balance; they could corner hard with well-engineered suspension and an engine that loved to be revved.
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There were multiple engine options, but the American market only received the 1600cc, 1750cc & 2000 cc engines. Regardless of cubic capacity, the motors were all four-cylinder twin cams, with extensive use of aluminum throughout the drivetrain.
Sadly, the GTV also sported another trait common to Italian stallions of that era: rust. The potential for lots of it. It’s something that presenter Sam Smith (not to be confused with yours truly!), in this GTV buyer’s guide, goes to great pains to highlight, and for a good reason. Rust begets rust and, according to Smith, too much corrosion in the wrong places can kill a GTV.
However, the GTV was a major success for Alfa Romeo and tasted victories in multiple race formats due to it being a fast and agile car. They were also a propensity to be modified, and this saw owners carry out upgrades on the camshafts and carburetors to make their cars go even faster and sound better.
If you are on the lookout for an Alfa Romeo GTV, Smith goes in-depth to explain as to what exactly you should be on the lookout for, with helpful tips on finding a great example of one so that you could experience that Alfa Romeo magic in its truest form.
