Bertone Alfa Romeo Giulietta / Giulia Sprint Speciale History

The Giulietta Sprint Speciale grew directly from the aerodynamic lessons of the BAT series: its production body was styled at Bertone, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.28 — a figure not surpassed by a production road car for more than two decades. A prototype was shown at the 1957 Turin Motor Show; the production version was unveiled in June 1959 at Monza.

Production covered two distinct but closely related cars: the Giulietta Sprint Speciale (Tipo 750/101 SS, 1,290cc, 1959–1963, 1,366 built) and the Giulia Sprint Speciale (Tipo 101.21, larger 1,570cc engine, 1963–1966, 1,400 built). Together they total roughly 2,766 cars, all bodied by Bertone at its Grugliasco works.

Low weight, a twin-cam Alfa engine, and slippery aerodynamics made the Sprint Speciale a capable and beautiful road-and-track machine. It remains one of the most admired Italian gran turismos of the era.