The picture at 5:00 is the official Picture for the newspapers Alfa Romeo Deutschland gave them. The location is the home of AR Deutschland in Frankfurt/Main. The car was shown @ IAA 1977. The cars had been build @ Delta Autotechnik in Germany ( the biggest AR Dealer in Germany at that time ), not @ Autodelta. Some say 2 cars had been build, some say 3. One car is in Germany, a red painted GT V8.
That’s good to know, thank you! I guess the name Delta led to confusion with Autodelta, as many sources in Italy attributed the build to Autodelta. Thank you for pointing this out, I’ll pin the comment.
Yes....here in Germany a lot of people think Autodelta and Delta Autotechnik is the same. Delta Autotechnik had - 40 years ago - some bodykits for Sud,Sprint, Giulietta and GTV. Alfa Romeo Deutschland had a edition of the Sud TI - completely painted in white- which had a bodykit I'm sure it's from Delta Autotechnik.
This was the model that created my love of Alfas when I was 12 years old. A friend’s mother owned a brown 2.0 in 1980 and I rode in the back a few times and I knew I was in something a bit special. Then when the GTV6 appeared a few years later that became a dream car for me. That dream is still unfulfilled but I am lucky enough to own two other Busso powered Alfas so that itch has been partially scratched.
Possibly my favourite Alfa ... the Guigario lines are simply stunning especially the earlier chrome bumpered cars Alfa built so many beautiful coupes...
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Brian, a colour's note: the italian cars don't use chrome, they are made with inox steel. Regards
Grazie Mateo, I still get chills up my spine remembering the glorious sound of Busso's violin in the GTV6. A cheap modern hatchback may be as quick now but the pure theatre and driver enjoyment these old girls delivered is never matched.
A memory from 1980, aged 18 of "borrowing" my father's 1976 Alfetta 1.8 litre GT whilst my parents were overseas and driving it through the Royal National Park, South of Sydney Australia at times at 160km/h. 5 years later I bought a 1979 Alfetta 2.0 sedan - many happy memories of long, fast country drives with friends to the wonderful, almost visceral sound of that beautiful twin cam engine. When engine oil seemed like blood to be pumped through your veins.
Beautiful video! I always loved the shape and handling of those GTVs. I met Calloway at a car event. He told me that the project was one of the hardest he ever worked on. It was the toughest one to tune correctly. He cringed telling me about yahoos tweaking his turbo set up and messing it all up. He's a great guy and it was a fantastic car.
For those of a certain age (I was born in 1963), this is a car whose impact on the soul and the beating of the heart cannot be overstated. I do not think it has the sheer visual impact of its immediate predecessor, but then perfection cannot be bettered. In all other terms it was just sublime. I never owned one, but drove and was driven in one and the memory remains after all this time. I recall a notchy gearchange and a slightly loose rear end, but that may be because I drove older ones. Perhaps well serviced, newer cars were better behaved. Or perhaps I was a poor driver. The GTV6 was a bit of a unicorn in the UK and somehow I prefer it that way. Its mythical status made it even more special. A special car, the GT/GTV. Unique and lovely.
Thank you Matteo for another cracking video. The Alfetta GTV is the car that started my fixation with not just cars, but Alfas in particular. When I was just a schoolboy, our family doctor bought one in vibrant blue. Compared with the ponderous sedans of late '70s Australia, it looked like a space ship. So it was inevitable I would own one myself one day. My '81 2.0L needs some tidying up (a work in progress) but she's still licenced, running and gets a good weekend "Italian tune-up" whenever I get the chance. Even though its not pristine, kids are still fascinated by it - a few months back a young fella knocked on my door and asked me if it was a DeLorean! It also looks pretty darn good parked next to my 156 GTA ...
Thank you!!!! I now wonder what exact shade of blue that was... Was it metallic? One of my favorite shades on Alfas from that era is Blu Pervinca metallic, but the solid Azzurro Le Mans wasn't bad either! It's great to hear that younger people appreciate these great designs, and I can fully understand that: after all, they have eyes too, and few modern cars can be considered truly beautiful...
My dream car, saw a beautiful red Alfetta GTV when i was a kid and i immediately fell in love. I already liked Alfa Romeos, my father had an Alfa 145 and my uncle a 33. But when i saw this i was stunned, it was shiny, gorgeous and had an amazing sound. The first classic i'm going to buy will be this, and i'd love to put a 2.0 Twin Spark in it. Great mini documentary, always enjoy your reviews.
I brought a Piper Yellow GTV new in 1980 loved it to bits. Traded it on a new 1985 GTV , always thought the Alfetta was one of the best cars i ever owned. A few years ago ( 35 years later ) i thought it was time for another one . I managed to secure a rust free Steel bumpered 1979 GTV . I have since upgraded it with a twin spark motor, limited slip transaxle from an Alfa 75 & GTV 6 brakes and various other suspension up grades. WHAT A CAR. Fast road car settings, Fun on both the track and the road. Keeps a lot of modern day sports cars honest
Beautiful car. Especially the 1st 2 litre models , with the horizontal chrome flashing in the front grill. I grew up doing my paper- round in the 1970s loving Alfa Romeo,and I remember Motorsports magazine road test with C. R at the wheel , sliding the car round Mallory Park race circuit with all 4 wheels on the deck , showing the benefits of the De Dion suspension arrangement,giving far superior traction over more mundane British built systems. The later GTV6 also had a rapturous welcome , however , long term tests revealed mysteriously, some loss of coolant which proved to be a design fault in the head gasket ,resulting in call backs under warranty . That aside , make no mistake , these are wonderful cars which can show up some fairly exotic machinery in the right hands at race tracks. I’ve also watch Davide Cironi s GTV6 road test countless times which wets my appetite for one every time . Cheers Matteo
Loved this video. I had a GTV-6, 1981, for five years until I had to find it a new home because I bought another car and there was no room for it. Still sad about that. Also, the shop I use now for my car has a Callaway TT GTV-6 sitting on the lot for restoration. I knew they were rare but didn't know only 35 or so were made. I was super-excited to see it (in Pennsylvania, U.S.)
