2003 | Alfa Romeo 156 3.2 V6 GTA

Registration number: AR-39-85

Now here’s a car that wears its heart on its sleeve. Painted in the shimmering shade of Blu Daytona and dressed inside with the rare and exquisite Bi-colore Cuoio Imola upholstery, this Alfa Romeo 156 GTA from 2003 is not just another sports sedan—it’s a celebration of passion, sound, and heritage. And honestly, isn’t that what makes an Alfa truly special?

The GTA was Alfa Romeo’s flagship performance sedan of the early 2000s, born from the desire to rekindle the glory of the legendary GTAs of the 1960s. Those three letters stand for Gran Turismo Alleggerita—Lightened Grand Tourer—and they carry enormous weight in Alfa Romeo history. This 156 GTA, unveiled alongside the Sportwagon GTA at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2001, was hand-assembled with an attention to detail that ordinary production sedans could only dream of. Out of fewer than 3,000 Berlinas ever built, this example remains in remarkably original condition, pampered and preserved exactly the way the factory intended.

And let’s not forget what sits at its core: the immortal 3.2-liter Busso V6. Known affectionately as the “Bussone,” this was the largest and most powerful evolution of Alfa’s legendary engine, engineered under the guidance of Giuseppe Busso himself. With 250 horsepower and that glorious metallic snarl climbing through the rev range, the engine is nothing short of superb. If you’ve ever heard one, you’ll know—it doesn’t just run, it sings. A quick blip of the throttle is like an aria in a Milanese opera house. No turbo, no hybrid trickery, just a naturally aspirated masterpiece that has entered the hall of fame of great engines.

This car isn’t only about noise and numbers, though. The engineers made sure it could dance as well as it could sing. The steering rack is faster than the standard 156—just 1.7 turns from lock to lock, compared to 2.1 in the normal car—meaning the GTA dives into corners with urgency and agility. The big Brembo brakes, upgraded to larger 330 mm discs at the front, keep that pace in check, giving it the stopping power worthy of its badge. It is both precise and playful, the kind of car that makes every drive feel like a private track day, even if you’re just heading to the bakery on a Sunday morning.

Inside, this Blu Daytona GTA spoils its driver with heated seats, Xenon headlights for crisp nighttime visibility, and a premium Bose audio system—although, truth be told, you may never turn it on when the Busso is alive up front. The interior has been carefully maintained, showing only the lightest signs of use, a testament to the care it has received. The accompanying books and invoices tell the story of a car that was cherished, not just driven.

The 156 GTA never received the Giugiaro facelift of its lesser siblings, remaining faithful to Walter de Silva’s original, timeless design right until production ended in 2005. Today, this makes it even more desirable—an unfiltered Alfa Romeo in its purest form.

All told, this 2003 Alfa 156 GTA is more than a rare sports sedan. It is an icon of passion, an homage to heritage, and a guardian of one of the greatest engines ever built. In short: it’s everything an Alfa Romeo should be. Contact Gallery Aaldering today and explore this Alfa now. We export our cars worldwide, please ask us about the details.