1973 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super

Having spent most of its life in South Africa, this delightful 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super ‘Biscione’ is in stunning condition, rust-free, exceptionally straight and very nicely fettled. Boasting a Classic Alfa Koni handling kit, GTA-style wheels, and a performance air filter, it sounds and handles even better than the original.

The current owner, originally from Yorkshire, now lives in Australia and due to changes in travel circumstance brought on by Covid, has decided to part with his small, private collection of cars kept in the UK. Previously, he was able to return to the UK from Sydney, two or three times a year and drive the Alfa, early Porsche GT3 and Sierra RS Cosworth, picking them up from a world-class dehumidified storage facility to stretch their legs on road trips of up to 1,000 miles in a week.

The Market recently sold the Sierra RS Cosworth and will attest to the fastidious manner in which this owner’s cars are maintained and cossetted.

With just two former UK keepers, the classic red coachwork looks stunning, complemented by ultra-neat panel alignment and great chrome-work. The interior is good too, and the whole comes together in an irresistibly spirited package that is guaranteed to make you smile every single time you drive it.

Offered with a sensible reserve and a modest guide price, this is your chance to get your hands on a gorgeous, reliable, sorted 105-series Alfa that goes as well as it looks. Note also, this is an original right-hand drive car, and as such, is a real rarity.

Red is a classic Alfa color for very good reason, and the photos demonstrate just how the color so perfectly suits the car. Brilliantly aligned panels and tight shut-lines combine with a vibrant finish to show the Giulia’s lines off to perfection: Is there a better looking historic saloon?

The chromework is bright and free of rust and pitting too, and the glazing, badges and light lenses are equally good. The sought after ‘Biscione’ trim level is exemplified by the chrome bonnet strip and the exceptionally cool original Alfa ‘snake’ badging on the C-pillars.

The GTA-style alloy wheels are in excellent condition being free of scuffs, scrapes and other damage. They are shod with matching 185/70R14 Goodyear Eagle NCT tyres too, all of which have good tread.

As we will never tire of explaining, our 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.

Blemishes? Well, while the car presents beautifully there are a few stonechips plus a few touch-ups on and around the bonnet and a small bubble on the rear nearside wing (#72). And, while it has just had a full machine polish a few light swirl marks can still be seen in certain lighting. This is, however, more a reflection of how good the rest of the bodywork is rather than a glaring fault. #firstworldproblems, eh?

The interior is just as lovely as the coachwork, with a wonderful patina to the tan leather/vinyl seats. Stylish angled gauges in the centre console, long, slim gear-lever, simple toggle switches, square seats, and minimalist door cards work brilliantly to balance the driver’s ergonomic needs with the trademark Italian aesthetic.

The wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel, complete with that iconic signature, is in stunning condition. As glorious to hold as it is to behold, its contribution to the cockpit’s overall ambience cannot be overstated.

The door cards are good, as are the carpets, headlining, and wood-style trim. The Veglia gauges all work too, and the leather trimming to the top of the dashboard is both neatly stitched and free of sun-induced cracks and damage. Again, there are the factory ‘Biscione’ touches such as the black strip at the section of headlining closest to the windscreen; small yet sought-after details.

The USB-charger that is hidden in the glovebox not only makes life a little easier but has been neatly hidden away and allowed the current owner to play Matt Monro’s ‘On Days Like These’ and daydream as he threads the Alfa through the Yorkshire equivalent of the Italian Alps!

The boot is neat and well-organised. Home to the spare wheel and tyre and jack, the wheel well is entirely free of any corrosion and ultra-solid. The carpet is good.

Blemishes? Well, as we mentioned earlier, the seats do have a few age-related marks and the odd small tear on some edges (including a neatly stitched repair to the outer edge of the base of the front passenger’s seat) but what few there are could easily be ignored and chalked up to nothing more serious than a developing patina.

As with so many imported cars, little is known of its time before arriving here and there is no paperwork from the years prior to 2015. That said, the UK history of the last 5 years is comprehensive and the amazing condition of the car should give absolute confidence to any prospective buyer.