Glad you enjoyed this video, thank you! The GTV really is a charmer, a car with so much style and character that you can't help but love, so I can see why you still miss the one you had. Greetings from Turin, Italy :)
As a student in the 80ies, hunting for a bargain I remember crawling under a GTV at a used car dealership in Cologne, one the spot gobsmacked by the beautiful "tube style " suspension arms and the transversal gearbox/ diff assembly. Beautiful car!
That is great news that Centro Stile weren't allowed to facelift the GTV - we all know they would have made an arse of it, and sullied the perfect lines and proportions of the original. One of the best looking Alfas ever built
What I would give to own a 2.5L or 3L GTV nowadays, one of the most beautiful cars to have graced the streets. I owned many different Alfa's in the day, Alfetta 1800, Alfetta 2L Exec, Alfa big 6 to name a few. Loved them all.
@@Matteo_Licata - I have a 1986 I bought 6 years ago. 39,000 original miles. No rust. I color sanded, buffed and ceramic coated the paint, conditioned the leather (it’s perfect). Replaced head gaskets, fuel lines, fuel pump, fuel filter, rebuilt fuel injectors, clutch, brake, clutch and slave cylinders, replaced the clutch, new tires, Ronal R1 replica wheels, stainless headers, down and mid pipes. Ansa tail section. Also lowered the front ride height to fix the nose-up stance. And, I went around replacing every tiny piece it needed right down to the plastic caps on the seat belt bolts. Also added a modern Alpine Bluetooth head unit same as in the Alfa 4C. I think it’s pretty much done now. The car runs and drives great. Gets a lot of looks. A total joy to drive. The GTV6 has, for too long, been the Alfa people seem to love to hate. I’m trying to change that perception. Glad you are too!
Thank you! Yes, I'd imagine that a GTV6 3.0 must be worth a lot of cash nowadays: after all, there can't be many left. But I'd be more than happy with a regular GTV6 too :)
Such a cool looking car. Takes me back as I did my apprenticeship at Alfa Romeo (GB) Ltd during the time the Alfetta came out. Lost count of how many 2nd gear synchros I replaced (ham fisted drivers with no mechanical sympathy 😉) and also an over long gearlever giving them too much leverage. Thanks for the memory.
Fantastic episode and thank-you very much! I drove the 2.5 GTV6 and it was a blast. I imagine that the 3.0 and Callaway were rockets. The most interesting is by far the V8 and to me it was a total surprise that it was considered. I would also love to see a TurboDelta one day.
I hope to film a GTV6 one day! The Turbodelta I filmed was gorgeous, loved it. It’s still for sale, by the way. Can’t afford it, otherwise it would be mine already :)
I've had a few Alfettas but never the GT(V(6)) even though the GTV6 was my main dream car for a long time, especially after I saw a wine red GTV6 Grand Prix in a show room back in 87. Had I had the money back then I would have bought it instantly but as a 20yo that had just finished high school I just didn't have the means. Still hope I can have one to care for one day. The really good ones are starting to get really expensive though.
I grew up with these cars, some of my friends and family owned the 2.5 and the South African 3.0 GTV 6,such neat cars and sporty too! Coure Sportivo! 🇮🇹😎👌. The Group 1 Giulietta 116 was another South African Special aswell 😊
Yes, I researched the Giulietta Group One for my book on the “116” Giuliettas, and that made me discover the weird and wonderful world of South African Alfas!
@@Matteo_Licata Then I came across a Limited edition GTV6 2.5 in South Africa with numbered plaques on the front wings, I'm not quite sure if these cars were for South Africa only or were they also available in Europe and the rest of the world. The one I came across was white in colour, it had 34,000 original kilometers and the person who owned it was the second owner and oh yes it was a 1983 model. 😊
Am currently restoring my 1978 model GTV. Has been tweaked with fast road cams and I believe modified carbs by previous owners, feels almost as responsive as the later GTV6. Dilemma is whether to make into a fast road /track car or fully restore to original state with a couple moderate modifications. Seeing the rally versions in this video makes me want to go with the former!
I can't really say. The cars I prefer are either preserved or restored as close to originality as possible. But you do you, it depends what you want from the car and how you're going to use it.
I hear you, and appreciate your view! That was the original plan. But I also have a 75 TS Ottantani that I’m thinking is worth fully restoring and I have a final production run special Japanese market edition 155 V6 that is fairly original. So I figured as those are special editions they’d be better off being original and the GTV could be the stripped down lightweight beast :) Or I save all my money and buy a Montreal 😃🤷🏽♂️
Un altro argomento nel mio "allenamento" sul tuo corso Alfa Romeo. Quando avrò finito, voglio la mia laurea. Scherzi a parte, grazie per l'ennesimo video fantastico! Saluti dal Brasile.
I had never heard of the Montreal-engine based GTV before this. That would have been a monster. A great pity only 3 were built. I know of one that was converted to a V8 and raced in New Zealand in Super Sedans, and I believe there might have been another in Australia that was similar. I wonder what other 'specials' were created?
In Australia, there appears to have been a couple of sports sedan Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV raced over the years. There was one raced by Tony Edmondson in the 1980s and a later one, the Tony Ricciardello car which had a Chev V8 and space-frame construction. I'm more familiar with the NZ racing scene than Australia, and thought there might have been one in Australia with Alfa Romeo V8 power, but it was long time ago. Also, the Montreal V8 was a cross plane engine, so if it was possible to acquire an ex Tipo-33 sports prototype V8 engine, that would be a better choice.
I've always liked the GTV but in America at least they rusted quickly, unlike the 75/Milano, or even better, my trusty 164 Q, which is aging as well as a Mercedes.
I have been waiting for this video from you, as I have a GTV6 into which I have put a Milano (75) 3.0 motor with 164S cams. It is a wonderful thing to drive and enjoy, save the gearbox with its endemic awful 2nd gear synchro. Thank you for the video!
@@Matteo_Licata i live at an elevation of nearly 2000 meters in Colorado, so the motor gives me just a bit more power than stock, but just driving it this morning was so much fun. I drove it at near sea level once and it was a rocket ship.
