Alfa Romeo 105-series Bertone coupes (1963 to 1977)

Why people buy one

• A handsome four-seat coupe with an alloy twin-cam engine, five-speed gearbox and disc brakes on all four wheels.
• Goodwood's guide says the 1600 gives away little to the 1750 or 2000.
• The 1750 and 2000 GTV are the strongest road cars, and the 2000 GTV has a limited-slip differential as standard.
• Magneto says the GT 1300 Junior and the early Sprint GTs were built in the largest numbers, so they are the versions most often offered.
• Mechanical parts are widely available, and the Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK 105 Register covers all versions.

What to weigh up

• Rust is the biggest problem, and Classic Trader and Magneto both say the first Sprint GTs are the worst affected; a rotten shell can make restoration uneconomic.
• Many 1300 and 1600 cars now have 2.0 GTV or Alfa 75 Twin Spark engines, and badges, interiors and bumpers swap between models, so a car may not be the version its badges say.
• The GTA (with aluminium outer panels and a twin-plug head; sources give from about 500 to about 1,000 built) and the later GTA Junior and GTAm are rare competition cars. Goodwood, Magneto and Classic Trader all say standard cars are often made to look like GTAs, so treat any GTA claim as unproven until checked by a specialist and the factory.
• Magneto says most Giulias were left-hand drive, so ask a specialist or the 105 Register to confirm that a right-hand-drive car left the factory that way.
• This profile does not cover the Giulia saloon, the Touring-built GTC cabriolet, the Zagato Junior Z or the Spider.

Where they rust

• Rear trailing-arm mounts on the underbody; Hagerty advises walking away if these are badly rusted.
• Sills and the jacking points.
• Front valance, radiator support and front crossmember.
• Bottoms of the doors and the A-pillars.
• Windscreen corners and the screen surround.
• Footwells and floors around the drain plugs: pull up the carpets.
• Spare wheel well in the boot.
• Wheel arches, the bulkhead (firewall) and the front and rear suspension mounts.

Mechanical weak spots

• Timing chain and tappet noise is normal from cold but should settle once the engine warms; persistent noise needs a closer look.
• A creamy deposit under the radiator or filler cap points to head gasket trouble, a known weak point on the alloy head.
• Most cars crunch on the first to second change when cold; jumping out of gear or a struggle to select reverse suggests worn synchromesh or a damaged selector fork.
• Disc brakes all round: calipers and servos often seize on cars that have been standing.
• Twin carburettors need regular balancing, and Spica injection on US cars needs a specialist.
• Electrical faults usually come from poor earths, corroded switches or old repairs; loose wiring under the dashboard is a warning.

At a Mathewsons viewing

• Check the chassis number and type plate against the V5C, and ask the AROC 105 Register or a specialist to confirm that the type number matches the claimed model, as right-hand-drive cars and GTAs carry their own type numbers.
• Read the engine number prefix: Hagerty's guide gives 00548 for a 1750 and 00512 for a 2000 engine, so a 1300 Junior with a 00512 engine has had a swap. For a GTA claim, ask for the Alfa Romeo heritage certificate and a specialist's report before bidding.
• Look at the nose: the step-front bonnet belongs to the Sprint GT, GT Veloce and earlier Juniors, while the 1750 GTV of 1967 or 1968 onwards has a flat bonnet and four headlamps.
• With a torch, look under the car at the trailing-arm mounts, sills, jacking points and crossmember, and lift the carpets and the boot mat.
• Open the bonnet for oil and coolant leaks, mismatched carburettors or injection and untidy wiring. If staff start the car, listen for chain and tappet noise settling; do not assume it will be started.

Parts, specialists and clubs

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Sources

• Alfa Romeo Giulia 105/115 Coupe buyer's guide (Goodwood Classic Solutions), 30 May 2025
• Alfa Romeo Giulia 105 Series buying guide, history and model review (Octane), 17 July 2026
• Alfa Romeo Giulia 105 series coupe buying guide (Magneto), 25 June 2024
• Alfa Romeo Giulia 105-series Bertone coupe buying guide (Classic Trader), 25 May 2020
• Your handy 1967 to 77 Alfa Romeo GTV buyer's guide (Hagerty), accessed 14 October 2026
• Alfa Romeo launches Classiche certification and restoration services (Magneto), 27 October 2022
• Alfa Romeo 105/115 Series Coupes (Wikipedia), accessed 14 October 2026