The GTA was Alfa Romeo’s response to the Mark 1 Lotus-Cortina that raced with tremendous success throughout 1964 and 1965. Even though the earlier Sprint GT was fast, it was ultimately too heavy to compete with the specially developed Louis-Cortinas. As a result, Carlo Chiti, the head of Alfa Romeo’s Autodelta racing division, provided the answer in the form of the GTA, with the “A” standing for alleggerita (lightened).

Weight savings of nearly 450 pounds were realised by replacing the GT’s steel body panels with aluminium, and the interior featured a special lightweight dashboard and seats. Under the bonnet, Autodelta developed a new twin-plug, twin-cam head that, together with other modifications, resulted in an immediate horsepower gain of over 30 per cent.

Ultimately, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA was the most dominant car of its era in FIA Group 2 touring car racing. It would finish in the first seven places in the first round of the 1966 European Touring Car Challenge, and it would also win both the 1966 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in its first season. The 1300 Junior variation was introduced in 1968 to compete in the new 1,300-cubic centimetre class.

The GTA Corsa offered here has been duly set up for historic racing and is by any standard a pure track machine. According to the owner, it is believed to have been driven by Mauro Nesti, a well-known Italian racer and European hill climb champion, and it has been race-prepared under the tenure of its current owner. The car is finished in white, with massive front and rear flared arches, and it features striking green Autodelta livery, which includes the menacing biscione on the bonnet. The interior has been completely stripped of creature comforts and sports a Momo steering wheel, OMP racing seat, and roll bar.

Under the car’s bonnet, where it counts, the twin-plug Alfa Romeo 1300 engine is equipped with Spica mechanical fuel injection and a lightweight alloy radiator. The car’s engine appears to be well sorted and is exceedingly tidy, much like the rest of car. The undercarriage remains clean and shows minimal signs of use, whilst the adjustable rear sway bars attest to this car’s racing intention. Further adding to the car’s competition pedigree, it features correct Plexiglas sliding windows, a boot-mounted fuel cell and battery, and striking 13-inch gold BBS wheels.