I remember the review for this car when it came out. They said you would be smiling and waving out the window as you passed someone using the outside lane of a turn.
After the mid 70's Alfa Romeo no longer strived for the same build quality that made them a true marquee amongst moto-manufactures. This has returned in the last 25 year's, since the advent of the 156. Had they have continued, they'd now be a world leader.
I had an Alfetta in the US, not so good on acceleration but very very good cornering, especially after some modifications, suspension and wheel/tires. Quirky interior controls, and RUST, very bad rust. A Milano followed, again great handling, sweet 2.5 engine, quirky switches. That was my last Alfa, I'd finally had enough after 30 years. Now I'm negotiating on a very rusty 1971 1750 GTV to restore, if I get it that will be my last.
The high mechanics of the trans axle described a difficult design brief Giugiaro passed it brilliantly but the unrivaled sexy line of the Bertone GT was unmatched. Fortunately, the mechanics were excellent and the driving pleasure was unique. I was 13 and I was wondering: "well, if the production of the spider and the sedan continue, why don't they keep the GT, too, which is the most beautiful of the 3 in production, even if only as a GTj ..." I now own a Giulia GTj and not an Alfetta GT 😁
How much of the Alfetta GT/GTV’s sales declines vs the 105 were due to internal competition from the Alfasud Sprint? It seems like the Sprint was a less expensive, more economical, and similar-looking (if mechanically completely different) model to the Alfetta GT/GTV that more replaced the Junior 105-Series models. Its larger RWD sister seemed to replace the “Senior” 105 models. Did the Sprint, when combined with the GT/GTV, also not sell as well as the 105?
It's a fair point: a 1.5 Alfasud Sprint was indeed a valid alternative to the entry-level Alfetta GT 1.6, at a slightly lower price. Between 1976 and 1989 Alfa Romeo sold about 120k 'Sud Sprints so, if we combine the 'Suds and the Alfettas, we do indeed surpass the 105's production tally.
@@Matteo_Licata Interesting! And I’m wondering if the Sprint 1.3 and 1.4 were seen (and bought) by the public as successors to the 1300 Junior. The 1351cc boxer made similar power to the 1300 Junior, and the two cars weighed about the same. The trouble is that Alfa chose the more expensive route to replace the 105 coupés with 2 completely different and unrelated cars built in 2 different factories that shared very little in terms of body and structure to the cars they were based on, as well. So even if combined Sprint and GT/GTV sales were higher than the 105 range, it probably cost Alfa a lot more money to get those sales volumes than it had with the 105 range. You would know better than I would. Also, why does the Sprint seem to be a forgotten car? I’ve seen articles and reviews aplenty on UA-cam and elsewhere about the standard Alfasud, 33, and even the ARNA. Plenty about the Giulia and Alfetta-based ranges, as well. But it seems few folks - except for you and your great video about it - seem to want to talk about the Alfasud Sprint!
One of my favorite cars of the 1970s. Not a common sight on our New Zealand roads. I liked the Alfetta 4 door saloon. I also liked the small Alfa Romeo Alfasud.
My father bought a new Alfasud L in a Gold-Metallic Paint with hilarious red carpets and blue seats... it was the 70s ;-) . Since we lived in Frankfurt our car dealer took us to the Alfa Headquarters to choose the colour, since all paints were there , in several hundret new cars. He insisted on taking a metallic colour since it had a clear coat and was much more rust resistant, and he was right . This was followed by a red Alfetta GT 1800 with black interiour and wooden steering wheel. My Dad loved to "race" it on the German autobahn. I will never forget how he set a stopwatch when going onto the autobahn , and telling me to take the exact minute when we left again, about 120 km later. One time we had an average speed of 176,9 km/h . This figure is kinda burned into my brain .. now more than 40 years ago! Most impressive since the car just went around 190 km/h topspeed on a good day. And , last but not least a Alfetta 2000 4 door saloon, painted in light green metal with a light green velour interior was our last Alfa, followed by several BMW ...
@@MarkHey Thank you for your reply. Yes I like the Alfas. They were expensive to buy here in NZ. A lot cheaper nowadays. I find the latest models car design ugly.
Lovely car, and mechanically robust if properly maintained...BUT plagued by never-ending quality glitches and horrible corrosion problems. I know, as I managed an Alfa main dealer in the late '70s.
Well, South Africa did build about 200 3 liters GTV6s, but that’s about that. By the time Alfa put a 3L Busso in series production, the GTV’s career was already over.
@@Matteo_Licata Pity Alfa wasn't sitting on a lot of cash, and Fiat had other ideas. It was the time of Lancia's rally success, a limited amount of money can go so far.
Back in the day I had a gtv6. Loved that car but a nightmare working on it. Trans is in the back with a constant turning torque running from the engine to the bell housing and clutch. The rubber donuts connecting the shaft from engine to clutch wear out easily and friggin pain to replace. Also the car has to be garaged or it will rust away before your eyes.
I've got a '69 GTV. These Alfettas were LOVELY as well. One of the few wedge-cars which was truly beautiful. Like every Alfa from this era, leave 'em in the rain overnight and all you'll find the next morning is a pile of red metallic sludge and four rubber tyres.
As a kid growing up in the 80s this is my 2nd favorite alfa, the alfetta GT and GTV. Now I'm older I prefer the early chrome bumper cars to the GTV as they say ture to the design. My favorite alfa, the Montreal as that V8 sounds magical.
Thank you for the video, on an Alfa Romeo I have a curious relationship with. I am so in love with my GTV 2.0, until I drive it, or more precisely, trying to enter it. Then I long for my Giulietta 2.0. The GTV is just so uncomfortable for my 1,93m frame. But the GTV is just so beautiful.
The GTV’s ergonomics are weird indeed, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to fit comfortably for a tall person like you. The GTVs are flawed cars in many respects: poor ergonomics, indifferent fit and finish, and a gearbox that requires mechanical sympathy to operate. Yet they look so good and sound so nice, they got a unique charm to them that’s hard to resist.
