1965 Alfa Romeo 105 Giulia Sprint GT

This is a South African car, which the current owner bought two years ago. It was first registered on the 1/1/1966 but is definitely the much rarer and more desirable 1965 model. As such, it is has the step-front and low rear wheel-arches that everyone wants because they’re easily the prettiest of the whole bunch. 

Being an early car it also has Dunlop brakes, the boot release on the driver’s side and the slim chrome bumpers that are free of the later car’s clumsy over-riders.

The odometer is showing 1,800 miles - the current owner has only put 800 miles on it - but this is most likely due to it being its second time around the clock, of course.

As you might expect of a South African car it is very solid with minimal rust, which for those of you who follow the Alfa market, will recognise as being very rare. The front edges of the doors are starting to show signs that they could do with some preventative attention, as could the nearside front floor pan and boot floor.

There are also some marks on the underside where a previous ham-fisted owner has jacked the car up and the doors could do with adjusting as they need a slight lift to encourage them to latch properly.

We are being as thorough as we can for those who would like to bid but cannot come and see the car in person first; the key message is that it is structurally sound and doesn’t need extensive welding like so many cars we see. It has had some around the steering box, which is a common MOT failure point, but it’s so sound that even the sills and front wings look to be original…

Unlike the paintwork, which has been resprayed in Montreal orange. We think it looks terrific but it isn’t original and while it looks great from ten feet away, closer inspection does show some sanding marks. 

The owner has taken all of these factors into account when he was setting the very sensible reserve. (His wife tells him he is too pessimistic about his cars - so he’s been highly critical in describing it and has probably makes it sound worse than it really is!)

Helpfully the current owner has posted several videos below, allowing you to take a good up close look at the car.

The interior is a bit of a puzzle – but in a good way. The interior belies a car that has travelled around the clock, so either the speedometer has been replaced and they’re indicative of a lower-mileage car than we think is the case or they’ve been expensively replaced; they don’t look to have simply been re-covered as their shape is still taut and firm.

The dash top has been replaced (sun damage is common, especially in hot countries) but hasn’t been refitted properly as there is a piece of chrome trim (supplied) that needs to be fitted to finish the job off.

The good news is that everything inside works as it should. Italian electrics aren’t the best in the world (says he, coming from the country that gave the world Lucas, The Prince of darkness) but this car is a good example of how good they can be when they’re looked after properly.

The original 1600cc engine has been replaced with the later, more powerful 1750cc engine. Similarly, the wheels are Momo Vegas, which look terrific but aren’t original. Neither would bother us as they’re widely seen as upgrades.

The car has just had £3,000 spent on rebuilding the carbs, fitting a new master and slave cylinders as well as replacing the dampers. The car is reported as going, stopping, and steering as it should.

The car is MOT’d until May 2017 but other than that there is little history with the car, which might be expected of an imported car.

This is a very solid example that will appeal to an enthusiast that recognises the opportunities that a non-standard car offers. So, this would make a great trackday car, or could be returned to standard specification without too much trouble. It would even make an amazing GTAm replica, the prices of which are utterly bonkers when they’re complete…

However, we can see this being used as the perfect daily driver with a few choice upgrades; this is a well-trodden path and the sort of upgrades that would benefit the car are widely available. Advice on what to do and how to do it is also freely given by either one of various the owners’ club or one of the many Alfa Romeo classic specialists, making the conversion a realistic DIY proposition. The end result would be one of the prettiest coupes ever made with enough performance, reliability and handling to keep up with almost any modern car of the same power output.

It should also provide depreciation-proof car ownership no matter which route you take, which makes the cost of buying it even more realistic. We love the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT, and we aren’t alone. The market loves them too and finding a good car for under £20,000 has become almost impossible. Now might be your last chance…

The car can be viewed in Brackley, Northamptonshire, to arrange to view use the 'Contact Seller' button above, or to find out more about The Market take a look here.