Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA. The original from 1965

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Alfa Romeo is nowadays a brand that mainly has to rely on its beautiful past. The range is currently meager to say the least. That's no surprise to you, but still. Before the war, the Milanese made a name for themselves with very expensive Gran Turismos and illustrious competition cars. After the war laid Alfa Romeo is focusing more and more on the volume production of illustrious sports cars. The 110-year history is rich. And to add luster to that anniversary, the Italians revived an illustrious name. There is another GTA in the price lists, it is a homage to the car we describe in this article, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA.

Of course. That name was previously applied and that happened with success numbers such as the 156 and the 147. Like the newly launched Giulia GTA, they took the name for their top versions from the model that was presented at the RAI in Amsterdam in 1965. Under the beautiful Tipo 105 Bertone carriage, impressive technology was hidden.

Alleggerita

The letter combination GTA stands for 'Gran Turismo Alleggerita' (alleggerita is the Italian term for 'made lighter'). This designation came about in 1965 with the arrival of the Alfa Romeo Julia Sprint GTA. That was a special version of the Sprint GT. The GTA, designed as a pure sports car, had the lines of the Bertone. The shape of the body was similar to that of the Giulia Sprint GT. The use of materials was different. The Alleggrerita was by no means taken out of thin air. The carriage of the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA was made of aluminum. This resulted in a total weight of 745 kg, which was a difference of 205 kg compared to the GT version. A special feature was also the application of the beautiful magnesium rims, a feature that various Alfisti have also applied to other classic cars. Alfa Romeo's was used.

Finely cut technique

Also brought motor Alfa Romeo distinction. The Giulia Sprint GTA got the 1570 cc Bialbero engine with a double overhead camshaft, two double carburetors and a double ignition, in other words: two spark plugs per cylinder. In the Stradale or street version, this power source generated an impressive power of 115 hp for the sixties. The undercarriage consisted of wheels suspended independently from transverse arms at the front. Coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers provided suspension and damping. At the rear, the undercarriage consisted of a rigid axle with coil springs suspended from longitudinal arms. In addition, placed Alfa Romeo triangle shaped reaction arms. Front stabilizers prevented the tendency to roll over.

Autodelta

The Autodelta technicians also started working with the new sporty offspring Alfa Romeo tribe to work. The official Alfa Romeo racing team chose the car as the basis for the touring car class. Those responsible managed to increase the power to a maximum of 170 DIN-PK through numerous adjustments. With success, because the GTA was successful on the track. Autodelta also adjusted the chassis. For example, it mounted different ball joints at the front to prevent an overly negative camber. At the rear, a construction was devised with a bolt placed to the rear that was attached to the differential housing. It moved in a guide rail. Simply put, this reduced the rolling action at the rear.

Successful in competitions

The model immediately achieved success in races: for example, the GTA became European champion in the constructors class three times in a row. He was also good for conquering dozens of national titles and winning hundreds of individual races on all continents. It was the way to change the already not childish image of the whole Alfa Romeo range.

500 times

De Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA of the sixties (including the track versions) was built 500 times. The theme was followed in the beloved GTA Junior 1300 and the GTA SA, both Bertones. The successor to the Giulia Sprint GTA was the GT Am, which received the two-liter engine with 240 HP and was inspired by the 1750 GTV. But the GTA was the original, and that name recently returned. It is planned that the Giulia GTA, which is based on the Giulia Quadrifoglio, will be built 500 times together with the ultra-sporty GTAm by Alfa Romeo.

A tribute to the illustrious past

Or the homage Alfa Bringing Romeo all the way back is the question, to say the least. But the lightweight Giulia GTA and GTAm do show that Alfa Romeo the still can. Just like in 1965, back then Alfa Romeo was ready to make another contribution to the illustrious image of the Italian manufacturer with the then GTA.

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