The character and styling makes up for the uncomfortable seating arrangements. The styling personifies everything that is beautiful from the '70's and 80's.
The original instrument panel layout was even more ergonomically questionable in right-hand-drive markets like Australia, with the speedometer directly in front of the driver and tachometer and other instruments quite some distance away, as I recall.
In every market except for Australia, yes. My understanding is that in order to comply with Australian Design Rule 18 (specifically that "The display of the speedometer must be located within the direct field of view of the driver") the position of speedo & tach were swapped on Australian delivered cars.
I agree. I shouldn't, but I do. The Alfasud Sprint is less "pure". It is fwd and lacks the heritage. But it is of its time and it is not just smaller and cheaper.... It is lighter and nimbler. With only a driver and one passenger, it was a very rapid car on the public highway. It was even more cramped in the rear than a GTV, but I rarely saw one with every seat taken. The Sprint was very, very pretty in the metal. I disapprove of myself for preferring it to the GTV.... But I do. Even though they were very different cars, I still feel bad preferring the little brother.
Unfortunately, resources at Alfa Romeo have always been scarce, even at the best of times, given the firm’s diminutive size. Add erratic management to the mix, and then the debts pile up real quick!
Fantastic ? The looks yes , from a distance ! Close by you see the horiffic gray plastic , the badly cut off rubber seals of the windows , the wobbly cardboard doorcards due to moist . The always rattling exhaust because there was no flexible coupling between manifold and exhaust , every 2 years you needed a new exhaust ! I know , I had one from 87 to 95 . Hounestly it was a good looking piece of 💩 .
Sorry but the Alfetta series are junk. Utter junk compared to the 105. Ok the GTV6 was ok as was the 75 3.0 but they are a very poor period in Alfa's history. I would not give them garage space.
As a Giulia Super owner, I am not in agreement. The Alfettas are great cars and much more modern feeling than 105's. Real drivers cars, no less so than 105's. The 116's may have some shortcomings, but so does the 105's. They are all great in the context of their time.
@@MLC... The gear shift of the Alfetta was a disgrace. VW Beetle got it right. So did the Fiat 500 with the box at the back. Alfa produced a total dysfunctional linkage. The interior of the late 70's GT coupes was poor. No flair. Look at a 1969 Mk1 1750 vs a 1976 Alfetta 1.8 GT. It went down the toilet. Alfa decided to go for 50/50 weight balance and made a total mess of it. A 105 Super or Bertone Coupe is sublime. Values prove that the 105 is superior.
@@shabbos-goy9407 You have to get used to the gearshift, but it's unfair to compare to a direct linkage system like the 105s which were the point of reference in the 60s if we are talking about gearshift. But you are wrong in the comparison with Beetle or 500. They were very-very underpowered cars by the time of their production too. No one wanted to shift them any quick as there's no reason to do so. Even more the 500 and its successor the 126 still had the unsynced 1st gear. The interior wasn't that bad either. Seats are the same as in the Bertone 2000 GTV. Roadholding amd ride comfort are much better in an Alfetta GT than in a 105's coupé. 105s feels as a good oldtimer while Alfetta based cars feel modern. And values of the GTV6s are catching up rapidly nowadays the best examples worth the same as non-restored Bertones and there's a 15-years advance at the Bertone coupés.
The picture at 5:00 is the official Picture for the newspapers Alfa Romeo Deutschland gave them. The location is the home of AR Deutschland in Frankfurt/Main.
The car was shown @ IAA 1977.
The cars had been build @ Delta Autotechnik in Germany ( the biggest AR Dealer in Germany at that time ), not @ Autodelta.
Some say 2 cars had been build, some say 3.
One car is in Germany, a red painted GT V8.
That’s good to know, thank you! I guess the name Delta led to confusion with Autodelta, as many sources in Italy attributed the build to Autodelta. Thank you for pointing this out, I’ll pin the comment.
Yes....here in Germany a lot of people think Autodelta and Delta Autotechnik is the same.
Delta Autotechnik had - 40 years ago - some bodykits for Sud,Sprint, Giulietta and GTV.
Alfa Romeo Deutschland had a edition of the Sud TI - completely painted in white- which had a bodykit I'm sure it's from Delta Autotechnik.
This was the model that created my love of Alfas when I was 12 years old. A friend’s mother owned a brown 2.0 in 1980 and I rode in the back a few times and I knew I was in something a bit special. Then when the GTV6 appeared a few years later that became a dream car for me. That dream is still unfulfilled but I am lucky enough to own two other Busso powered Alfas so that itch has been partially scratched.
A previous design may be best evaluated by current viewing. These still look great even today! Thank you. Viva Alfa Romeo.
Possibly my favourite Alfa ... the Guigario lines are simply stunning especially the earlier chrome bumpered cars
Alfa built so many beautiful coupes...
Brian, a colour's note: the italian cars don't use chrome, they are made with inox steel. Regards
Grazie Mateo, I still get chills up my spine remembering the glorious sound of Busso's violin in the GTV6. A cheap modern hatchback may be as quick now but the pure theatre and driver enjoyment these old girls delivered is never matched.
Indeed! 👍
A memory from 1980, aged 18 of "borrowing" my father's 1976 Alfetta 1.8 litre GT whilst my parents were overseas and driving it through the Royal National Park, South of Sydney Australia at times at 160km/h. 5 years later I bought a 1979 Alfetta 2.0 sedan - many happy memories of long, fast country drives with friends to the wonderful, almost visceral sound of that beautiful twin cam engine. When engine oil seemed like blood to be pumped through your veins.
The car that ignited my love of Alfa Romeo - and one of Giugiaro’s finest 70s coupe designs!
Beautiful video! I always loved the shape and handling of those GTVs. I met Calloway at a car event. He told me that the project was one of the hardest he ever worked on. It was the toughest one to tune correctly. He cringed telling me about yahoos tweaking his turbo set up and messing it all up. He's a great guy and it was a fantastic car.
Thank you very much for your appreciation and for sharing your memories about meeting Mr. Callaway!
