Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Bertone

Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior "Scalino" (step front)

 

Ital.: "Scalino" = Engl.: "step, edge"

 

The Alfa Romeo 105/115 series Coupés were a range of cars manufactured from 1963 until 1977. They were the successors to the celebrated Giulietta Sprint coupé and used a shortened floorpan from the Giulia Berlina car.

 

These appealing cars were made in a wide variety of models over a period of 13 years, so they provide a lot of material for study by Alfa Romeo enthusiasts.

 

The basic body shape shared by all models was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone. It was one of his first major projects for Bertone, and borrowed heavily from his earlier design for the Alfa Romeo 2000 Sprint/2600 Sprint.

 

The balance of glass and metal, the influence of the shape of the front and rear glass on the shape of the cabin, and the flat grille with incorporated headlamps were groundbreaking styling features for the era.

 

All models feature the four cylinder, all-light-alloy Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine in various cubic capacities from 1290 cc to 1962 cc. All versions of this engine fitted to the 105 series coupes featured twin carburettors. Competition models featured cylinder heads with twin spark plugs. Common to all models was also a 5-speed manual transmission and disc brakes on all four wheels. The rear suspension uses a beam axle with coil springs. Air conditioning and a limited slip rear differential were optional on the later models. The 105 series coupés featured the GT (Gran Turismo) model description, which was common to all models in one form or another.The various different models in this range can be considered in two broad categories.On one hand were the various Gran Turismos and Gran Turismo Veloces. These were meant to be the most sporting cars in the Alfa Romeo range and sold very well to enthusiastic motorists around the world.

 

The first model available was the Giulia Sprint GT (1963) which evolved into the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce (1965), the 1750 GTV (1968) and the 2000 GTV (1972–1976), with engines increasing in cubic capacity from 1570 cc (Giulia Sprint GT/GTV) through 1779 cc (1750 GTV) to 1962 cc (2000 GTV).

 

On the other hand was the GT Junior range, which featured engines with smaller cubic capacities. GT Juniors sold in great numbers to people who wanted a sporting, stylish car that handled well, but either did not require the maximum in engine power, or could not afford the taxation on larger engine capacities in some markets - most notably, Alfa Romeo's home Italian market. Junior models began with the first GT 1300 Junior in 1966. The GT 1300 Junior continued until 1976 with the 1290 cc engine and various modifications incorporating features from the evolution of the GT's and GTV's. From 1972 a GT 1600 Junior model was also available, with the 1570 cc engine.

 

Both categories were used to derive GTA ("Allegerita") models, which were specifically intended for competition homologation in their respective engine size classes. The GTA's featured extensive modifications for racing, so they were priced much higher than the standard models and sold in much smaller numbers. Practically all GTA's made were used in competition, where they had a long and successful history in various classes and category. These models included the Giulia Sprint GTA and GTA 1300 Junior.The Giulia Sprint GT was the first model introduced, and was manufactured from 1963 to 1966. It featured the original form of the Bertone body with the scalina or "step front" (the leading edge of the hood/bonnet sat 1/4 an inch above the nose of the car). It can be most easily distinguished from other models by the following features:

Badging: chrome script reading "Giulia Sprint GT" on bootlid, one round Alfa Romeo badge on the grille heart, Bertone badges behind the front wheelarches;

Flat, chrome grille featuring a plain rectangular mesh with no bars;Single-piece chrome bumpers;

Dashboard with a flat, tilted panel finished in grey crackle.The car was fitted with the 1570 cc displacement version of the engine (78 mm bore × 82 mm stroke, 6.38 L oil sump, 7.41 L radiator).

Dunlop disc brakes were fitted all around. The rear brakes featured an unusual arrangement with the slave cylinders mounted on the axle tubes, operating the calipers by a system of levers and cranks.

31,955 Sprint GTs were produced.

(©http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_105/115_Series_Coup%C3%A9s). This collector's item was spotted at the Meilenwerk in Berlin www.meilenwerk.de/Meilenwerk_Berlin_Wen_Sie_finden.php.

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