1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale 750... Lot 33

1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale 750 SS "Muso Basso" by Bertone Series: AR10120 00048 Engine: AR00120 0017 Swiss registration Vehicle temporarily imported into the EU Alfa Romeo certificate - Rare Muso Basso version - Quality restoration - One of the few SS with a Palmarès. The collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Bertone gave rise to some exceptional projects, thanks to the genius of its designer Franco Scaglione. The "BAT" (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) and "Disco Volante" projects gave rise to the "Sprint Speciale" in prototype form in 1957, then in series production from 1959. From 1960 onwards, the car evolved to comply with American standards. The first series, type 750 SS, was produced in a run of around 100 examples to obtain homologation for use in competition. This series is distinguished by its lack of bumpers and its "Muso Basso" nose. The example we present here, the 48th produced, was delivered new from the Porto dealership in Portugal under the registration number OP 21-55 on August 19, 1959. Its first owner was none other than Manuel Nogueira Pinto, the famous Portuguese racing driver of the 1960s. As soon as he received his car, he entered several competitions. He took second place in the Vila do Conde race in 1959, entered under number 11 (see photograph). He soon exchanged his Alfa Romeo and an assistance truck for the driver Frederico José Carlos Themudo (known as Fritz d'Oray) for a Ferrari 250 GT. At the end of 1959, Fritz d'Oray, then an F1 driver with Maserati, was hired by the Serenissima Scuderia to drive a 250 GT SWB in the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours. Having never raced at Le Mans, he decided to train before qualifying, and did so with this Alfa Romeo Guilietta SS. Injured with his Ferrari during qualifying, he spent several months in hospital. The Alfa Romeo was left in the parking lot and impounded. Fritz d'Oray kept his Sprint Special until the mid-60s. This Guilietta SS then had another Portuguese owner. In 1980, the car changed hands and became the property of a Lisbon enthusiast, José Augusto Xavier Moreira. He kept it for 10 years. In 1990, our Guilietta SS left Portugal for the first time. It was acquired by Dr. Richard Schimmer of Düsseldorf. He undertook a restoration of the car, which lasted over 10 years. In 2004, Gerald Bugnon acquired the unfinished car through Garage Vetter. Vetter took on the task of restoring the mechanics, which had been left intact in Germany, and completing the work that had already begun. The work was completed in 2006. A total of over CHF 90,000 was spent to bring the car up to its current state, including upholstery, fittings, mechanics and running gear. Today, almost 20 years after the work was completed, the car remains in a very fine state, testifying to the quality of the work carried out. This automotive masterpiece represents the pinnacle of Bertone design in the 50s! 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale 750 SS "Muso Basso" by Bertone Series: AR10120 00048 Engine: AR00120 0017 Swiss registration Vehicle temporarily imported into the EU Alfa Romeo certificate - Rare Muso Basso version - Quality restoration - One of the few SS to have won a prize. The collaboration between Alfa Romeo and Bertone gave rise to some exceptional projects thanks to its genius designer Franco Scaglione. The "BAT" (Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica) and "Disco Volante" projects gave rise to the "Sprint Speciale" in prototype form in 1957 and then in series production from 1959. From 1960 onwards, the car evolved to comply with American standards. Around 100 of the first series, the 750 SS, were produced to obtain homologation for use in competition. This series can be distinguished by its lack of bumpers and its nose nicknamed 'Muso Basso'. The car we are presenting here, the 48th to be produced, was delivered new from the Porto dealership in Portugal under the registration number OP 21-55 on 19 August 1959. Its first owner was none other than Manuel Nogueira Pinto, the famous Portuguese racing driver of the 1960s. As soon as he received his car, he entered several competitions. He took second place in the Vila do Conde race in 1959, entered under number 11 (see photograph). He soon swapped his Alfa Romeo and an assistance truck for the driver Frederico José Carlos Themudo (known as Fritz d'Oray) for a Ferrari 250 GT. At the end of 1959, Fritz d'Oray, then an F1 driver with Maserati, was hired by the Serenissima Scuderia to drive a 250 GT SWB in the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours. Having never raced at Le Mans, he decided to train befor