For those of a certain age (I was born in 1963), this is a car whose impact on the soul and the beating of the heart cannot be overstated.
I do not think it has the sheer visual impact of its immediate predecessor, but then perfection cannot be bettered.
In all other terms it was just sublime. I never owned one, but drove and was driven in one and the memory remains after all this time.
I recall a notchy gearchange and a slightly loose rear end, but that may be because I drove older ones. Perhaps well serviced, newer cars were better behaved. Or perhaps I was a poor driver.
The GTV6 was a bit of a unicorn in the UK and somehow I prefer it that way. Its mythical status made it even more special.
A special car, the GT/GTV. Unique and lovely.
Thank you Matteo for another cracking video. The Alfetta GTV is the car that started my fixation with not just cars, but Alfas in particular. When I was just a schoolboy, our family doctor bought one in vibrant blue. Compared with the ponderous sedans of late '70s Australia, it looked like a space ship. So it was inevitable I would own one myself one day. My '81 2.0L needs some tidying up (a work in progress) but she's still licenced, running and gets a good weekend "Italian tune-up" whenever I get the chance. Even though its not pristine, kids are still fascinated by it - a few months back a young fella knocked on my door and asked me if it was a DeLorean! It also looks pretty darn good parked next to my 156 GTA ...
Thank you!!!! I now wonder what exact shade of blue that was... Was it metallic? One of my favorite shades on Alfas from that era is Blu Pervinca metallic, but the solid Azzurro Le Mans wasn't bad either!
It's great to hear that younger people appreciate these great designs, and I can fully understand that: after all, they have eyes too, and few modern cars can be considered truly beautiful...
@@Matteo_Licata It was the solid Le Mans blue if memory serves correctly.
We were one of the only countries that had the 3L v6 gtv here in South Africa. Still one of my favorite Alfa
My dream car, saw a beautiful red Alfetta GTV when i was a kid and i immediately fell in love. I already liked Alfa Romeos, my father had an Alfa 145 and my uncle a 33. But when i saw this i was stunned, it was shiny, gorgeous and had an amazing sound. The first classic i'm going to buy will be this, and i'd love to put a 2.0 Twin Spark in it.
Great mini documentary, always enjoy your reviews.
Thank you! A 2.0 TS transplant would be a cool build indeed. The 33 “made” so many Alfisti, with its distinctive roar and character…
I brought a Piper Yellow GTV new in 1980 loved it to bits. Traded it on a new 1985 GTV , always thought the Alfetta was one of the best cars i ever owned. A few years ago ( 35 years later ) i thought it was time for another one . I managed to secure a rust free Steel bumpered 1979 GTV . I have since upgraded it with a twin spark motor, limited slip transaxle from an Alfa 75 & GTV 6 brakes and various other suspension up grades. WHAT A CAR. Fast road car settings, Fun on both the track and the road. Keeps a lot of modern day sports cars honest
Beautiful car. Especially the 1st 2 litre models , with the horizontal chrome flashing in the front grill. I grew up doing my paper- round in the 1970s loving Alfa Romeo,and I remember Motorsports magazine road test with C. R at the wheel , sliding the car round Mallory Park race circuit with all 4 wheels on the deck , showing the benefits of the De Dion suspension arrangement,giving far superior traction over more mundane British built systems. The later GTV6 also had a rapturous welcome , however , long term tests revealed mysteriously, some loss of coolant which proved to be a design fault in the head gasket ,resulting in call backs under warranty . That aside , make no mistake , these are wonderful cars which can show up some fairly exotic machinery in the right hands at race tracks. I’ve also watch Davide Cironi s GTV6 road test countless times which wets my appetite for one every time . Cheers Matteo
Loved this video. I had a GTV-6, 1981, for five years until I had to find it a new home because I bought another car and there was no room for it. Still sad about that. Also, the shop I use now for my car has a Callaway TT GTV-6 sitting on the lot for restoration. I knew they were rare but didn't know only 35 or so were made. I was super-excited to see it (in Pennsylvania, U.S.)
Glad you enjoyed this video, thank you! The GTV really is a charmer, a car with so much style and character that you can't help but love, so I can see why you still miss the one you had. Greetings from Turin, Italy :)
My second Alfa - In 1977 this was like a spaceship from Mars. Very planted. Great highway car. Awful gearbox. Love it. Went to the 105 after this.
As a student in the 80ies, hunting for a bargain I remember crawling under a GTV at a used car dealership in Cologne, one the spot gobsmacked by the beautiful "tube style " suspension arms and the transversal gearbox/ diff assembly. Beautiful car!
Transaxel
@@davidpeters6536 Very good! Just wanted to check your knowledge! You have 10/10 points! LOL
Thanks for your GTV story. This was the top Alfa Romeo available when I started driving with my dear Alfasud 😎
That is great news that Centro Stile weren't allowed to facelift the GTV - we all know they would have made an arse of it, and sullied the perfect lines and proportions of the original. One of the best looking Alfas ever built
Youre very correct,it looks good today as it did when new.Beautiful😍
What I would give to own a 2.5L or 3L GTV nowadays, one of the most beautiful cars to have graced the streets. I owned many different Alfa's in the day, Alfetta 1800, Alfetta 2L Exec, Alfa big 6 to name a few. Loved them all.
Great job as usual . Still one of my fav body shapes
Great episode. The GTV6 is finally getting the respect it deserves.
I hope to film one soon and make a video exclusively about the GTV6, as it’s one of my favorite Alfas
@@Matteo_Licata - I have a 1986 I bought 6 years ago. 39,000 original miles. No rust. I color sanded, buffed and ceramic coated the paint, conditioned the leather (it’s perfect). Replaced head gaskets, fuel lines, fuel pump, fuel filter, rebuilt fuel injectors, clutch, brake, clutch and slave cylinders, replaced the clutch, new tires, Ronal R1 replica wheels, stainless headers, down and mid pipes. Ansa tail section. Also lowered the front ride height to fix the nose-up stance. And, I went around replacing every tiny piece it needed right down to the plastic caps on the seat belt bolts. Also added a modern Alpine Bluetooth head unit same as in the Alfa 4C. I think it’s pretty much done now. The car runs and drives great. Gets a lot of looks. A total joy to drive. The GTV6 has, for too long, been the Alfa people seem to love to hate. I’m trying to change that perception. Glad you are too!
