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1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider Veloce Project

Beauty is subjective. Ask ten different people, “what is the most beautiful car ever made,” and you’ll likely get ten different answers. From the early Bugattis and the Auburn speedsters, to the iconic Detroit offerings of the Fifties, through the muscle car era and on to the modern hypercar, every person probably has his own picture of what perfection might look like in terms of automotive design. Mine is probably the Tipo 101 Alfa Romeo, and the Giulia Spider in particular. This 1963 example is located in Cleveland, Georgia, and is advertised here on Facebook Marketplace for $35,000.

By the beginning the Sixties, Alfa Romeo was moving into a new era of design, with its four-door offerings adopting a distinctive three-box apearance. A sharp break from the offerings of the late Fifties, the Tipo 105 would quickly give rise to the Giulia Sprint GT and eventually evolve into the fabled GTV. But the flowing curves of the Tipo 101 Giulietta weren’t immediately retired with the advent of the new style. Instead, in 1962 the Giulietta Sprint, Sprint Speciale, and Spider received a larger engine– which led to the distinctive bulge in the hood of the Spider– and a new name: the Giulia.

Which brings us to the apparent mystery of this car. When most sources indicate that the Spider Veloce was introduced in 1964, how can we have this one from 1963? The answer may be in the advertisement– the car is not numbers matching, and has a 1.6L engine installed, which the seller claims produces 100 horsepower. The engine in the 1963 Giulia 1600 Spider also had a displacement of 1.6L, but delivered only around 90 hp. The Veloce borrowed its 1.6L from the Sprint Speciale; that engine would have produced 110 hp and a top speed of around 120 mph. While this is quick, especially for the era, it isn’t startling. But you’re not buying a Giulia to peg the needle.

And that’s good, because this one is a long way from even being on the road. Aside from the engine’s state of disassembly, the missing driver’s side headlight (and the associated loose wires) might indicate electrical woes. While we don’t have any pictures of the interior, the seller states that the new upholstery has yet to be installed, which only leads one to wonder why no pictures were provided. Also an open question: the state of the top, of which there is little evidence in the photos and no mention in the ad. Still, if I could have just one car, it might be one of these.

Or a C1 ‘Vette. Or maybe a ’70 GTX. I’ve still got to put that ’59 Apache somewhere– got to have a pickup. The Big Healeys sure are nice. Maybe something German. And the Z cars are really cool…

Comments

  1. Avatar Howard A Member

    It’s well known, the Jag XKE is notably the most beautiful car ever made. This? This is another one of those cars, I can’t for the life of me figure out what the 5 figure attraction is, like all my pet peeves. Some may remember, my brother had a ’63 Alfa just like this. I feel honored that I got to actually drive an alleged 5 figure car,,at the time( early 70’s) it was a 3 figure car,, $500 bucks PLUS, the guy “threw in” a very tired TR4, that we got running and sold for $250,,,yeah, it was the 70’s. Not sure why my brother bought it, him and my old man didn’t see eye to eye, and perhaps out of spite( Italian, you know). Cool car, 1st car I drove with a 5 speed, stout performance, and drum brakes that would put you through the windshield,,,good brakes, and not much can compare to the high winding sound and feel of this motor. The car itself? Meh,,typical Italian bugaboos, but 5 figures? Sorry, don’t see it.

    Like 6
    • Avatar YankeeTR5

      Well, huh, I guess my view of the most beautiful car ever just doesn’t matter anymore. Nor anyone else’s…..its been determined. Time and design froze after 1961 and the XKE was introduced. I mean, 250 GTO or a 275GTB or a NART Spider, Alfa 33 Stradale, they don’t count. Didn’t know that….

      Now, back to reality. If this is an authentic Giulia Veloce its pretty well priced. Doesn’t seem too beat up. They are rare. And dollar for dollar, the sound the 1600 Alfa engine makes is hard to beat by manufacturer.

      Like 5
  2. Avatar Martin Horrocks

    Agree that this looks good value at the price. All parts are available if not there, some trim parts can be expensive.

    Veloce spec engine is a valuable asset. I don´t think Alfa factory recorded engine numbers after the 750 series. 101 series may be a grey area, but I think non-matching numbers is pretty much what they all are in the 60s & 70s.

    Many Alfisti don´t care anyway…

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Howie

    Not bad, but i think it would look better in red.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Martin Horrocks

      In the current Alfa market, anything but red sells better (unless the older, traditional Italan blood red/burgundy). White isn´t great either and pale blue is getting clichéd…..Dark green or blue are currently popular.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar chrlsful

    same here, can’t narrow down to one (well the 6th gen ford p/u done a certain precise way…
    BUT
    this may be due to the fact: for every application imaginable there is almost a perfict match designed/produced (AWD motocycle? reverse triangle car/bike?, etc, etc) and a one hundred + yr history.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Josue C Rodriguez

    It doesn’t take much to replicate this car. Begin with a Vw, Kharman Ghia convertible. Add the Alfa Romeo Giulia’s Spider Velose grill, and the hood, and Walla there you have it.

    Like 0

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