1982 ALFA ROMEO ALFETTA

Exceptional Alfetta GTV6

Upgraded 3 litre 12 valve Busso V6, single plate clutch and Limited Slip Differential gearbox from Alfa 75. All rebuilt in 2022 to SZ spec described below.

Factory Argento Silver

Original factory grey interior, original wheel and gear knob.

Car wears European spec GTV6 Ronal alloys. Comes with a set of original UK spec alloys which require refurbishment.

My second GTV6 in 25 years, acquired in between COVID lock-downs from AROC member, after a 5 year hunt.

ULEZ and Road Tax exempt.

2021/22 £16,000 engine and gearbox rebuild plus a range of improvements (see below).

2013 bare metal restoration by Alex Jupe Motorsport.

Comprehensive history file detailing bare metal restoration, mechanical work and service history. Fully detailed invoices - too many to scan for this advert.

Independent Comments on XRU 569Y:

Described by Alex Jupe (Alex Jupe Motorsport & Alfa Romeo Owners Club Alfetta adviser) as, "a really nice GTV6 that rust has never got into." Alex's advice is, "Don't sell her, it is so hard to find really good GTV6s".

Described by Day & Whites (Brands Hatch) as "the best driving GTV6 we have had."

Stef Proietti (Proietti Garage, London) said, "don't sell it."

Bare metal restoration in 2013 by Alex Jupe included,

- Dinitrol rust proofing

- protective wheel arch liners fitted

These characteristics along with responsible owners and no wet use and no salty road use probably explain its exceptional condition.

Kept in dry storage during my ownership. Receipts retained with vehicle history.

£16,000 engine and gearbox rebuild at Alex Jupe Motorsport July 2022, along with major overhaul including E10 compliant fuel lines, new clutch and hydraulics, brakes, AJM cooling fans upgrade, hoses, AJM quick-shift upgrade, and much, much more, some of which listed below.

Car is now run in, and has done just over 5,000 miles since rebuild.

I run it on Super Unleaded, always, although this is not necessary.

Discrete and effective upgrades bring it to SZ spec, including

- Ported heads

- New Columbo & Bariani fast road cams and followers

- New valves and valve seals

- New cylinder liners and pistons

- Crank checked and polished

- Bottom end fully balanced

- New bearings

- New tubular exhaust manifolds

- Fuel injectors refurbished

- Alex Jupe cooling fan upgrade

- Alex Jupe "quick shift" upgrade

- Larger, ventilated and drilled discs

- Flywheel lightened

- Prop shaft overhauled with new couplings (donuts)

- New clutch and hydraulics

- Calipers overhauled

Engine is strong, smooth and torquey, addictively responsive, and revs with an intoxicating zest.

It has the easy torque of the 3.0. The head and fly wheel work, mean that it spins as freely as a 2.5. GTVs don't weigh much, so the torque feels muscular, and the 3rd, 4th and 5th gear performance is a sublime pleasure - smoother than draught Guinness, but with a double Talisker intensity.

The car is just fabulous, beautifully balanced, gorgeously, endearingly vocal, and completely engaging. It's just magic.

Selling because I cannot keep justifying the storage cost, and owning this takes time - checking the weather forecast, notifying the storage of when I will collect and return it, and as a 4th car, I don't have that time. I bought a refurbished, original GTV6/ Ferrari 512BB spec Pioneer Radio Cassette player for it over a year ago,(with the loud button!) but still haven't put it in. I'd love to have the head lights refurbished to as new, and source a new period radio aerial. A section of stitching has unwound on the driver's seat - I have the details of a local trimmer who can sort it and I still haven't done it. I just don't have time. I spent months tracking down a set of UK spec alloys, and I still haven't had them refurbished. All these things, and a worn out kitchen, tell me that I should move it on.

After a fabulous Porsche, TVR, and other highly regarded performance cars, I just can't get GTV6s out of my system. No other car has made me laugh so consistently, matched the mix of throttle response, exhaust and induction noise, poise and engagement, or caused so many friendly, enthusiastic, spontaneous conversations and comments. It is not a status symbol - it is for driving joy. People smile at you, ask what it is, petrolheads nod (and hang out of vans). If you love driving, and want to avoid becoming hooked on GTV6s, stay well clear. Save yourself. I do think it is incurable, so don't blame me if you do buy one. Clarkson is on his second one - he must have the virus.

The car is in extraordinarily good condition, and is not concours, and therefore is priced below "as new unicorns" on the internet, and some recently sold via AJM. It has had all the "major" risk items dealt with and plenty more - roughly £25,000 spent with Alex, Day & Whites and Prioiettis since I bought it in 2021, and it was a very good one to start with.

Inspection welcome.

If I were to keep it, there is some preventative work I would do - but very little required. Note the bottom corner of the windscreen - in dry storage this has not worsened but in my 51 year old mind with a CV including Fiat, Lancia and Alfa, it should be addressed anyway. For me to do this means more time off the road during my precious dry driving days - finding a dry day for delivery, probably a week or two in a workshop, then finding another dry day for collection or arranging enclosed trailer transport - it is all my time - and work and family mean that I am just not in a position to enjoy this side of ownership to the full.

For insight into GTV6 driving, search "davide cironi GTV6"

For context on the engine, search "Giuseppe Busso Alfa Romeo"

For 80's James Bond nostalgia: search YouTube for "Roger Moore GTV6"

For specific questions, or more photos, or a viewing, please drop me an e-mail.