Lovely car, I saw many 3.0L GTV6's race here in South Africa in the 80's they are now worth huge money. Fantastic video!
Thank you! Yes, I'd imagine that a GTV6 3.0 must be worth a lot of cash nowadays: after all, there can't be many left. But I'd be more than happy with a regular GTV6 too :)
Such a cool looking car. Takes me back as I did my apprenticeship at Alfa Romeo (GB) Ltd during the time the Alfetta came out.
Lost count of how many 2nd gear synchros I replaced (ham fisted drivers with no mechanical sympathy 😉) and also an over long
gearlever giving them too much leverage. Thanks for the memory.
Thank you! Yes, 2nd gear synchros wore as quickly as brake pads in the hands of impatient drivers 😂. Glad you enjoyed the vid!
Fantastic episode and thank-you very much! I drove the 2.5 GTV6 and it was a blast. I imagine that the 3.0 and Callaway were rockets. The most interesting is by far the V8 and to me it was a total surprise that it was considered. I would also love to see a TurboDelta one day.
I hope to film a GTV6 one day! The Turbodelta I filmed was gorgeous, loved it. It’s still for sale, by the way. Can’t afford it, otherwise it would be mine already :)
I've had a few Alfettas but never the GT(V(6)) even though the GTV6 was my main dream car for a long time, especially after I saw a wine red GTV6 Grand Prix in a show room back in 87. Had I had the money back then I would have bought it instantly but as a 20yo that had just finished high school I just didn't have the means.
Still hope I can have one to care for one day. The really good ones are starting to get really expensive though.
The Alfas That i Raelly Love ...Fetta Gtv ...Thanks for The Beautiful Video ..
A wonderful and underrated car. Thank you so much for another great video! Ciao 🙋♂️
One of my favorite Alfa Romeos.
Mine too!
I grew up with these cars, some of my friends and family owned the 2.5 and the South African 3.0 GTV 6,such neat cars and sporty too! Coure Sportivo! 🇮🇹😎👌. The Group 1 Giulietta 116 was another South African Special aswell 😊
Yes, I researched the Giulietta Group One for my book on the “116” Giuliettas, and that made me discover the weird and wonderful world of South African Alfas!
@@Matteo_Licata Then I came across a Limited edition GTV6 2.5 in South Africa with numbered plaques on the front wings, I'm not quite sure if these cars were for South Africa only or were they also available in Europe and the rest of the world. The one I came across was white in colour, it had 34,000 original kilometers and the person who owned it was the second owner and oh yes it was a 1983 model. 😊
Its my favorite mass produced Alfa. Especially the 1st generation stainless bumper cars
That original dashboard is still a favourite of mine. I wish they'd kept it for the later GTV 2.5.
They did. The series 1 had the split dash. But the Speedo - not the rev counter in front of the driver
@@hugogreen4916 Never seen one of those, very interesting!
Am currently restoring my 1978 model GTV. Has been tweaked with fast road cams and I believe modified carbs by previous owners, feels almost as responsive as the later GTV6.
Dilemma is whether to make into a fast road /track car or fully restore to original state with a couple moderate modifications.
Seeing the rally versions in this video makes me want to go with the former!
I can't really say. The cars I prefer are either preserved or restored as close to originality as possible. But you do you, it depends what you want from the car and how you're going to use it.
I hear you, and appreciate your view! That was the original plan. But I also have a 75 TS Ottantani that I’m thinking is worth fully restoring and I have a final production run special Japanese market edition 155 V6 that is fairly original.
So I figured as those are special editions they’d be better off being original and the GTV could be the stripped down lightweight beast :)
Or I save all my money and buy a Montreal 😃🤷🏽♂️
I had a 1.6. Blue. Terrible mph, but was lovely to drive.
And just looked so cool.
Nice vid. cheers.
Thank you, glad you liked it! Fuel consumption never was Alfa’s forte, very true!
Un altro argomento nel mio "allenamento" sul tuo corso Alfa Romeo. Quando avrò finito, voglio la mia laurea.
Scherzi a parte, grazie per l'ennesimo video fantastico!
Saluti dal Brasile.
Grazie mille a te per il tuo entusiasmo, mi fa molto piacere! Saluti dall’Italia!
One of my favorite cars especially the GTV6 !
Matteo, pls make a video about the Lancia Kappa and the Kappa Coupe. I had 4 of them ;-)
I’m trying to arrange a film shoot with these, but still can’t find a willing owner! Hope I’ll be able to make it soon
They are seriously undervalued imho
Cool video, great clips. A GTV6 focused video would be great.
Thank you! I want to make a GTV6-only video too, and I hope to film one soon enough!
I loved my red GTV 2000 when I had it in the early 80s.
I had never heard of the Montreal-engine based GTV before this. That would have been a monster. A great pity only 3 were built. I know of one that was converted to a V8 and raced in New Zealand in Super Sedans, and I believe there might have been another in Australia that was similar. I wonder what other 'specials' were created?
In Australia, there appears to have been a couple of sports sedan Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV raced over the years. There was one raced by Tony Edmondson in the 1980s and a later one, the Tony Ricciardello car which had a Chev V8 and space-frame construction. I'm more familiar with the NZ racing scene than Australia, and thought there might have been one in Australia with Alfa Romeo V8 power, but it was long time ago. Also, the Montreal V8 was a cross plane engine, so if it was possible to acquire an ex Tipo-33 sports prototype V8 engine, that would be a better choice.
I've always liked the GTV but in America at least they rusted quickly, unlike the 75/Milano, or even better, my trusty 164 Q, which is aging as well as a Mercedes.
That’s true in Europe as well: gtvs weren’t as well protected as later Alfas were, and do rust pretty badly
I have been waiting for this video from you, as I have a GTV6 into which I have put a Milano (75) 3.0 motor with 164S cams. It is a wonderful thing to drive and enjoy, save the gearbox with its endemic awful 2nd gear synchro. Thank you for the video!
