76 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 28 AUGUST 2019
f the Alfa Romeo GTV
could talk, it would
s t i l l b e hoa r s e f r om it s
acceptance speeches. In
1995 it garnered at least 10 gongs,
t w o of t he m f r om t h i s m a ga z i ne: B e s t
Sports Car and Car of the Year.
A l mo s t 2 5 y e a r s l at e r, t he
champagne may have gone flat
but this 2+2 coupé (there’s also a
two-seater roadster called the Spider)
is still impressing enthusiasts, as
prices approaching £10,000 attest.
Such a sum buys a one-owner,
42,500-mile GTV 3.0 V6 24v Lusso
registered in 2001.
But you don’t have to pay that. We
turned up an example of the rarer and
mor e s ou g ht-a f t e r 3. 2 V6 Lu s s o. It ’s
done 92,000 miles, has full history
and is being offered for £7495. It
dates from 2003, the year this most
powerful version was launched and
when the GTV was facelifted for
the final time. Twelve months later,
production of the coupé ceased as its
successor, the Brera, was readied.
The GTV arrived in 1995. Styled
by Pininfarina and with a confident,heart-shaped grille incorporating
Alfa’s colourful emblem, it’s an
attractive car spoiled only by a bland
interior that feels a bit low-rent.
Subsequent facelifts rounded off the
car’s edges and relocated the front
numberplate to an offset position,
keeping it looking fresh. Bonnet,
wings and nose are composite, so no
rust concerns there. Elsewhere the
body is galvanised, but even so, it’s
worth checking for rust in the f loor
and on the rear arches and sills.
The GTV was initially offered with
a 2.0-litre 16-valve Twin Spark engine
with 148bhp. Later versions gained
a variable intake manifold. For its
performance, reliability, smoothness
a nd v a lue , t h i s i s t he e n g i ne t o h av e.
It was followed, in 1998, by a
3.0-litre 24-valve V6 with 217bhp. To
go with the higher performance camel a r ge r ‘ t e le d i a l’ a l loy s w it h bi gge r
brakes adorned with red calipers.
Today the V6 commands the
highest prices, and rightly so, but a
well-bought and cheaper TS is the
b e t t e r bu y. W h at ’s not s uc h a go o d
buy is the 163bhp 16-valve 2.0 JTS,
l au nc he d i n 2 0 03 , t h at r e pl a c e d
it and which has an appetite for
bearings and bores. At the same time,
the 3.0-litre V6 was replaced by a 3.2
producing 238bhp for 0-62mph in
less than six seconds. Few were sold.
Throughout the model’s 10-year
reign, Alfa couldn’t resist tinkering.
There are lightly modified Phase 1b
cars from 1997, Phase 2 facelifted
c a r s f r om 1998 (ne w c e nt r e c on s ole ,
revised instruments, colour-coded
bodykit), cleaner Phase 2b engines
from 2000 and, finally, Phase 3
f a c e l i f t e d mo de l s f r om 2 0 03 (ne w
nose, revised console, tractioncontrol). Enthusiasts also talk about
CF1, 2 and 3 engines and debate their
differences, which largely concern
the number and location of the
catalytic converters.
Tr i m s b oi l dow n t o Tu r i smo a nd
Lusso (V6 cars are exclusively Lusso).
There’s a V6 Cup, too, but just try to
find one. In any case, at this distance,
condition trumps trim.
The Alfa GTV is a timelessly stylish coupé with real enthusiast appeal,
but there are pitfalls to be avoided. John Evans finds out more
YOU GOT THE LOOK
HOW TO BUY AN
ALFA ROMEO
GTV
I
Passive
rear steering
When cornering, the GTV’s
r e a r w h e e l s tu r n s l i g htl y
before realigning themselves
with the fronts as
centrifugal forces
increase.