Since the year after its inception in 1910, Alfa Romeo raced. From winning the inaugural World Manufacturers' Championship in 1925, to triumphing in four consecutive Le Mans 24 Hours between 1931 and 1934, and claiming the first two Formula One World Drivers' Championships in 1950 and 1951, on the track was where the brand belonged. But it didn't last. Though the arrival of the Giulietta in 1954 was to signal the beginning of a commercially successful period for Alfa, that car's victory in the 1958 1000 Lakes Rally - the first for an Italian car - was about all it had to celebrate competition-wise by the end of the decade.
As the '60s dawned, the decision was made to put things right. Auto-Delta, a performance company founded in 1961 by former Ferrari and Alfa engineers Carlo Chiti and Lodovico Chizzola, was brought in house in '63. It's mission, to return the brand to where it belonged. Now renamed Autodelta, the firm was moved west, from its original home in Udine, to share Alfa's Milan HQ and Balocco test track.
The plan worked, with Autodelta developing not only the Giulia TZ and wildly successful TZ2, but also the legendary GTA, dominant 1968 Tipo 33/2 and the flat-12 powered Tipo 33 TT12 and SC12 as well, which won world championships in 1975 and '77. Yet it wasn't just motorsport that the department lent a helping hand with, it cast its speed-hungry eye over some of Alfa's road-going offerings as well.
Today's Spotted is not just one of those cars, but the last of them. The Giulietta 2.0 Turbo Autodelta featured a 2.0-litre four-pot with twin Dellorto DHLA 40 H carburettors and a KKK turbocharger to produce 170hp and 209lb ft. The 0-62 sprint was seen to in just 7.5 seconds - nearly two seconds quicker than the standard 2.0-litre car - while top speed was 128mph.
Just 361 examples were produced across 1984 and '85, all of which came in a fetching combination of Nero Metallizzato exterior and Amaranto interior with Alfa's Speedline wheels. But while this car was among the first Autodelta Giuliettas to leave the factory, it was likely the last to hit the road, not being registered until July 1987. Since then it's covered just 87,000km (54,000 miles) and looks to be in remarkable condition as a result; the interior, exterior and engine bay all seemingly in great shape and the underbody described as "original... completely solid and rust-free." Jolly good.
Fast saloons would of course contribute a great deal to Alfa's future success, with models like the 155 V6 Ti dominating the 1993 DTM championship, and the 156 D2 and GTA winning four back to back European Touring Car Championships from 2000 to 2003. However, though Alfa has thankfully returned to some degree of form in recent years, its glory days seem to be well and truly behind it. What better way to remember them than with a car directly linked to one of its most successful ventures?
SPECIFICATION - ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 2.0 TURBO AUTODELTA
Engine: 1,962cc, 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 170@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 209@3,500rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1987
Recorded mileage: 54,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £32,000
1 / 2