Wow, your car must be a blast to drive with the larger motor… Well done, congratulations! Thank you and glad you enjoyed the vid!
@@Matteo_Licata i live at an elevation of nearly 2000 meters in Colorado, so the motor gives me just a bit more power than stock, but just driving it this morning was so much fun. I drove it at near sea level once and it was a rocket ship.
I remember the review for this car when it came out. They said you would be smiling and waving out the window as you passed someone using the outside lane of a turn.
That’s a brilliant quip! :)
Thank you for sharing it!
Ooh! The most beautiful Alfa!! Ever!!!
My first car!
Cool 👍
After the mid 70's Alfa Romeo no longer strived for the same build quality that made them a true marquee amongst moto-manufactures. This has returned in the last 25 year's, since the advent of the 156. Had they have continued, they'd now be a world leader.
I had an Alfetta in the US, not so good on acceleration but very very good cornering, especially after some modifications, suspension and wheel/tires. Quirky interior controls, and RUST, very bad rust. A Milano followed, again great handling, sweet 2.5 engine, quirky switches. That was my last Alfa, I'd finally had enough after 30 years. Now I'm negotiating on a very rusty 1971 1750 GTV to restore, if I get it that will be my last.
The high mechanics of the trans axle described a difficult design brief
Giugiaro passed it brilliantly but the unrivaled sexy line of the Bertone GT was unmatched.
Fortunately, the mechanics were excellent and the driving pleasure was unique.
I was 13 and I was wondering: "well, if the production of the spider and the sedan continue, why don't they keep the GT, too, which is the most beautiful of the 3 in production, even if only as a GTj ..."
I now own a Giulia GTj and not an Alfetta GT 😁
How much of the Alfetta GT/GTV’s sales declines vs the 105 were due to internal competition from the Alfasud Sprint?
It seems like the Sprint was a less expensive, more economical, and similar-looking (if mechanically completely different) model to the Alfetta GT/GTV that more replaced the Junior 105-Series models. Its larger RWD sister seemed to replace the “Senior” 105 models.
Did the Sprint, when combined with the GT/GTV, also not sell as well as the 105?
It's a fair point: a 1.5 Alfasud Sprint was indeed a valid alternative to the entry-level
Alfetta GT 1.6, at a slightly lower price. Between 1976 and 1989 Alfa Romeo sold about 120k 'Sud Sprints so, if we combine the 'Suds and the Alfettas, we do indeed surpass the 105's production tally.
@@Matteo_Licata Interesting! And I’m wondering if the Sprint 1.3 and 1.4 were seen (and bought) by the public as successors to the 1300 Junior. The 1351cc boxer made similar power to the 1300 Junior, and the two cars weighed about the same.
The trouble is that Alfa chose the more expensive route to replace the 105 coupés with 2 completely different and unrelated cars built in 2 different factories that shared very little in terms of body and structure to the cars they were based on, as well. So even if combined Sprint and GT/GTV sales were higher than the 105 range, it probably cost Alfa a lot more money to get those sales volumes than it had with the 105 range.
You would know better than I would.
Also, why does the Sprint seem to be a forgotten car? I’ve seen articles and reviews aplenty on UA-cam and elsewhere about the standard Alfasud, 33, and even the ARNA. Plenty about the Giulia and Alfetta-based ranges, as well. But it seems few folks - except for you and your great video about it - seem to want to talk about the Alfasud Sprint!
Alfa should have brought the V-8 in the US. Saw a red GTV parked for a long time, so tempted to make an offer.
Yeah. A Sledgehammer Alfetta with a Callaway converted Autodelta biturbo V8 and over 200 MPH could have been possible.
One of my favorite cars of the 1970s. Not a common sight on our New Zealand roads. I liked the Alfetta 4 door saloon. I also liked the small Alfa Romeo Alfasud.
My father bought a new Alfasud L in a Gold-Metallic Paint with hilarious red carpets and blue seats... it was the 70s ;-) . Since we lived in Frankfurt our car dealer took us to the Alfa Headquarters to choose the colour, since all paints were there , in several hundret new cars. He insisted on taking a metallic colour since it had a clear coat and was much more rust resistant, and he was right . This was followed by a red Alfetta GT 1800 with black interiour and wooden steering wheel. My Dad loved to "race" it on the German autobahn. I will never forget how he set a stopwatch when going onto the autobahn , and telling me to take the exact minute when we left again, about 120 km later. One time we had an average speed of 176,9 km/h . This figure is kinda burned into my brain .. now more than 40 years ago! Most impressive since the car just went around 190 km/h topspeed on a good day. And , last but not least a Alfetta 2000 4 door saloon, painted in light green metal with a light green velour interior was our last Alfa, followed by several BMW ...
@@MarkHey Thank you for your reply. Yes I like the Alfas. They were expensive to buy here in NZ. A lot cheaper nowadays. I find the latest models car design ugly.
Lovely car, and mechanically robust if properly maintained...BUT plagued by never-ending quality glitches and horrible corrosion problems. I know, as I managed an Alfa main dealer in the late '70s.
Ciao Matteo. Have you seen the article in carscoops on the Alfetta’s dashboard? 😉
No, but I checked it out now 😊
@@Matteo_Licata I'm sure it will steal a smile 😃
'79 GTV 2000 was the first Alfa I drove, loved it.
Great story Matteo, the V8 Autodelta car must have been fantastic, and pity the 3.0 Buso was never used.
Well, South Africa did build about 200 3 liters GTV6s, but that’s about that. By the time Alfa put a 3L Busso in series production, the GTV’s career was already over.
@@Matteo_Licata Pity Alfa wasn't sitting on a lot of cash, and Fiat had other ideas. It was the time of Lancia's rally success, a limited amount of money can go so far.
Back in the day I had a gtv6. Loved that car but a nightmare working on it. Trans is in the back with a constant turning torque running from the engine to the bell housing and clutch. The rubber donuts connecting the shaft from engine to clutch wear out easily and friggin pain to replace. Also the car has to be garaged or it will rust away before your eyes.
