Description

1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV

Two owners from new, the current since 1972; 81,650 miles; never welded and never restored; Dinitrol protected from new; driven 100 miles to the sale; a proper time capsule!

Although any Alfa Romeo 105 Series Coupe is a wonderful thing, in the mind of the true enthusiast, the 1750 GTV is the most desirable of them all. Introduced in 1967, not only did it have the best engine, the fantastically zingy and rev-hungry 1,779cc twin cam, it also had the best interior with supportive deep-ribbed seats and a wood-veneered central dash pod with additional instruments and switches.

Putting 122bhp and 137lb/ft at the driver’s disposal, it could sprint to 60mph in 9.2 seconds with a top speed of 116mph. The finest affordable sportscar of its era, it was in a different league to anything that the British motor industry could pit against it. No wonder that 44,269 were sold before it was replaced by the slightly less eager 2000 GTV in 1971.

This 1750 GTV was bought new in January 1971 by Lt Col JD Trezona, a plastic surgeon serving in the British Army. He promptly had the car shipped to Cyprus where it remained until April 1972 when he was posted back to England, driving the car across Europe to his home in Sussex. The original service book shows that the car was serviced in Cyprus at 528 miles by Alfa agents DJ Demades & Sons in March 1971, and then again by Alford & Alder of Brighton at 3,208 miles in April 1972.   

Our vendor acquired the car from Lt Col Trezona very shortly afterwards and has kept it ever since. The service book shows that it was next serviced by Roger Clark Cars of Narborough at 5,624 miles in July 1973, most of the subsequent maintenance being carried out by the vendor himself who was well qualified for the job, being a consultant engineer by profession.

Immediately after buying the car, most of the interior trim was stripped out before the bodywork and internal cavities were treated with Dinitrol followed by a coating of GoldSeal underseal. It was given a second Dinitrol treatment 20 years later, along with more regular upkeep of the underseal which has ensured that the bodywork has remained totally original and rust-free to the present day - almost unheard of for an Alfa of this era.

The car was used regularly until 1978, clocking up 65k miles, and then less frequently until 1990 by which time it had covered 74k miles. The vendor then took up a job in the Middle East and from 1990 – 2004 the car was only used when he came back to the UK on annual leave, adding another 5,000 miles to the odometer. Over the last 18 years the car has been used on special occasions only, covering some 2,000 miles, the odometer currently showing 81,648 miles.

Cylinder compressions have been checked at regular intervals, the readings remaining consistently high so the cylinder head has never required removal. Valve clearances remained good for 30 years at which point two valves were re-shimmed by an Alfa specialist.

The vendor states that the only damage to the car was in 1978 when it got keyed down the driver’s side door and rear wing outside a pub in Loughborough, the resultant surface scratch being professionally repaired to such a good standard that it is still imperceptible to this day. A couple of minor parking scuffs on the driver’s side front wing have also been touched in. Other than that, the Beige Cava paintwork is totally original which is truly remarkable.

The interior is also completely original – the front seats have always been protected by sheepskin covers and remain in excellent condition. Even the carpets and the rubber boot lining are original, again protected by overmats to keep them in good shape.

Last serviced shortly before the auction, including fresh engine oil, gearbox oil and brake fluid plus a new battery, the car was driven 100 miles to the sale and has been starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it around on site, with good 80psi oil pressure.

Documentation includes the original handbooks and service book, various invoices for routine upkeep, Autobooks workshop manual, 27 old MOTs, 14 old tax discs plus a letter from the vendor covering his use of the car over the last 50 years. The current MOT runs to December 2022 with no advisories recorded. There is also an August 2018 issue of Classic Cars magazine which includes a 7-page feature on this very car. A useful quantity of spares and tools are also included, along with an indoor car cover.

It may interest bidders to note that this car bore the number plate WPC 1 throughout the vendor’s ownership (transferred from a 1955 Austin A40 that he formerly owned), this number also being offered elsewhere in this sale (Lot 35).

To find a totally original and unrestored Alfa from this era is remarkable enough. Add in the great history file and the fact that it is virtually one-owner from new and this is a chance not to be missed.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com