PREVIOUS OWNERS: History before 1982 unknown. BILL GILLHAM, JAMES DYER

This particular SS was a gift from Bertone to Briggs Cunningham in 1961 in the hope that he would commission a similar Le Mans race car. Instead it was used by Cunningham while living in New York in the early 1960s. Sold to its second owner from Colorado in 1963, it was stored away until 1998 with only 25,000 miles on the odometer.

This Alfa-Romeo Sprint Speciale was intended as a United States market car. The first owner took possession of the car in 1962. It is believed to have remained in Portland, Oregon until 1983. The second owner retained the car until 2005. Since new, the car has been treated to a concours and professional restoration. It is finished in its period-correct Blu Olandese paint. Inside, there is red and gray leather upholstery and correctly bound red wool carpeting and original period Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel.

The car was shown at the 2005 Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California where it won Best Alfa Romeo award. The current owner purchased the car in August of 2008.

In 2011, this vehicle was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Amelia Island, Florida. It was estimated to sell for $100,000 - $130,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $154,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
Goodings listing says: Lot # 32 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1012000388; Engine # AR0012001548; Dark Blue/Grey leather, Red piping; Estimate $100,000 - $130,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000 – 5-speed, chrome wheel covers, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new with tool kit and owner's manual. If this isn't the best Sprint Speciale in the world anything better has to be spectacular. A stunning little car that was admired by everyone at the auction. It was admired by the bidders, too, who spoke with their paddles and wallets. The price is to all intents and purposes double the highest Sprint Speciale value ever seen at auction, an endorsement of this car's superb restoration and presentation. There is an increasing appreciation of the design quality of the Sprint Speciales, and that, too, is reflected in this transaction. None of which does much to ameliorate its impact on the market: it is to all intents and purposes double the value of any similar car at auction.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2011