Indeed. These were flawed cars, there’s no denying that! Yet they have such a strong charm that they are irresistible.
My Great Love ❤️
I remember those SA 3l cars. Animals. I lusted after one, but too expensive.
I've got a '69 GTV. These Alfettas were LOVELY as well.
One of the few wedge-cars which was truly beautiful.
Like every Alfa from this era, leave 'em in the rain overnight and all you'll find the next morning is a pile of red metallic sludge and four rubber tyres.
The V8 GTV became a reality in Australia with a mid-mounted Holden 5l V8 powered Giocattolo ! 💪
Do a video on the Giocattolo V8, Mateo !
Hmmm, not quite. This was completed off an Alfa Sprint bodyshell, not a GTV.
@@tfj100 , yes true ! It is a Sprint, but the shape is pure Alfa of that era.
As a kid growing up in the 80s this is my 2nd favorite alfa, the alfetta GT and GTV. Now I'm older I prefer the early chrome bumper cars to the GTV as they say ture to the design. My favorite alfa, the Montreal as that V8 sounds magical.
Thank you for the video, on an Alfa Romeo I have a curious relationship with. I am so in love with my GTV 2.0, until I drive it, or more precisely, trying to enter it. Then I long for my Giulietta 2.0. The GTV is just so uncomfortable for my 1,93m frame. But the GTV is just so beautiful.
The GTV’s ergonomics are weird indeed, and I can only imagine how hard it must be to fit comfortably for a tall person like you. The GTVs are flawed cars in many respects: poor ergonomics, indifferent fit and finish, and a gearbox that requires mechanical sympathy to operate. Yet they look so good and sound so nice, they got a unique charm to them that’s hard to resist.
The character and styling makes up for the uncomfortable seating arrangements. The styling personifies everything that is beautiful from the '70's and 80's.
I am just a shade more than 1.70, if you really want to get rid of it please let me know 😉
@@nicolaandria522 For now, I am happy to just look at it ;)
@@MLC... worth a try... 😆
Excellent model, I still like them and think of them as modern.
The original instrument panel layout was even more ergonomically questionable in right-hand-drive markets like Australia, with the speedometer directly in front of the driver and tachometer and other instruments quite some distance away, as I recall.
i think the tach was in front of the driver.
In every market except for Australia, yes. My understanding is that in order to comply with Australian Design Rule 18 (specifically that "The display of the speedometer must be located within the direct field of view of the driver") the position of speedo & tach were swapped on Australian delivered cars.
It was the same in NZ, the tach was in the centre.
most famous car ever !
Like this car but I always thought the smaller, cheaper Alfasud Sprint looked even better!
It kind of does, I agree. And it’s brilliantly packaged too!
I agree. I shouldn't, but I do. The Alfasud Sprint is less "pure". It is fwd and lacks the heritage. But it is of its time and it is not just smaller and cheaper.... It is lighter and nimbler. With only a driver and one passenger, it was a very rapid car on the public highway. It was even more cramped in the rear than a GTV, but I rarely saw one with every seat taken. The Sprint was very, very pretty in the metal. I disapprove of myself for preferring it to the GTV.... But I do. Even though they were very different cars, I still feel bad preferring the little brother.
Al Pacino drove an Alfetta GTV in the film Bobby Deerfield
I know :)
Boy if does the GT look great in those sequences, especially in the one shot on the shores of Lake Como
@@Matteo_Licata I liked the under the alps tunnel scene.
Coupe life. drive from Paris to….
I'm glad the early 80s facelift (8.50) didn't go ahead. That front end is awful.
Agree!
First series most beautiful
Agree!
Imagine what could have been if Alfa had all the cash they wanted.
Unfortunately, resources at Alfa Romeo have always been scarce, even at the best of times, given the firm’s diminutive size. Add erratic management to the mix, and then the debts pile up real quick!
Fantastic ?
The looks yes , from a distance !
Close by you see the horiffic gray plastic , the badly cut off rubber seals of the windows , the wobbly cardboard doorcards due to moist .
The always rattling exhaust because there was no flexible coupling between manifold and exhaust , every 2 years you needed a new exhaust !
I know , I had one from 87 to 95 .
Hounestly it was a good looking piece of 💩 .
Sorry but the Alfetta series are junk.
Utter junk compared to the 105. Ok the GTV6 was ok as was the 75 3.0 but they are a very poor period in Alfa's history.
I would not give them garage space.
As a Giulia Super owner, I am not in agreement. The Alfettas are great cars and much more modern feeling than 105's. Real drivers cars, no less so than 105's. The 116's may have some shortcomings, but so does the 105's. They are all great in the context of their time.
@@MLC...
The gear shift of the Alfetta was a disgrace.
VW Beetle got it right. So did the Fiat 500 with the box at the back. Alfa produced a total dysfunctional linkage.
The interior of the late 70's GT coupes was poor. No flair. Look at a 1969 Mk1 1750 vs a 1976 Alfetta 1.8 GT.
It went down the toilet.
Alfa decided to go for 50/50 weight balance and made a total mess of it.
A 105 Super or Bertone Coupe is sublime.
Values prove that the 105 is superior.
@@shabbos-goy9407 You have to get used to the gearshift, but it's unfair to compare to a direct linkage system like the 105s which were the point of reference in the 60s if we are talking about gearshift.
But you are wrong in the comparison with Beetle or 500. They were very-very underpowered cars by the time of their production too. No one wanted to shift them any quick as there's no reason to do so. Even more the 500 and its successor the 126 still had the unsynced 1st gear.
The interior wasn't that bad either. Seats are the same as in the Bertone 2000 GTV.
Roadholding amd ride comfort are much better in an Alfetta GT than in a 105's coupé. 105s feels as a good oldtimer while Alfetta based cars feel modern.
And values of the GTV6s are catching up rapidly nowadays the best examples worth the same as non-restored Bertones and there's a 15-years advance at the Bertone coupés.