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Description

"LUZZAGO PREMIUM QUALITY" vehicles are selected by us for their high quality. Each vehicle is awarded this distinction according to rigorous criteria.

Model history and curiosity

The 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT is a milestone in Italian automotive history. Presented in September 1963 in Arese, at the newly inaugurated factory, 1964 was its first full year of commercial production. It is the car that launched the legendary lineage of coupés commonly known as the "Bertone Coupé."
The body line was designed by a very young Giorgetto Giugiaro, then the spearhead of the Bertone body shop. The result was a perfect balance between elegance and sportiness, with large windows and a sleek profile. The most famous and distinctive feature of the first 1964 series is the so-called "step": the hood did not close flush with the grille, but remained raised about a centimeter, creating a horizontal air vent. Initially conceived as a technical requirement, later superseded, it became an aesthetic trademark highly sought after by collectors.
Under the hood beat the classic Alfa Romeo twin-cam aluminum engine, a true engineering masterpiece for its time: a 1570 cm³ in-line 4-cylinder, twin camshaft, two Weber 40 DCOE twin-choke carburetors, 106 hp at 6000 rpm, a 5-speed synchronized manual transmission (a rarity at the time), four Dunlop disc brakes with servo, and a top speed of over 180 km/h.
The combination of a low weight, around 950 kg unladen, and rear-wheel drive gave it exceptional agility and driving pleasure, outclassing much of the European competition of the time.
The interior of the 1964 model reflects the "Gran Turismo" spirit: the dashboard of the very first series was flat and upholstered in gray/black faux leather, with the classic large, recessed circular instruments, a three-spoke aluminum steering wheel with a Bakelite rim (wood would later be added to the "Veloce" versions), and enveloping yet comfortable seats configured like a 2+2.
From the mechanical and stylistic foundation of this 1964 Giulia Sprint GT, Autodelta, Alfa Romeo's racing department, created the legendary GTA (Gran Turismo Alleggerita) in 1965, which dominated touring car championships worldwide. Test drivers of the time, including the legendary Teodoro Zeccoli, noted exceptional handling, largely due to a refined rigid rear axle, so well guided by longitudinal struts and a T-shaped upper control arm that prevented lateral movement that it rivaled independent suspension. This design ensured that the rear wheels always remained perfectly perpendicular to the road when cornering. The result? Powerful oversteer that was incredibly predictable and controllable. The car "talked" to the driver through the seat, warning well in advance when the rear end was about to lose traction.
Today, an original 1964 model, with the perfect "step" and the correct engine (AR 00502 series), is a collector's item with considerable historical and monetary value, a symbol of the golden age of Italian design and engineering.