1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce
Coachwork by Pinin Farina
Chassis no. 149505181
Engine no. 131531937
1,390cc DOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
2 Weber Sandcast DC03 Carburetors
Approx. 115bhp at 6,500rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Alfin Drum Brakes
*Exquisite restoration of a desirable factory 750F-series Spider Veloce
*Factory Correct Grigio Grafite over Red and retaining original engine
*Eligible for numerous Concours d'Elegance and classic rallies
*One of just 1,203 Giulietta Spider Veloce's produced

THE ALFA ROMEO 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 Veloce's 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 approximately 15%. Performance was certainly improved, with a top speed of 115mph and a more responsive engine through and through. Just 1,203 Giulietta Spider Veloce's were produced, and they remain among the most collectible of the model today.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Bonhams is pleased to offer this exquisitely restored example of the rare and ultra-desirable 750F-series Giulietta Spider Veloce. This fine example was completed at the Milanese Alfa Romeo plant on November 12, 1958, sporting Grigio Grafite over red vinyl, and configured as a left-hand-drive Spider in full Veloce trim. The Alfa Romeo, which carried a high-performance twin-cam engine with dual Weber carburetors, was delivered to the U.S. and sold to Hoffmann Motor Car Co. of New York. Its first owners were a pair of brothers based in Chicago who acquired the car in 1959. Over the next couple of years, they would field the Spider at racetracks around the Midwest before handing it on to its next owner, Mr. Bill Gross of Lombard, Illinois in 1961. Thus began roughly 50 years of continuous ownership in which the family would regularly use and maintain this delightful Spider. Thanks to the singular extended period of caretaking, this Alfa has remained highly original with the hood, transmission, boot lid, chassis, engine, wheels, and carburetors being the same that accompanied the car out of the factory.

In 2014, the Spider found its newest and current owner, a Chicago-based collector with a taste for the finest European sportscars available. It was decided that a comprehensive nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration would be conducted to return the car to an excellent state. Every fine detail of the car was looked after, from bumper to bumper, by marque specialists. Barry Sale of PHP racing in Wauconda, Illinois was responsible for the rebuilding of the original engine, which was slightly bored up to 1,390cc via a kit from Bill Norman in Oakland, California. The transmission was swapped out for a 5-speed unit; however, the original rebuilt 4-speed unit will accompany the sale of the car, in addition to the original jack, tools and tonneau cover. In addition, the interior received leather seating in place of the standard vinyl, but retains the factory correct color, much like the exterior paint. Giulietta Studios of Lake Forest, Illinois dealt with assembly, while Belknap Autobody of Barrington, Illinois handled the body, and finally Mike Besic and chrome shop Finishing Touch added their expertise as well. Over sixty pages of receipts document the entirety of the project, totaling over $161,000, and serve as fine evidence to the quality of work done.

This spectacular Spider Veloce will certainly afford easy access to the country's vintage rallies and Concours d'Elegance thanks to its unquestionable pedigree. These 750F-series Veloce's are sought after for their nimble-handling short wheel base, and from the beautiful Pinin Farina styling to the jewel twin-cam motor, this is truly the complete package of classic motoring.
Saleroom notices Please note, this v
ehicle is titled under the model year 1959.