1972 ALFA ROMEO

This started life as a UK-supplied right-hand-drive Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior, first registered in March 1972 and originally finished in Giallo Ocra with a Tessuto Plastificato Nero interior. Its original specification is confirmed by an Alfa Romeo Classiche Certificato di Origine.

Later that same year, the car was exported to New Zealand, where it remained until 2016. During its time there, it evolved considerably from standard. The original 1.3-litre engine was replaced with a 2.0-litre Nord unit, the steel bonnet and boot lid were swapped for lightweight aluminium items and the car was stripped back for a bare-metal repaint in Giallo Ginestra. A set of 15-inch Alfaholics GTA-style ‘pepper pot’ wheels was also fitted.

The car returned to the UK in 2016 and joined a private collection before being sold by Duke of London to its current owner in August 2019.

Rather than return it to factory specification, the decision was made to develop the car further in the style of a fast-road GTA. The bumpers were removed and what followed was a substantial programme of mechanical, interior and cosmetic work, carried out primarily by Peter Smart Classic Alfas in Milton Abbas using parts from Alfaholics, Classic Alfa and Corbeau.

The brief was simple: build a lightweight, reliable and properly sorted road car that could be used for touring, rallies and the occasional hill climb.

Mechanically, the car received Alfaholics fast-road suspension, later revised with road springs and Koni dampers, together with Alfaholics lightweight trailing arms. Braking was upgraded with an Alfaholics four-pot big brake kit, Carbone Lorraine pads and braided hoses.

The drivetrain has also seen significant work. The gearbox was refurbished and fitted with a new clutch, the propshaft rebuilt with new doughnuts and the rear axle refurbished with an Alfaholics limited-slip differential. A full tubular stainless-steel Alfaholics exhaust was fitted, together with 123 electronic ignition, silicone hoses and an aluminium catch tank.

The 2.0-litre Nord engine breathes through twin Weber 40DCOE carburettors fitted with Alfaholics GTA-style trumpets and filter socks. Once the main build was complete, the car was taken to MEK Motorsport in Cheltenham for carburettor setup, tuning and rolling-road testing. The result was a healthy 130bhp in a car weighing approximately 850kg.

The interior was completely stripped and rebuilt around the same fast-road brief. Dynamat sound deadening and heat insulation was fitted throughout before the rear seat was removed and replaced with an Alfaholics rear seat shroud.

A Safety Devices FIA-compliant bolt-in roll cage was then installed, together with bespoke body-coloured Corbeau FIA-approved seats, four-point harnesses and a Momo suede steering wheel.

The rest of the cabin was retrimmed in black Milano material with contrasting yellow stitching across the dashboard, door panels, rear parcel shelf and transmission tunnel. An Alfaholics carpet set and boot liner completed the interior.

Externally, the GTA theme continues with an Alfaholics front grille and centre ‘heart’, genuine chrome mirrors, new chrome door handles and locks, GTA rear number-plate plinth and Giulia Sprint GTA boot badging. The front grille also carries a bespoke stainless-steel ‘Little Sunshine’ emblem, the car’s long-standing nickname.

Since completion of the main build, further maintenance has included a replacement fuel tank, front brake work, a replacement 123 ignition unit and a new ignition coil.

Accompanying the car is a substantial history folder containing invoices, restoration records, original documentation from its time in New Zealand and its Alfa Romeo Classiche certificate.

This is not a standard GT 1300 Junior, nor is it pretending to be an original GTA. It is a properly developed Alfa restomod, built with quality parts, strong mechanical specification and a clear focus on being driven.

As with all of our vehicles, we have a digital folder available on request containing additional images, walkaround videos and scans of the history file. The car can be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.