1966 | Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA

There are fast Alfa Romeos, beautiful Alfa Romeos, and historically important Alfa Romeos. But within that rich universe, one model sits in a league of its own: the Giulia Sprint GTA 1600 Stradale. Autodelta built it as the road-going counterpart to the all-conquering racing GTA, and it genuinely feels like a competition car that happens to wear a number plate. Lightweight Peraluman alloy bodywork, magnesium components, a twin-plug cylinder head and a chassis developed with racing priorities rather than marketing in mind. Compared with a standard Giulia Sprint GT or even a 1600 Veloce, the transformation is dramatic. The GTA feels lighter the moment you touch it, the twin-plug engine responds with an urgency no regular GT can match, and the whole car carries that unmistakable Autodelta sharpness. It remains the closest you can get to an Autodelta Corsa car without needing a racing licence.

Total GTA 1600 production was at 500 cars, of which only 200 were Stradale versions, this model represents the rarest and most desirable road-going specification. This example stands out immediately as a very correct GTA 1600 Stradale. It was built on 18 June 1965 and sold new in Italy on 16 March 1966, as confirmed by Archivio Storico Alfa Romeo. The car remained in Italy for decades, with its early ownership documented in period ACI files, and has been in Belgium since 2005, registered continuously with the same owner for nearly twenty years.

The factory plate confirms Tipo 10502/A, the designation used exclusively for these lightweight homologation cars. Under the bonnet, the twin-plug engine carries the correct AR00502/A GTA designation, while the gearbox features the proper 5M-series identification with the characteristic 8:41 final drive. All major mechanical identifiers correspond exactly with authentic GTA 1600 Stradale specification. Period hardware is still in place where you expect it: Fispa equipment, Weber 45 carburettors and original-type fittings throughout. It is the kind of authenticity you rarely encounter today, especially on cars that have been heavily restored or altered over the years. The bodywork still carries the unmistakable riveted rain gutters, one of those small but essential GTA details unique to the lightweight Peraluman shell and almost impossible to reproduce convincingly today.

And then there is the way it drives – because this is what made the GTA a legend. A 1600 Stradale feels alive the moment the engine fires. It changes direction with a feather-light touch, everything feels wonderfully mechanical and honest, and it reminds you why so many enthusiasts consider the GTA one of the most enjoyable drivers’ cars of the decade. Instant throttle response, a beautifully precise gearbox and that unmistakable twin-plug rasp when the engine comes on cam.

Today, the GTA 1600 Stradale ranks among the most sought-after Alfa Romeos ever built. It represents the very best of the brand’s sixties engineering, combining rarity, pedigree and genuine driving excitement in one package. With its correct chassis, engine and gearbox, long-term Belgian registration and continuous ownership dating back to 2005, this example offers a rare opportunity to acquire a truly reference-level GTA. A real GTA 1600 Stradale is far more than a collectible Alfa Romeo. It is one of the greatest drivers’ cars of its era – and finding one this genuine is becoming incredibly rare.