A JEWEL: 1967 Alfa Romeo

SPECS

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1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT 1300 Junior, serial number AR 1206878, 901 Nero with Rosso vinyl, five speed transmission, factory wheels with four wheel ATE disc brakes, jack, spare bulb holder, and Certificate of Origin.  This exceptionally original, low-wheel-arch car comes to us after having spent a lifetime of easy living on the West coast.

This particular GT 1300 Junior was produced on April 26, 1967, finished in nero over rosso vinyl. It was sold new in Rome and exported to California later that year, spending the first five years in the area around Edwards Air Force base.  By 1972 the car was registered in Lancaster, California – where it remained until it was purchased by an Alfa collector in 2003. By 2006, the car was part of a prominent Ontario collection, ultimately returning to California as part of a multi-car transaction.  We purchased the car several months ago from Symbolic International.

This car retains its original lower rear wheel arches, a signature detail of earlier production cars.  The body has received one repaint in the correct Nero (901) lacquer. There are no signs of previous accident damage or corrosion repairs.  The finish shows excellent luster but there are numerous small to medium flaws, cracking, and crazing, noticeable on close inspection.

The car is equipped with its factory ATE four-wheel disc brake system but not a brake booster, due to the early production date.  The pressed steel wheels wear new Vredstein tires.

The trunk has a rubber mat and 14” steel wheel wearing a 1967 date coded Pirelli tire.  The factory jack and took kit with pouch are present. The spare tire well looks to retain its original paint and shows no signs of rust, typical to this model.

Though we cannot verify, we believe the interior is stock and unrestored, including seats, upholstery, early-style rubber mats, headliner, door panels, dashboard, trim, and instrumentation.  As the car was produced without a radio, a correct block-off plate is fitted and there is no external antenna. Flaws include some discoloration to the wood laminate dashboard along with a small hole in the headliner.  The odometer displays 23,400 kilometers but true mileage is unknown.

The car is powered by a 1300cc in-line four cylinder engine.  The engine compartment retains all factory fittings. Symbolic International performed a safety inspection, renewed all fluids and performed an oil service.  The spark plugs were replaced as was the water pump. The heater core/valve was also overhauled at this time. Symbolic performed a cold compression test, revealing 200, 195, 200, and 200 psi on cylinders 1-4 respectively.  

The car is fitted with a five speed, fully-synchronized gearbox.  Though there is no record of it, the gearbox shows signs of having been opened up and worked on recently.  All five synchros work well, on up-shifts and down-shifts, even when cold.

While individual engine and transmission numbers were not recorded for Giulias, both the engine and transmission numbers fall within the production sequence for this car and are believed to be original.  

A recent Certificate of Origin and formal factory letter were obtained, confirming production date and factory colors.  Additional items included with the sale of the car are multiple spare keys, original fuse/bulb holder kit, some spare parts, and a 1967 US sales brochure.  

Two items of question are the steering wheel and the steel wheels.  Some sources point to a two, rather than three-spoke steering wheel.  However, we have seen enough examples of the same year and model with a three-spoke wheel to believe the current steering wheel fitted is correct.  The other item of question is the wheels. The car is fitted with 14” wheels. A number of Alfisti have states the car should have come with 15” wheels.  However, the spare is date coded 1967 and is also a 14” wheel. While possible, we find it odd that the wheels and tires would have been traded out for smaller units right when the car is new.  

Why We Love This Car

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Giorgetto Guigiaro designed the Alfa GT series of cars as one of his first major projects for the design house of Bertone.  Mony of the styling features proved ground-breaking at the time, including the greenhouse treatment, grill design, and ‘step nose’ hood.  Common to all the models was the all-light-alloy Alfa twin-cam engine of various cubic capacities, a five speed, fully-synchronized transmission, and four wheel disc brakes.  Alfa’s little GT was to be the most sporting car in the Alfa line-up, selling well to enthusiastic driver’s around the world. In all, more than 220,000 Alfa GTs were produced in all variations, from 1963 to 1977.

The Alfa GT 1300 Junior is one of our favorite slow cars to drive fast.  The 1300cc motor is a jewel of an engine; one that is progressive, eager to rev, and sings above 4000 RPMs.  The proportions of the car are just perfect. It’s tiny but has accommodating front seating and perfect visibility out of the high and airy greenhouse.  The car is very well balanced; being able to be pushed to its limits without ever feeling ‘twitchy’. Steering is nicely weighted and the large, slim steering wheel fits perfect in hand.