A small Alfa born to conquer the world

In 1955 Alfa Romeo presented the Giulietta Spider, the open-bodied version of the new Giulietta. Designed by Pininfarina, the Spider gave the Giulietta’s mechanicals an elegant, sporting interpretation, creating one of the most representative cars of post-war Italy. Its history is closely tied to the United States. It was the American importer Max Hoffman who saw the potential of a small Italian spider on the overseas market, contributing to the birth of the project. The Giulietta Spider quickly achieved great international success, becoming one of the best-known and most sought-after Alfa Romeos of its time.

The car’s history

The car we restored is an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce, identified as Tipo 750 F and belonging to the first, short-wheelbase series. According to the Alfa Romeo Classiche Certificate of Origin, chassis AR 1495 04686 was built on 30 August 1958 and sold on 12 September 1958, destined for New York, USA. The car left the factory finished in Rosso (red). The certificate also confirms that engine AR 1315 31643 is the one fitted as original equipment, a particularly significant element for the car’s history and identity.

The Veloce

In 1956 the Giulietta Spider was joined by the sportier Spider Veloce, initially identified as Tipo 750 F. The Veloce retains the elegant Pininfarina body of the Spider but takes the mechanicals to a higher level. The 1,290 cc twin-cam four-cylinder was given a higher-performance specification and reached around 90 hp, turning the small Spider into a true sports car. The difference from the standard Spider is therefore not immediately visible from the outside. The Veloce’s character lies under the body: a more powerful engine, twin-choke carburettors and specific instrumentation.

The short wheelbase

This Giulietta belongs to the first series, Tipo 750, commonly known as the “passo corto” (short wheelbase). Its 2,200 mm wheelbase is one of the features that distinguish the early Giulietta Spiders from the later Tipo 101. In 1959 Alfa Romeo introduced the second series, lengthening the wheelbase by 50 mm to 2,250 mm. The extension mainly affected the section of the body between the doors and the rear wheel arches, slightly altering the car’s proportions while keeping the distinctive Pininfarina design intact. The short wheelbase is not just a measurement: it identifies a precise phase in the history of the Giulietta Spider. The Tipo 750 cars retain proportions and construction details specific to the first series, including shorter doors and particular features of the cabin and body, which were gradually changed with the arrival of the Tipo 101. Total production of the Giulietta Spider Veloce reached 2,796 cars between 1956 and 1962. The first 750 F series, the short-wheelbase one, is a particularly rare part of that production.

We carried out a complete restoration of the Giulietta Spider Veloce, working on the bodywork and coordinating the restoration of the mechanicals, the electrical system and the interior. The aim was to bring the car back to its former glory, pursuing the highest quality of workmanship while interpreting it to the client’s taste.

Bodywork restoration

The body was fully restored, repaired and prepared for painting, with particular attention to the quality of the surfaces and to every detail. In agreement with the client we chose not to reproduce the original colour scheme, opting instead for Celeste AR 501, an original shade from the Alfa Romeo range. This choice gave the car a more personal character while keeping a strong link with Alfa Romeo tradition.

Other work

The mechanicals and the electrical system were restored by Officina Classiche di Eros Zanoletti in Cremona, returning the components to their correct original configuration. Particular attention was also paid to the Abarth silencers, which gave the Giulietta back a distinctive and particularly engaging sound. For the interior we turned to Medici of Reggio Emilia. Here too, together with the client, we chose to interpret the car in a personal way, looking for a combination that would set off the new Celeste AR 501 of the body. The interior was made in dark blue, with the seat piping matching the Celeste of the body. The hood fabric was also chosen in blue, creating a colour scheme coordinated with the rest of the car. The end result is a Giulietta Spider Veloce restored to its former glory, keeping all the charm of an Italian icon of the Sixties, enriched by a personal interpretation of colour and style. A choice born from the meeting of respect for the historic car and the wish to give it a unique character, through colours and combinations different from the original configuration.