2025 |
Amelia Island Auctions1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita
From The Ken Roath Collection
Coachwork by Bertone
Estimate
$250,000 - $350,000| Without Reserve
Chassis
AR1493E.01871
Engine
AR1315.30043
Car Highlights
Competition-Prepared Lightweight Sprint Veloce with Numerous Special Features
Campaigned by Écurie Paris-Île de France in the 1956 Tour de France and Tour de Corse
Well-Documented Provenance with Just Four Recorded Owners Since 1964
Retains Its Matching-Numbers Engine per Alfa Romeo Centro Storico
History File Contains FIVA Identity Card, Registration Records, and Service Invoices
A Beautifully Presented Example of a Rare, Important, and Event-Eligible Alfa Romeo
Technical Specs
1,290 CC DOHC Alloy Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
Twin Weber 40 DCO3 Carburetors
90 BHP at 6,500 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Hydraulic Finned-Aluminum Drum Brakes
Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs and Tubular Shock Absorbers
Rear Live Axle with Coil Springs and Tubular Shock Absorbers
Écurie Paris-Île de France, Paris, France (acquired new via G.A.R. in 1956)
Gerard Goldbronn, Colmar, France (acquired in 1964)
Willy Aeppli, Gümligen, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 1984)
Kurt Hasler, Bonstetten, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 2011)
Ken Roath (acquired from the above)
Tour de France Automobile, September 1956, Nicol/Martin, No. 46 (10th Overall)
Rallye du Beaujolais, September 1956, Nicol, No. 95
Coupes du Salon, October 1956, Nicol, No. 93 (2nd in Class)
Tour de Corse, November 1956, Nicol/de Lageneste, No. 56 (4th Overall)
Alfa Romeo’s Bertone-styled Giulietta Sprint debuted in April 1954, powered by a 1.3-liter, all-alloy, twin-cam, four-cylinder engine designed by former Ferrari engineer Giuseppe Busso. The model was an instant success, and to meet demand for a high-performance version, the sporting Veloce model was introduced for 1956. For those seeking even more outright speed and race-winning capability, an alleggerita (lightweight) variant was offered. These purpose-built machines were about 150 pounds lighter than the standard model, thanks to their aluminum doors, hood, trunk lid, bumpers, headlight bezels, simplified interior, and Plexiglas windows.
According to Alfa Romeo Centro Storico, this Sprint Veloce Alleggerita, chassis 01871, was manufactured on May 26, 1956, finished in Rosso Alfa (Alfa Red), and equipped with engine no. 30043. Among the first 50 examples constructed based on its Bertone body number (77043), this Giulietta was originally delivered to General Automobile Paris and reportedly prepared for competition use by the legendary Torino-based tuner Virgilio Conrero.
Throughout 1956, the Alleggerita was campaigned by Écurie de Paris-Île de France, a racing team whose roster of drivers included Michel Nicol, Jean Martin, and Roger de Lageneste, the grandson of Jean-Pierre Peugeot. Highlights from the racing season include a 10th Place finish in the grueling Tour de France and 4th Place in the Tour de Corse.
In August 1964, following its active racing career, the Giulietta was sold to Gerard Goldbronn of Colmar, France, who retained it for two decades before selling it to Swiss Alfa Romeo collector Willy Aeppli in September 1984. A complete restoration ensued and, after completion in 1988, the Alfa Romeo participated in club events, hill climbs, and historic races including the Buchenegg Grand Prix. In 2011, Kurt Hasler of Bonstetten, Switzerland, acquired the Giulietta and commissioned marque specialist Oliver Vetter to carry out a thorough mechanical overhaul that included rebuilding the engine and gearbox. Ken Roath then imported the Alleggerita into the US and, together with his SZ and TZ, it has formed the ideal trio of lightweight Alfa Romeo GT machines.
Accompanying the sale is an impressive history file that includes a FIVA Identity Card (dated 2011), copies of period photos, correspondence with Alfa Romeo Centro Storico, European registration records, service invoices, articles, and even a book produced by Kurt Hasler that details this car’s remarkable history.
With its matching-numbers engine and rich, period racing history, this Sprint Veloce Alleggerita ranks among the finest surviving examples of a rare and historically significant Alfa Romeo competition car.
