Chassis No. AR 10120 00379

Engine No. AR 00120 00769

Bertone Body No. 87 381

This particular Sprint Speciale was completed by Alfa Romeo for internal use under assembly "Tipo Code 10117" as an otherwise completely normal USA/North American Market version built on Bertone Job/Assembly No. 87 301. The car was completed on January 20th, 1961 with Alfa Red exterior paint and unrecorded internal trim. This was sequentially the third of 742 examples assembled in the 1961 model year; 1,366 similar vehicles were produced from 1959 through to 1962.

Upon completion, Chassis 00379 was shipped to the States by air rather than standard ocean transport for delivery to Max Hoffman's Hoffman Motor Car Company, New York. Hoffman was at the time the North American Distributor for Alfa Romeo along with many other European manufactured vehicles. Hoffman Motors did not purchase or initially sell this Alfa. At this time there are no confirming records or reports, but it is believed this was the New York, Chicago and Los Angeles Motor Show Car for Alfa Romeo based on communications from Pat Braden (“Alfa Romeo Owner’s Bible” author), Luigi Fusi (Alfa Romeo historian) and additional later communications between Braden and the former Japanese owner.

Alfa Romeo's internal records only confirm that the car was deemed surplus to their needs and sold on November 3rd, 1961 to Hoffman Motor Car Company, more than eight months after having been completed. Additional details and assistance have been requested of the Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale Registry and several others familiar with these vehicles, but to date, no additional early details are known. If the car was an Alfa show car for the North American circuit, it was likely well overshadowed by that year's touted new entrant, the Jaguar E-Type, for which Hoffman also distributed in North America, as well as handled their show duties.

At this time, no other early owners are known or identified. In 1990 the car was documented by Braden as still being in the states with 40,000 original miles and further noted as being remarkably original and still having been fitted with its original interior, original keys and most of its original paint. Not long thereafter, the car was sold and exported to Japan where it was road registered in 1991 as evidenced by the original Japanese road registration documents issued to her. The Alfa remained there with a single owner, who kept in contact with Braden, until the late 1990s.

Earlier this year the Alfa came back to the US. The mileage is now 49,762, which is believed to be original from new. The Sprint Speciale is still fitted with its original engine, original interior, keys, rear axle and all other major components as delivered new by Alfa Romeo. This is a completely rust- and accident-free example with full services having just been completed.