The UK service history is recorded as follows:

• 13.05.2015 and 8,090kms – oil service including gearbox and rear axle plus the installation of a Classic Alfa Koni handling kit and four 6x14” GTA-style alloy wheels. The chassis parts alone cost just over £1,400 and the labour and service work by Belle Vue Motors added another £672

• 08.06.2015 and 8,432kms – new heater valve and rebuilt starter motor by Belle Vue Motors at a cost of £433

• 24.11.2015 and 9,391kms – new clutch kit and miscellaneous fettling by Belle Vue Motors at a cost of £941

• 30.04.2016 and 10,175kms – oil service by Belle Vue Motors

• 16.03.2017 and 12,188kms – wiper motor, drive belt and miscellaneous work by Belle Vue Motors at a cost of £355

• 18.11.2017 and 14,695kms – full service by Belle Vue Motors at a cost of £362

Since 2018, the car has been fastidiously maintained by mechanically experienced owners, with support as required from a local classic car mechanic. The owners are used to fettling historic race cars and have entirely rebuilt and relined the braking system, rebuilt the steering box, and checked the geometry of the Koni handling kit and wheel alignment.

All correct fluids have been used and high quality, appropriate oils. As such, it was no surprise that the Alfa sailed through its recent voluntary MOT in December 2020, despite being age-exempt. The vendor elected to have it inspected as he knew it would pass.

The Alfa has a period correct 2000 cc twin cam ‘nord’ engine, which replaced the 1600cc engine fitted as standard. This swap is often seen in Alfas of this era as the 2000 cc engine is a sweeter unit and torquier. It has recently been tuned and had the original twin Dellorto carburetors balanced and jetted.

We’ve driven it and can confirm that it starts, revs, ticks over and growls like it should; the exhaust and performance air filter add another dimension to the already gruff-sounding engine, and the whole comes together on the road in a delightful way. The vendor has included a typed guide to starting and driving the Alfa, an invaluable document and one that will speed the new owner’s familiarization with it.

The engine bay is neatly presented and some sensible detailing would bring it up to the same condition as the rest of the car.

The underside, on the other hand, wants for nothing. Reassuring in that it has been painted rather than hidden underneath great gobs of underseal, it shows off its entirely rust and rot-free condition with pride and it is clear that no repair work has ever been required. Once again, you are looking at a right-hand-drive, original rust free car in immediately reliable, fast, fettled driving condition; it not only goes exceptionally well, but also stops exceptionally well - they just don’t come along like this!

Clearly well maintained over the years, the diligent bursts of black anti-rust treatment on some of the fixing screws and plenty of shiny new components confirm that this is a very well looked after example indeed.

The Alfa’s MOT certificate, is valid for 12 months until December 2021. The car is of course MOT and tax exempt, however this recent MOT offers peace of mind.

It has a number of earlier expired MOT certificates in the history file plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it since 2015. It also has two sets of keys and a workshop manual.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

NB: It also comes with plenty of valuable spares including a full set of original wheels, springs, and many consumables. Please take a look at photo numbers #223-225 to see what’s included.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We’re huge fans of the 105-series Alfas and while some have historically preferred the coupé, we find ourselves increasingly impressed by the understated lines of the sedan/saloon. The more you look at the car, you more you see the brilliant design touches that defined the Giulia Super.

These Alfa 105 cars offer the classic enthusiast a beguiling combination of a superb reliable and sporting driving experience, the likelihood of future appreciation as well as the prospect of total respect from the cognoscenti. The vendor said that of all the cars he has been fortunate enough to own, this little Alfa is the one that garners the most friendly attention and the most smiles.

Especially when, like this one, they’ve been lightly modified to help the enthusiastic driver make the most of one of the best-balanced and most responsive chassis of the period. That they sound and go so well just helps bolster their already impressive credentials. Add in the beautiful condition, regular use and entirely rust-free and straight right-hand drive body and you shouldn’t underestimate just how rare an opportunity to secure an Alfa like this is.

While the coupé is now selling for silly money, this saloon is likely to go for less than £25,000, we reckon somewhere between £17,000 - £22,000. This not only makes it a bargain now but also means that there are probably few safer, or potentially more lucrative, places to store your money now that the banks and building societies are paying such a derisory rate.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.