Tuesday 26th April 2016

Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior: YKYWT

The Frankenstein Alfa you have to have!

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In Alfa Romeo speak GTA once stood for lightened race cars that exploited lack of weight and fine balance in iconic battles against more powerful rivals like CSL BMWs. The recipe worked a treat on track but the more recent road cars to carry the badge didn't quite live up to the promise. The 147 and 156 GTA are not without their appeal but rather fall down on the 'Alleggerita' bit of the name, packing hefty V6 motors and the kind of creature comforts the originals would scorn. These days if you really want to live the GTA dream you have to spend big on one of the few remaining originals or turn to one of the many specialists 'reimagining' old 105 coupes into evocations of these classic Italian racers.

This may not be an all-original, standard car but is still a wonderful example nonetheless. Starting off life as an Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior, it was the entry model to the Alfa coupe range. Originally fitted with a 1,300cc engine to help cash-strapped Italians duck under punitive tax rates for bigger engines this one has been upgraded to a 2.0-litre with rebuilt carbs and - thankfully - overhauled brakes too. There's no power quoted but a Corsa spec 1300 GTA Junior had up to 170hp and the 2000 GTAm was getting on for 250hp. Let's assume it's the interesting side of 'healthy'.

Bumpers removed, wider aluminium GTA wings pop riveted on, 1300 GTA grill and gold Alfaholics GTA style alloys have also been fitted before being finished in classic Alfa Rosso to complete the look. Inside, that delicious deep-dish Momo steering wheel adorns the gorgeous, fuss-free dashboard. Period appropriate seats with deep buttresses to hold you in place look better than modern carbon race seats and the whole thing looks to have been executed with real style.

It was once said that you can't call yourself a true petrolhead until you have owned an Alfa and here is your perfect chance.

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ALFA ROMEO 1300 GT JUNIOR
Price: £34,995
Why you should: Gold wheels have never looked so stylish
Why you shouldn't: You might not want to drive anything else

Original advert here

[Source: RM Auctions]

[patmahe]

I adore these, sadly I cannot justify that sort of money on one. But in terms of cars that look great and seem to handle fantastically (judging by historical racing) they are hard to beat. Maybe some day, but not today....tomorrow doesn't look great either

[kambites]

Lovely thing and with the way classic car prices have been going recently it seems remarkably good value. I very much doubt I'd be able to drive it comfortably, I haven't experienced an Italian car of this era that I can, but a lovely thing none-the-less.

[andburg]

This would be one of my lottery win cars without a doubt

[Chris Stott]

Lovely little things... very, very desirable.

[j90gta]

Just magnificent!

[theredmini]

I think I've just had a little trouser-accident.

[jet_noise]

No to the wheels:
Road - too big in both diameter & width.
Steering - wrong side.

Yes to everything else. Can I interest sir in a limb, part used?

regards,
Jet

[JimmyJam]

Fantastic. Out of my league but seems reasonably priced given what the values of these have been doing recently.

[Vocal Minority]

not too much you know you want to about it...

We all want it.

We all know it.

I will fight you all for it.

[DeltaEvo2]

One of the best looking cars ever! Look at it! Beauty!

[adl14]

I want this more than I want to pay off my student debt

[SturdyHSV]

Look at iiiiitt!

If that lived in my garage I'd need to invest in hydroscopic pants

[parabolica]

That is absolutely beautiful; and in my price range as well. Dammit; this is going to sit with me all week now...

ETA: No wing/door mirrors? Not even one - is that normal on the original? I thought it had to have at least the drivers' side...

Edited by parabolica on Tuesday 26th April 13:23

[kambites]

parabolica said:

ETA: No wing/door mirrors? Not even one - is that normal on the original? I thought it had to have at least the drivers' side...

Originally it would have had a door mirror on each door.

I don't think it would be legal to drive it on the road in the UK like that?

[Schmendrick]

My Dad (who is now 56yrs old) was lucky enough to have a Alfa Romeo GT 1600 Junior as his first car bought off a family friend at the time, the lady wanted to get rid and after sharing a morris minor with my auntie at the time I dont think he could have done any better!

Showed him this link and all I got in response was "Mine was a 1600, changed the steering wheel to a wooden one and had hella spot lamps on the front" blatantly regretting ever getting rid

most probably sold it for peanuts too!

Edited by Schmendrick on Wednesday 27th April 07:47

[dantournay]

That's lovely

Any idea what those seats are from? I need a pair!

[NDNDNDND]

Sigh....

That's a proper car.

I definitely want to.

Not sure I'll ever afford to though...

[parabolica]

kambites said:

parabolica said:

ETA: No wing/door mirrors? Not even one - is that normal on the original? I thought it had to have at least the drivers' side...

Originally it would have had a door mirror on each door.

I don't think it would be legal to drive it on the road in the UK like that?

Yeah just had a look at the one on the RM Auctions link and it had bullet-style door mirrors. They might have just photoshop'd them off for aesthetics.

[NDNDNDND]

Schmendrick said:

I dont think he could HAVE done any better!

Edited by Schmendrick on Tuesday 26th April 13:27

[sad61t]

jet_noise said:

No to the wheels:
Road - too big in both diameter & width.
Steering - wrong side.

Yes to everything else. Can I interest sir in a limb, part used?

regards,
Jet

Sadly hilarious that the wheels are 15" and look too big, when only yesterday the RRS needed 21" to be complete.

LHD hardly matters as this is so narrow you'd probably not be much further from the centreline than with modern doors' 12" of side impact protection. And the thin pillars would give excellent over-shoulder visibility.