According to Alfa Romeo Factory Records, this particular Bertone 750B Sprint was completed on Friday, December 19th, 1958 and sold just four days later on Tuesday, December 23rd in Surrey, England.  I am not sure how such an Alfa Romeo could be finished in the middle of Winter in Turin, Italy and then arrive just four days later in Surrey, England but it must have been a very welcome Christmas present for the fortunate new owner.  Having been ordered and finished in classic “Alfa Red” with a deeply contrasting black interior, it must have looked like quite the Christmas ornament under the circumstances.

If you are reading this, there is a fairly good chance you are familiar with Alfa’s magnificent Bertone Sprint Coupes.  With almost 25,000 different examples having been built for nearly a decade, the design was a smashing success and they remain one of the most fun and enjoyable sports cars ever built.  For those interested in learning a bit more about how the design came to be and production specifics and technical specifications, these two links will answer most of your questions far better than I can:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruppo_Bertone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Giulietta

Suffice to say, chassis AR1493 *07801* was a rather standard Tipo 750B model incorporating all of the early styling features that make these early examples so much more enjoyable and desirable than the later Tipo 101 series machines that followed shortly after in 1959.

Despite having very detailed historical records and documents dating from the moment this car was sold new, there is much that is not known about the history of this particular Alfa Sprint Coupe.  It was ordered and sold new in the UK and remained there with just four private owners before leaving in December of 2002 for a new and enthusiastic owner in Japan.

This particular Sprint Coupe was registered new by her first fortunate owner, Mr. John Leonard Curwood on February 5th, 1959 on plates “117 RPE” and later on plates “WSU 446.”  Curwood was a resident of 325 Danbury Avenue, Roehampton, S W 15, UK which was a suburb just a bit southwest of London and most famous as being home to Roehampton University.  Despite some checking around, Mr. Curwood remains a bit of a mystery despite our instant age or on-line information.  What he did and how he enjoyed this Alfa for the first decade of the car’s life remains unknown.  Two additional UK owners owned the car through the early 1970s when it was purchased by Christopher John Tormey on July 3rd, 1973.  His long-term ownership continued when the old UK log book system was changed to the current V5 system of registration.  The car was off the road for quite sometime until November 9th, 1989 when it was back on the road after finishing a very thorough restoration.  Her new owner in 1990 with Mr. Iain Tennant.  Tennant was a prominent and popular member of the Giulietta Register and Club and soon took to rallies and touring with his new Alfa after applying and having the car re-registered back on the original period plates “117 RPE.”

In 2000, Mr. Tennant and his navigator, Paul Wilson entered the car in the prestigious Monte Carlo Challenge Rally.  Not long thereafter, the car was sold to Michael G G Tompson’s Mijent Ltd. in Coventry.  On Ocotober 4th, 2002, the car was sold and exported from the UK and shipped to a new owner in Japan arriving there on December 2nd, 2002.  The new owner was the Maruyama Motor Company, LTD in Tokyo, Japan.  Chassis AR1493 *07801* was then acquired by a private museum collection in 2003.  Once there the car was enthusiastically rallied and toured over the next ten years by her new owners until July of 2013 when we agreed to her purchase.

Today, chassis AR1493 *07801* is once again available for enthusiastic new ownership and what is likely to be many, many miles of smiles for one fortunate new custodian.  The engine currently fitted (Engine No. AR00102 *14767*) was originally fitted to a period correct 1960 Tipo 101 Giulietta Spyder.  It has been carefully prepared for long-distance racing as well as spirited road use and a full complement of other racing updates and features have been carefully and tastefully added to this vehicle.  This Alfa is completely rust and accident free as well as thoroughly and meticulously prepared for any manner of rallies, races and touring.