1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

‘A22 GTV’ is the seller’s third GTV6 in the last 30 years and is, he says, “the best by far!” 

Mind you, given it was Dinitrol cavity waxed from new, was partially repainted in Grigio Chiaro Metallic October 2023, and benefits from an expensive recommission following ten years in storage, that’s not surprising.

Recently serviced and tuned by independent experts CSR, we are told it has an “incredible Busso engine with a musical note” and only the loss of his storage forces this reluctant sale.

As you can see, the refreshed paint was carried out to a high standard. With very good shutlines and panel alignment, the freshly painted Grigio Chiaro Metallic finish shines nicely. It’s a great colour too, giving those gorgeous Giugiaro lines a hewn-from-solid look the black trim accentuates.

As always, the devil is in the details and the details are as good as the rest; the window glass is unsullied, the lamp lenses are almost all excellent, and the badging is very good. 

A good example of his determination to get things just so is the nearside door mirror, which was sourced in Italy for £300. The factory only fits one, and the owner thought the investment was worth it to balance the car’s looks. We agree.

The 6Jx15 Campanatura alloy wheels have been refurbished and are in a good condition. They are also fitted with matching Pirelli P6000 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

A pair of Hella Comet 550 foglamps add a welcome touch of sportiness to the front end, while the stainless-steel exhaust peeks out the rear and gives a suitably fruity exhaust note. All four headlights are new.

As for jobs for Future You, the window surrounds and rain gutters aren’t finished to the same high standard as the bodywork, the front bumper is a bit wonky, and the offside rear lamp lens is cracked.

The tyres have good tread but are dated 2009 and age-perished, so will need to be replaced.

The interior is gloriously period with squishy brown striped fabric seats. The driver’s seat has softened a little, but the fabric is still good and is free of rips, tears and other damage even if the seam on the outer bolster has worn through and has started to let go.

The rest of the seats are even better and the (very good) rear seats are deeply sculpted and cosy.

The black carpet is in good shape having been recently replaced, and it is protected by some very nice cream mats.

The lovely wooden steering wheel is joined by a matching wooden gearknob. The instruments that sit behind might be conventional in design, but they are clear and vivid.

There is a touch of Italian flair in the metal Alfa Romeo trim that sits ahead of the front seat passenger. The original plastic glovebox lid was looking a bit shabby, so the owner made this to cover it. Neat, huh? 

The boot is nicely presented and home to some spares, a tyre inflator, and a battery trickle charger. It also still has the sticker showing the paint colour, which is a lovely touch. It has been welded in the past but looks solid now.

As for faults, while a modern Pioneer headunit is fitted, neither it, nor the digital clock above it, works. We are told that everything else does, though.

Also, the door cards are decent but could do with being fettled when time and money coincide, and the owner says his next job would have been to freshen up the headlining as it’s a bit grubby.

We also note a missing switch blank, and extraneous hole underneath the instrument binnacle, and a slightly damaged spare alloy wheel.

NB: The speedometer was replaced 23,000 miles ago and we are told the true mileage is around 57,000.

The work CSR carried out in December 2022 included overhauling the gearbox, fitting a new radiator, clutch cylinders, front and rear brake discs and pads, rear calipers, propshaft couplings, a new stainless-steel exhaust including mounts and gaskets, distributor rotor arm and cap, a headlamp, handbrake cable, and a full service with fresh fluids and filters.

Previous work includes an oil service by Meads of Melksham in October 2022 at 23,545 miles.

The seller says it is “incredible” to drive and “runs superbly”, something the video supports as it shows the Alfa starts well and shows good oil pressure.

(Oh, and don’t forget to turn the volume up to enjoy the engine and exhaust note, the like of which you rarely hear on cars this cheap…)

The engine has been enhanced with polished cam covers.

NB: The private registration number is available by separate negotiation for around £1,000.

The GTV6’s MoT certificate, which is valid until the 12th April 2024, was gained with no advisories and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The history file contains a wealth of old paperwork, and it would be well worth setting aside some time to go through it all.

With a guide price of between £23,000 and £28,000, this is a rare opportunity to buy an iconic classic sporting coupé the likes of which we didn’t expect to see again.

Rare and said to be running “superbly”, it sounds as good as it looks and the need for a few small jobs to enable it to fulfill its potential means there’s probably headroom to add further value as you tinker.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Melksham, Wiltshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.