For sale: Twin Spark Alfa GT 1300 Junior

From inception in 1971, to Blu Olandese perfection via Ian Ellis and Alfaholics...

Earlier this week, following time spent with Singer’s brain trust at FOS, we mulled their success when it comes to exploiting the apparently limitless opportunities afforded by the Porsche 964. But it is always a good idea to limit your daydreaming where Singer is concerned, as the chances of you actually buying one of its cars - given the extraordinary cost of commissioning one - is very small indeed. Better, surely, to fixate on something you might be able to afford with a fair wind and modest bank loan. Something like a 105-series Alfa coupe.

Obviously, there is the associated GTA, in all its magical forms. But these tend to reach mind-boggling prices on the far side of extensive restomodding, too. Better to dive into the melting pot underneath, one sufficiently large in scale to make fully recapping it here impossible; though, in short, it kicks off with the Giulia Sprint GT launched in 1963, supplemented by an entry-level (and smaller-engined) GT 1300 Junior in 1965 to provide a more cost-effective route to Giugiaro-styled loveliness.

That’s what we have here. Or that’s what a previous owner started with anyway. Now, following some extensive investment and the kind of ‘fast road’ assistance it buys from the likes of Ian Ellis and Alfaholics, something far more serious has resulted. Most notable is the fitment of a 2.0-litre Twin Spark that features JE 85mm forged pistons, uprated camshafts and a lightweight clutch, and with its carbs recently swapped out for Jenvey EFI and Emerald ECU.

It is said to combine ‘razor-sharp throttle response with dependable drivability in all conditions’. No less importantly, it equips the elfin coupe with around 190hp and 149lb ft of torque, which ought to feel wonderfully vivid rather than silly. The rest of the build backs it up: Alfaholics supplied the cooling package, exhaust, fuel and ignition components, adjustable suspension arms, quick steering arms, brake balance box, mesh grilles and 15-inch GTA-style wheels, while Koni dampers, Eibach springs and a Classic Alfa big brake kit handle the higher workload.

It looks terrific, too, which matters almost as much. GTAm cam covers and the mesh-fronted nose add the expected competition flavour without burying the original shape under costume jewellery. Inside, you get Recaro Pole Positions, Sabelt harnesses, Stack instruments and an Alfaholics Autodelta roll hoop helps make the brief obvious. Great for all those afternoons spent on a lonely B road. Possibly less great if you wanted easy rear-seat access or a lazy trip to the garden centre.

Of course, you wouldn’t be buying a 1971 GT 1300 Junior in Blu Olandese to do that. Like the Singer, this is all about wish fulfilment. Admittedly, it is also about spending £69,995 on a very unoriginal (in a purist sense) left-hand-drive Alfa when you could have a high-spec Porsche Cayman for the same money. But those are two-a-penny in comparison. Given its status as an evolving labour of love, this Giulia is effectively one of a kind. Surely we aren’t the only ones getting the fizz from just looking at it…

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Bluehorseshoe

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