An Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA Junior with serious competition history

Alfa expert John Mayhead casts his eye over a 1300 GTA Junior with serious race history

This 1968 ex-scuderia Monzeglio Corse 1300 GTA Junior is being offered for sale at the forthcoming Bonhams auction during Rétromobile week in Paris. The estimate of £190,000 to £230,000 is well above the £162k that the Hagerty Price Guide lists for an excellent Stradale (street) version, but the racing history of this car is strong – this was the car in which Luigi Pozzo won the 1971 Gran Turismo 2 Championship of Italy, and it should consequently be eligible for various historic racing grids.

Appreciation for Alfa Romeo Giulia coupés has soared over the past few years. These were once bargain performance classics – I bought a race-prepared Sprint GT at auction in 2010 for a shade over £7000 – but now they are accepted as iconic sporting coupés, and values have risen accordingly. The model most desired by collectors is the Giulia Sprint GTA, or Gran Turismo Alleggerita (lightened). This homologation version, launched in 1570cc form in 1965 and as the Giulia 1300 GTA Junior in 1968, weighs 200kg less than the standard coupé thanks to light alloy Peraluman panels and other weightsaving modifications. Combined with an uprated engine featuring a twin- spark-plug cylinder head, the Giulia GTA could produce well over 150bhp and was a formidable track star in the Turismo and Gran Turismo racing series where it dominated its class for years.

This car’s current condition is not perfect – it was repainted red in the Seventies and the original yellow Monzeglio livery still shows through in parts. However, with the spare genuine 1300 GTA engine block that comes with it, this could provide the basis of a distinctive and competitive classic racer. At the estimate given it can hardly be called a bargain but, with values of this model still steadily rising, it’s likely to be a good longer-term investment.