ALFA ROMEO 1750 GT VELOCE 1969 Lot n° 20

2+2-seater coupe bodywork Engine front, 4 cylinders in line Displacement 1,779 cm3 Power 118 hp Maximum speed 185 km/h Mileage 69,372 km Serial number 10544 5344 The "Bertone Coupé" is the successor to the Giulietta Sprint, which was built by Bertone in September 1963 with elegant bodywork by Bertone's new designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. It received the wonderful 4-cylinder twin overhead camshaft engine of the Giulia 1600 T.I. (for Turismo Internazionale) tipo 105 saloon. This twin-cam, derived from the Giulietta's, has a displacement of 1,570 cm³ and develops 92 hp at 6,000 rpm. This brilliant engine, which revs with ease, invites you to play with the superb five-speed gearbox, which the Giulia was one of the very few production cars, apart from the Aston Martins, Ferraris and Maseratis, to be equipped with at the time. As for the braking system - also remarkable in those years - it was provided by 4 disc brakes. In March 1966, a Veloce version was launched at the Geneva Motor Show with 3 more hp and a more refined finish with wood inserts on the dashboard and central console and velvet on the seats and door panels. It is recognizable by its black grille with three horizontal bars and the quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) at the foot of the quarter panel. Then, in 1968, a 1750 GT Veloce version appeared at the Brussels Motor Show. Its name evokes the famous 6C 1750 of 1929, but its displacement is in fact closer to 1.8 litres (1,779 cm³), obtained by simultaneously lengthening the stroke and the bore) and delivers 132 hp. It is distinguished by its new front end with dual headlights, which abandons the false "letterbox" air intake at the front of the hood, as well as the small vertical turn signals on each side of the grille, now positioned on the bumper. It gets 14-inch wheels instead of 15, slightly wider. The dashboard is new, covered in wood with two large dials under the visor, Ferrari style, as well as the center console and the seats. In June 1971, the 2000 GTV followed. It is worth mentioning that the Alfa Romeo coupe was subjected to crash tests, which was very rare at the time. Before the appearance of the "Series 2" at the end of 1969 as described above, Alfa Romeo produced for a few months an intermediate version of the 1750 GTV which kept some of the attributes of the first series, such as the floor-mounted pedals, the seats, the front and rear bumpers, the front side windows, while other elements were already from the Series 2, the redesigned front end and the air box on the side of the engine. The car offered here is one of those rarities. It was delivered in September 1969 in Pescara, where it spent its whole life and knew only two owners in 45 years. It still has its original Italian plates and papers. Its colour combination is rare and its interior (still original) is in Vipla, an expensive imitation leather that Alfa Romeo offered as an option next to TexAlfa and leather only - until 1969. The car has always been stored and practically abandoned before undergoing a complete restoration to its former glory. The "Ber-Tone Coupes" are increasingly sought after and this unique example, in excellent condition and with an interesting history, deserves special attention. NON VENU