Participant in the 1956 Mille Miglia, entered by the renowned Scuderia Cangrande of Verona
Participant in the 1956 Mille Miglia, entered by the renowned Scuderia Cangrande of Verona
Participant in the 1956 Mille Miglia, entered by the renowned Scuderia Cangrande of Verona
Extensively documented by period Mille Miglia photographs, Alfa Romeo Historical Archive records, and official Mille Miglia Archive documentation, confirming its history, provenance, and participation in the 1956 Mille Miglia
The Alleggerita was built with competition in mind: aluminum panels replaced heavier steel components, lightweight Plexiglas windows were adopted, unnecessary trim was removed, and every kilogram saved translated into improved performance
The Giulietta Alleggerita represents everything enthusiasts admire about 1950s Alfa Romeo: elegant Italian design, innovative engineering, and an uncompromising passion for racing
Formerly part of the prestigious Tommy Trabue Collection, one of the most respected private Alfa Romeo collections in the United States
The 1950s were a golden decade for Alfa Romeo.
As Italy entered a new era of growth and optimism, the Mille Miglia emerged as the ultimate expression of the nation’s passion for engineering, speed, and competition, unfolding across more than a thousand miles of public roads.
The marque had already written some of the most glorious chapters in motorsport history, but the 1950s demanded a new generation of cars.
The answer arrived in 1954 with a compact, elegant coupé that would become one of the brand’s greatest icons: the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint.
Designed by Franco Scaglione for Bertone, the Giulietta combined beauty, agility, and advanced engineering.
Under its sculpted bodywork lay a jewel-like 1.3-liter twin-cam engine, a technology usually reserved for far more expensive sports cars.
As competition intensified, Alfa Romeo sought to transform the Giulietta into an even more capable racing weapon.
Engineers focused on a simple principle: reduce weight and increase performance.
The result was the Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita, literally, the “lightened” version.
The Alleggerita was built with competition in mind.
Aluminum panels replaced heavier steel components, lightweight Plexiglas windows were adopted, unnecessary trim was removed, and every kilogram saved translated into improved performance.
The Veloce engine received twin Weber carburetors, a higher compression ratio, larger valves, and revised camshafts.
The Mille Miglia became the perfect proving ground for the Giulietta.
Between 1954 and 1965, approximately 3,158 Giulietta Sprint Veloce models were produced. The rarest and most desirable variants were the lightweight Alleggerita cars built by Bertone.
Although Alfa Romeo never published official production records for the Alleggerita variant, historians and marque specialists generally estimates the total production between 150 and 180 cars, making it one of the most exclusive Giulietta derivatives ever produced.
The exact number of Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggeritas entered in the Mille Miglia remains unknown.
Just a handful retain fully documented race histories, making Mille Miglia-veteran Alleggeritas among the most desirable post-war Alfa Romeos in existence.
Given the model’s competition-oriented nature, many cars were raced extensively, crashed, modified, or dismantled during the 1960s and 1970s, when their historical significance was not yet fully appreciated. As a result, a considerable number disappeared over the decades.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
Every classic car tells a story, but just a select few can trace their origins directly to the golden age of the Mille Miglia.
This specific Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita is one of those rare survivors.
The story begins in the spring of 1956. Built on 24 April 1956, this lightweight Giulietta left the Alfa Romeo factory at a time when Italy was preparing for its most celebrated motor race.
Just two days later, on 26 April, the car was delivered to Francesco Serenelli of Santa Maria di Zevio, near Verona.
Serenelli was no ordinary customer. Together with his father and brother, he belonged to the Scuderia Cangrande, a respected Verona-based racing team that regularly entered Alfa Romeos in competition.
The new Giulietta had been acquired with a clear purpose: to compete in the Mille Miglia.
Within days of taking delivery, Serenelli lined up at the start of the 1956 Mille Miglia behind the wheel.
The car carried race number 138, proudly representing Scuderia Cangrande. Photographs show the Alfa racing through Italy’s towns.
The result was remarkable. Competing against hundreds of entrants over more than 1,000 miles of public roads, Serenelli guided the lightweight Giulietta to 14th in the highly competitive Gran Turismo class up to 1,300 cc.
For a privately entered car delivered just days before the race, it was an impressive achievement and a testament to the capabilities of Alfa Romeo’s newest sporting model.
By the mid-1970s the Alleggerita appears to have crossed the Atlantic and entered the United States, where it was owned by Mr. David Howard of Indiana.
