One to Buy: ex-Monzeglio Squadra Corse 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm
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For 1970, the existing Group 2 Touring Car regulations were revamped to permit a considerable degree of additional modification than had been the case during the prior era. Manufacturers would now have to build 1000 as opposed to 500 base cars to achieve homologation, but once cleared to run, they were given much greater freedom to make dramatic changes to the mechanicals and bodywork.
Having scored thee Division 2 titles with the Giulia-based GTA in the European Touring Car Championship between 1966 and ‘69, Alfa Romeo had been among the most successful manufacturers during the contest’s formative years.
Determined to continue that run of form, for 1970 the Milan giant created the GTAm which it based on the fuel-injected 1750 GTV produced for the US market.
In addition to building completed examples of the GTAm for works and customer use, Alfa Romeo’s competition department, Autodelta, also supplied parts for teams to build their own GTAm, one of which was is currently on offer at the Taylor & Crawley showroom in London.
Chassis 1378479 was assembled in early 1971 by the renowned Monzeglio & C. Squadra Corse outfit in Turin. That season, the car was raced with great aplomb by Maurizio Zanetti who scored a littany of wins en route to becoming Italian Group 2 Champion.
During 1972, chassis 1378479 was sold to Luca Cesarini of Firenze who continued to race it with much success, as did Walter Poloni of Lecce after he acquired the car in 1973.
More recently, this spectacular little GTAm was the subject of a ground-up restoration back to 1971 trim and was not long ago the recipient of a complete engine rebuild. It is being sold with a current FIA HTP and is ready to hit the track.
