Classic Alfa Romeo: the families the workshop inspects
Founded in Milan in 1910, Alfa Romeo built its name on racing and on sophisticated engines fitted to production cars. An Alfa Romeo restoration therefore starts by identifying the family, the version and what remains original:
- the 1960s Giulia: saloons and Giulia Sprint GT coupés styled at Bertone – the “Bertone coupé” – with their GT Junior, 1750 and 2000 GTV derivatives; the Sprint GTA, lightened with aluminium panels, was built for competition;
- the Spider “Duetto”, styled by Pininfarina and produced from 1966 to 1993 in several series, from the round tail to the Kamm tail;
- the Montreal (1970–1977), a Bertone-bodied coupé with a race-derived 2.6-litre V8, mechanical fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication;
- the Alfetta, first a saloon, then the GT and GTV coupés, with a transaxle layout – gearbox and clutch at the rear, De Dion axle; the GTV6 adds a 2.5-litre fuel-injected V6;
- the SZ, a coupé unveiled in 1989 and built with Zagato, with a composite body;
- the modern cars: the 8C Competizione with its carbon-fibre body and 4.7-litre V8, the 4C with its carbon-fibre tub, and the Giulia Quadrifoglio with a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6.
How is an Alfa Romeo twin cam engine rebuilt?
The all-aluminium twin cam four-cylinder, with two chain-driven overhead camshafts, powers the Giulia, the Spider and the Alfetta in sizes from 1.3 to 2 litres. It uses wet liners, whose sealing between coolant and oil is checked every time the engine is opened. Valve clearances are set with shims, and the twin side-draught carburettors, Weber or Dell’Orto depending on the version, need careful synchronisation.
An engine rebuild starts with stripping and measuring: liners and pistons, crankshaft, cylinder head, valve seats and guides, camshafts, chain and tensioner. The estimate rests on the condition found. The V6 engines of the GTV6 and later models use a timing belt and are serviced according to the manufacturer’s schedule.
Why is rust the main threat to a classic Alfa Romeo?
The monocoque bodies of Alfa Romeos from the 1960s to the 1980s are prone to rust, often hidden beneath earlier repairs. The inspection covers:
- sills, chassis rails, floor pans and wheel arches;
- door bottoms, front and rear valances, the boot floor and any areas built up with filler;
- the five-speed gearbox, whose second-gear synchromesh is a known weak point;
- on the Alfetta and GTV6, the flexible propshaft couplings and the rear-mounted clutch.
What does an Alfa Romeo restoration involve?
After inspection, an estimate itemised line by line sets the scope. Where the body requires it, the shell is stripped to bare metal: our bodywork and paint team repairs the panels where corrosion demands, respecting the original shapes and seams, before applying the chosen colour.
Originality is the default. An interpretation in the spirit of the period’s tuned Giulia coupés falls under bespoke preparation, with choices kept as reversible as possible. The overall approach is set out on our classic car restoration page.
4C, 8C Competizione and Giulia Quadrifoglio: modern Alfa Romeos
Modern Alfa Romeos are diagnosed with the proper equipment first, control unit by control unit. The 4C combines a carbon-fibre tub with a dual-clutch gearbox: repairing a carbon structure has nothing in common with panel work, and the inspection determines what can be repaired. Servicing follows the manufacturer’s schedule, which European law allows an independent specialist to carry out with parts of equivalent quality.
An Alfa Romeo at the Mougins workshop
Since 2017, the independent Original Classic & Luxury Cars workshop has maintained, repaired and restored Italian, British and German cars, with no affiliation to their manufacturers. For an Alfa Romeo, one team follows the car, photographs of the key stages are sent to you and no additional work begins without your approval. You deal directly with the director, in English, French, Russian or Arabic.
Our Lancia page covers the other great Italian school, with very different solutions. A first opinion is possible with an estimate from photos and videos.