Mr. Howard was a well-known Alfa Romeo enthusiast and an active member of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, helping preserve the car during a period when many historic racing automobiles were still viewed simply as used sports cars.
In April 1986, ownership passed to William R. Culbertson of Ohio, another respected Alfa Romeo collector and club member.
Under American ownership the car continued to be preserved rather than modified, allowing much of its original identity to remain intact.
The next chapter unfolded in Japan. By 2004, the car was owned by Mr. Horiuchi Shinji, a dedicated collector who recognized the significance of this rare Alleggerita.
During its years in Japan, the Alfa was issued a Japanese FIVA Identity Card, documenting its authenticity and historical importance.
Presented in traditional Alfa Romeo red, the car featured a cream interior trimmed with red piping and matching red carpets.
Most evocative of all, race number 138 remained painted on the doors, preserving a direct connection to its appearance in the 1956 Mille Miglia.
In 2014, the Giulietta embarked on another transcontinental journey.
Acquired by California collector Bill Noon, the car was shipped from Tokyo to Los Angeles in November of that year.
During Mr. Bill Noon ownership, the car’s provenance has been further strengthened through research and archival verification.
Documentation has been obtained from both the Alfa Romeo Historical Archive and the Mille Miglia Archive in Brescia, confirming key elements of the car’s factory records, ownership history, and participation in the 1956 Mille Miglia.
Shortly thereafter, the car became part of the renowned Tommy Trabue Collection.
The Tommy Trabue Collection is widely respected among Alfa Romeo enthusiasts for its focus on historically significant and exceptionally rare examples of the marque.
In 2026, the Alleggerita returned to Europe after spending many years in both the United States and Japan. The Giulietta was transported to the Netherlands to enter in a new chapter of its history.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
Finished in traditional Alfa Romeo red, the car possesses the unmistakable elegance and sporting character that define the Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita.
Exterior trim, glass, lighting components, and other details are consistent with the appearance expected of a historically significant Alfa Romeo that has been preserved and maintained with respect for its originality.
One of the most distinctive features is the race number 138 on the doors, recalling the car’s participation in the 1956 Mille Miglia.
This rare detail provides an immediate visual connection to its competition history and distinguishes the car from other examples.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The interior of this example is beautifully presented and captures the distinctive atmosphere of a mid-1950s Alfa Romeo competition car.
The cream upholstery contrasts beautifully with the red exterior, while the red piping and carpets add a subtle sporting touch befitting a Mille Miglia veteran.
The cockpit is intimate and driver-focused, retaining the simplicity that distinguished the lightweight Alleggerita models. The seats, dashboard, instruments, and controls create an authentic period atmosphere.
The overall condition of the interior is highly attractive and consistent with a collector-grade historic automobile.
Every detail contributes to the unique charm of a car that was delivered new to its first owner just days before competing in the 1956 Mille Miglia.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Behind the wheel, the driver is greeted by a cabin that remains true to the spirit of the original Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita: functional, elegant, and unmistakably Italian.
Lightweight, responsive, and remarkably engaging, the Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita delivers a driving experience that remains captivating even by modern standards.
At the heart of the car lies Alfa Romeo’s jewel-like twin-cam four-cylinder engine, an engineering masterpiece that helped establish the marque’s sporting reputation.
On winding roads, the Giulietta reveals the qualities that made it such an effective Mille Miglia competitor.
Its balanced chassis, agile handling, and modest weight inspire confidence, allowing the driver to maintain momentum through corners with remarkable ease.
Rather than relying on outright power, the Alleggerita rewards precision, rhythm, and smooth driving technique.
It is a car that invites its driver to participate rather than simply travel, offering a level of engagement, character, and authenticity that few historic automobiles can match.
Opportunities to acquire an original Mille Miglia veteran are increasingly rare.
Its appeal is further enhanced by the approaching centenary of the Mille Miglia. The 2027 edition, marking 100 years since the inaugural race of 1927, is expected to be among the most exclusive and prestigious in the event’s history.
With demand for entries far exceeding available places, priority is traditionally given to cars with documented participation in the original Mille Miglia.
As a genuine Mille Miglia veteran with confirmed race history, this example stands among the strongest candidates for selection.
The information provided on this website has been compiled by The Houtkamp Collection with the utmost care. The information contained within this advert is provided ‘as-is’, without warranties as to its accuracy whether expressed or implied and is intended for informational purposes only. The Houtkamp Collection is not liable for any errors or mistakes.
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