The first of Alfa Romeo’s Giulietta models, the Sprint coupe, with elegant and sporty coachwork by Bertone, was first revealed to the world at the 1954 Turin Motor Show. Powered by a 1.3-liter, all-alloy version of Alfa’s veritable twin-cam four (designed by former Ferrari engineer Giuseppe Busso), the Sprint was an instant success, prompting the company to revise its production estimates to meet demand.

Public demand for a more powerful performance version of the Giulietta resulted in the Veloce, which was available in both Sprint coupe and spider form in 1956. Alfa Romeo, always astute to the needs of the racing community, made a special lightweight, or Alleggerita, version available to a select few that desired even more performance than the very capable standard Sprint and Veloce editions. Decreasing weight, thereby increasing the power-to-weight ratio, was achieved by using aluminum for the hood, trunk lid door skins, bumpers, and headlight bezels. The oil pan and intake manifold were fashioned out of aluminum as well. Further weight savings was gained by the use of sliding Plexiglas side windows, allowing for the removal of window cranks and regulators. Modifications were made to the interior by deleting the rear seat and sound deadening materials in an effort to save as much weight as possible. The result of all these measures was a weight savings of over 150 lbs. over the standard Sprint Veloce.

This Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita, chassis no. AR1493/E 04159, was delivered to a buyer in Austria, where it competed in various competitions starting in 1958. The events included a 1st-place finish in the International Autorennen at Flugplatz Aspern on 15 May 1958 with Anton Steffan behind the wheel. Steffan also competed in the Salzburg-Gaisbergrennen that same year, as well as the International Flugplatzrennen Klagenfurt in September 1960. Helmut Perco drove the Giulietta at the Flugplatz Zeltweg in August 1958, as well. All of the races are richly documented with period photographs of the car in action.

Much of the car’s race history is unknown beyond 1960; however, it was still in a privateer’s racing livery when discovered by its current owner in Italy less than a decade ago. In 2016, the Giulietta was treated to an intensive, photo-documented, ground-up restoration to concours standards, taking over a year to complete. Every nut and bolt of this rare jewel has been meticulously restored, including all mechanical components. Since the restoration, less than 50 miles have been put on the car for testing and sorting. In 2017 the car acquired the coveted ASI certification and gold plate, as well as a FIVA A3 ID card, a testament to this car’s quality and authenticity.

Eligible for an array of prestigious vintage motoring events, including the Mille Miglia, California Mille, and Colorado Grand, this rare Alfa Romeo presents an exciting opportunity for its next owner. The highly detailed and authentic restoration of this very special Giulietta makes it an ideal choice for concours exhibition, club events, and international rallies.