BUYER’S GUIDE

Alfa Romeo Giulietta review

From sporty saloons and sensuous Spiders, the Giulietta is Alfa Romeo at its romantic best…

What Is It?

A hugely important car for post-war Italy, and indeed its wider car industry, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is best known for its glamorous Sprint coupés and Spider convertibles, but also includes everything from regular saloons to ultra exotic coachbuilt racing cars, too. All share the same foundations of modern unitary construction, a revvy 1.3-litre twin-cam four-cylinder engine and, varyingly, bodywork from some of the most legendary names in Italian car design including Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato.

Whichever you choose, you’re getting a pitch-perfect expression of 50s Italian design cool, racing pedigree, sporty handling and a sense of the exotic no contemporary rival could match.

Corrosive Areas

Anything metal!

Specifically, floorpan, boot floor, wings

Sills and jacking points also critical

Checklist

First Giulietta to market was actually the Sprint coupé in 1954, the Berlina saloon following the next year with the Spider
All Giuliettas (bar the final editions of Spider and Sprint) use the same 1,290cc aluminium block, aluminium head DOHC engine in various states of tune, though engine swaps from later cars not unheard of
Unitary body, independent front suspension and live rear axle with trailing links common to all, wheelbases varying according to body type
Spider created in 1955 at the behest of legendary American importer Max Hoffman, choosing the Pininfarina design for production
Aerodynamically styled Sprint Speciale coupé based on shorter Spider wheelbase and intended as race model before evolving into a more luxurious coupé
Ti version of Berlina used twin-choke carburettor for more power, while Veloce versions of Sprint and Spider use twin-carb set-up for meaningful increase in performance
Significant facelift in 1959 for all Giuliettas saw model designation change from Tipo 750 to Tipo 101; rolling overlap in production can cause confusion
Second facelift in 1961 introduced more changes, including more fin-like rear wings, new instruments and revised grille
Post 1961 facelift Ti saloon had separate front seats in front of the standard bench arrangement
Zagato SZ originally built as a one-off commission out of a wrecked race car by Zagato; its pace was such it eventually became the default privateer race car, now very desirable
Engines and transmissions generally considered robust when well cared for – check for usual signs of overheating, fluid leaks, etc
Bodywork inevitably a weak point, and corrosion can strike anywhere but check sills, floor pan, inner arches and boot floor in particular
Originality important for the more collectable models but can be hard to prove
Engines in later Tipo 101 cars considered more robust

How does it drive?

It wouldn’t be a ‘50s Alfa Romeo without some quirks, the combination of conventional accelerator pedal and floor-hinged brake and clutch taking some getting used to. But while power outputs, weights, wheelbases and more vary across the various Giulietta derivatives, certain common themes are consistent. The 1.3-litre motor punches way above its weight with its revvy, gutsy power delivery, while the sharp steering, decent brakes and classic rear-biased balance are all geared to putting a grin on your face.

The ambience of a Berlina saloon with its bench seat, column shift and strip speedo is obviously going to be somewhat different from the claustrophobic confines of a screaming, twin-carb SZ, but you can take your pick from anything along that spectrum according to what you want. Whatever the bodystyle, Alfa Romeo’s sporting heart beats strongly in any Giulietta and, for all its 50s origins, the performance and handling delight to this day.

What’s good?

The ties to ‘50s Italian cool are, inevitably, a huge draw for all the Giulietta variants. For fans of the era, the car’s ‘Italian Sweetheart’ embodiment of post-war optimism is also attractive, the Giulietta credited with saving not just Alfa Romeo but also the legendary coachbuilders and designers like Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato who contributed variants along the way. The foundations of modern unitary construction, suspension and engines makes any Giulietta driveable as well, and for all the negative stereotypes it’s mechanically tough, proven and endlessly tuneable with a strong and passionate fanbase to support you. There’s also a huge choice of cars, from relatively accessible saloons all the way to expensive and collectable race cars. Saying there’s a Giulietta for anyone might be stretching it a bit, but few classics span such a huge range of options to cover all tastes and budgets.

What’s bad?

It’s a 1950s car, and an Alfa Romeo at that. So, life with a Giulietta of any type will inevitably have its complications. Their nature will vary according to the version you go for, but for any bodyshape corrosion will be the biggest concern, and buying with the head rather than the heart (not always easy with an Alfa) will be of utmost importance given the cost and complexity of rectifying any hidden horrors. You would hope that any that has lived this long will have had the kind of restoration to keep it going, but rust can strike anywhere and parts and panels can be hard to find. So, take your time, get to know the trusted specialists, ingratiate yourself with the community around the model you’re after and do your due diligence before committing. For the rarer and more collectable versions, originality and provenance will become increasingly important but also more difficult to establish. Again, taking your time and doing your research over any purchase will help avoid the worst pitfalls.

Which model to choose?

By the standards of ‘50s saloons, the Giulietta Berlina is faster and funkier than most but, while potentially more affordable to buy, won’t cost you any less to restore or run than any other. The Ti’s sports saloon performance appeals, but if you’re pouring your heart, soul and cash into an old Alfa, a Sprint or Spider feels a more exciting return on the considerable investment of all of the above. The Sprint Speciale is an acquired taste and much more exotic, but a fabulous example of aero-informed ‘50s styling that will win style points all day long. An SZ would be lovely, but we’re in the realms of serious collector cars now and it’s a raw machine for driving on the road. Given the huge price range, the Giulietta operates over with feet vaguely on the ground and with an eye to a version to enjoy, our money would probably go on the undisputedly gorgeous Sprint or Spider, preferably in feistier twin-carb Veloce trim.

Specifications – Spider

Engine

1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol

Power

65PS (48kW) @ 6,300rpm

Torque

107Nm (79lb ft) @ 4,000rpm

Transmission

Four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

Kerb weight

860kg

0-62mph

N/A

Top speed

96mph

Production dates

1954-1965 (all Giulietta variants)