The Alfa Romeo GTA Junior
The GTA made its racing debut on March 20th, 1966 at Monza, Andrea de Adamich and Teodoro Zeccoli triumphing in the Jolly Club Four-Hour Race. From then on, the Autodelta-prepared GTAs enjoyed outstanding successes, winning the European Touring Car Championship for three years from 1966 to 68.
In 1968, in response to the popularity of the under-1300cc racing class, Autodelta began production of the GTA 1300 Junior. The Championships of the 1,300cc class had long been dominated by the Mini Cooper, but that would all change in 1968 with the arrival of the GTA 1300 Junior, the latter for the next few years enjoying a similar winning streak to that of the Mini in the early ’60s. Unique to the model, the GTA 1300 Juniors were powered by a short-stroke 1290cc version of the Giulia’s 1570cc inline four with the 78mm bore and a 67.5mm stroke crankshaft. Equipped with the GTA’s twin-plug ‘head and revving to more than 9,000rpm, this little gem of an engine produced 150bhp plus.
This GTA Junior
The Alfa Romeo GTA Junior we are offering here is chassis 776004 and is one of only 193 cars produced by the factory. It was supplied new to Frankfurt/Germany on 21st of May 1970. The original specification according to the Alfa Romeo Certificato di Origine was Biancospino with nero Skai interior.
Interestingly, under the ownership of Hans Hessel, the GTA Junior was entered into high profile races by Alfa Romeo Germany from 1972 onwards. Hessel, sometimes sharing the wheel with Hartwig Bertrams, competed twice at the 6h of Nürburgring as well as further races all over Europe. After its active racing career the GTA Junior was sold on by Hessel and came into the ownership of Norbert Kother from Krefeld/Germany, during which the unrestored car laid dormant for several decades. It only returned to the light of day, when Kother sold the project car in July of 2020 at which point it was acquired by the Alleggerita Collection.
A previously unrestored GTA Junior with such important race history represented the ideal base for the ultimate challenge: Building the lightest, stiffest and most competitive GTA in existence.
The extensive work on the body was entrusted to Gaetano di Donna, a true maestro of coach building, who is devoted to building the lightest GTAs. Starting from the chemically striped bare tub, countless hours were spent meticulously restoring the body in the lightest way possible without compromising stiffness.
Formula GT on the other hand was responsible for all mechanical components and the assembly. During this process, Carlo Rosponi ensured every smallest part was perfected and lightened as much as possible. The attention to detail applied in all aspects of this project is truly astonishing.
The result is the jaw-dropping biancospina GTA presented here and weighing in at just 731 kg in ready-to-race configuration. Boasting a 1600cc Testa Stretta engine with 48mm carburetors which produces about 190 hp, this GTA is just as fearsome as its wide arches would have you believe, and it quickly took first place overall at the opening round of the 2024 Alfa Revival Cup in Vallelunga with Peter Praller at the wheel, outclassing the competition, despite being down on displacement - mission accomplished!
The Junior is offered with up to date FIA papers and extensive restoration documentation.
If you are looking for the ultimate Alfa Romeo GTA - look no further.
Race history:
- 09.07.1972, 6h Nürnburgring, Hans Hessel #84 Alfa Romeo Deutschland (DNF)
- 24.9.1972, 4h Silverstone Tourist Trophy, Hans Hessel #47 Alfa Romeo Deutschland (22nd)
- 8.7.1973, 6h Nürnburgring, Hans Hessel #92 Alfa Romeo Deutschland (22nd)
- 12.8.1973, 4h Zanford, Hans Hessel #41 Alfa Romeo Deutschland (DNF)
- 17.6.1973, 4h Zolder, Hartwig Bertrams #165 (1st in class)
- 20.4.24, 1h Alfa Revival Cup, Peter Praller #51 (1st OA)