Est. 135 bhp, 1,300 cc dual overhead cam inline four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, independent front suspension, live axle rear suspension, and front disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,248 mm (88.5")

• Photo-documented restoration by an Italian Alfa Romeo specialist

• Matching numbers example complete with original registration documents

• Restored to original specification

• One of 200 Coda Tondas produced

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato is unquestionably a very desirable car; it has all the elements for racing competition, from its highly tuned 1,300 cc engine mated to a five-speed transmission, which was mounted carefully, and the constructed, lightweight aluminium bodywork. Zagato reportedly spent 300 hours on each body, and only 200 examples were produced, including a small number of the long-tailed ‘Coda Tronca’ variant.

Chassis 00051 was originally delivered to England to a Mr Philip Vyvyan Martin of 32 Little Boltons in London. Finished in Rosso Alfa Romeo with the traditional black interior, it was registered in the UK on 24 February 1961, with registration number 958HYK, which it still wears to this day. Reportedly, Mr Vyvyan Martin only used this Alfa as a road car, and thus, did not subject it to the hardships of racing like many of its sister cars. He kept the car until 1965 when he sold it via London-based dealers Taylor and Crawley to a Mr Michael William Stow, in Henley-on-Thames. The next UK based owner was a Richard Anthony Springett in Cambridge. The original old English Buff log book is still with the car and documents the full list of UK-based owners until the 1990s, when it was purchased by an Italian collector who had intentions of embarking on a restoration of the largely untouched Giulietta Sprint Zagato. As often happens, the restoration was begun and never completed; after many years of negotiations, dinners and discussions, the current owner was allowed to purchase 00051.

He immediately embarked on the restoration, armed with the experience and contacts related to his ownership of three other examples, including a Giulietta Sprint Zagato ‘Coda Tronca’, in addition to the ‘Low Nose’ Giulietta SS also offered in this sale. Delighted to have found such a rare SZ ‘Coda Tonda’, the restoration was restarted. Upon disassembly it was verified that this example was not one of those that was raced within an inch of its life; it did, and still does, retain its original engine, as well as important finish parts, such as the original air filter and original wheels, which were often removed for racing and lost or discarded.

The restoration by an Italian specialist has been photo-documented and there are even photographs from when the car first arrived in the UK from Italy. After a long process, this car has been returned to its former glory; finished in the original colour combination of red with black interior and even retaining its original UK plates, the new owner will be left with nothing but pure enjoyment and pride of ownership.