

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.
Already a member? Log in
We're glad you're back.
Not a member yet? Sign up
We'll get you back on track.
Story by Dimitar Tenov // Photos by Dimitar Tenov and Kaci
It all began in my early childhood, with couple of Datsun 240Z and Mercedes SL diecast models. The obsession developed into a game that me and my neighbour played every day, guessing what car was coming round the corner, judging solely by its sound. Strangely, those sounds turned into a permanent Italian car craze.
My Alfasud Sprint is actually a present from a close friend ,who decided to give his rotten and tired daily driver to someone instead to put it a price tag and sell it for pocket change.
I’ve spent almost three years restoring it, with the purpose of using it as a handsome daily driver. Along the way, I have sacrificed the original 1.5-litre, dual-carbureted boxer engine for the biggest production Alfa boxer, a 1.7-litre 16 valve unit with 128 horsepower. This made the little Sprint a true Veloce, and a very civilized car that could handle a 500 mile vacation and home again. A big boot to store your travel bags, too.
Driving through the numerous mountain passes in Bulgaria makes me really happy. There I can take advantage of the revvy engine and its sporty suspension.
Because these cars are notorious for their rust issues and being abused and neglected by owners, most of them ended in scrapyards. Parts are so scarce in my country that I had to buy a whole parts car just to get the front grille. On the other hand, I have found a complete set of Carello front lights at the flea market—for just $5. With Alfas, you sometimes have luck!
The first car of my father was an Alfasud. In total he owned two of them and also an Alfa Sprint. When he talks about the handling of these cars I can see his eyes twinkling. Whenever he sees an Alfasud or a Sprint I see my father as this 18 year old guy with his first love. These cars infected my father with the Alfa Romeo virus which he transferred to me. I therefore have huge respect for these cars.
Ah come on man, just have a little respect for someone who drives a Sprint as a daily driver. These cars are not easy to maintain in a good condition as they rust faster than the blink of an eye. I also prefer original cars, but still I am not a hater if a car looks so great with some period-correct modifications.
Long wanted one of these, after my grandfather gave me a few brochures he’d picked up when they were new. They’re beautifully proportioned and the earlier ones in particular avoid the slightly heavy-handed styling of later cars.
Unfortunately, as Sam says, they’re not so cheap any more, at least in the UK. Pretty much any pre-90s Alfa is going the way of any pre-90s Porsche!
Love those Sprints! Drove one about 25 years ago and it handled beautifully. Here’s a short video on my affordable Alfa https://vimeo.com/149232132
Did someone mention rust? I used have one. A wonderful thing to drive, it’s amazing how good it is. And seriously, you could here it rusting, mine practically slowly disappeared in to brown colour oxidized metal dusts. ( I did, however, met a man a couple of years back who had owned Alfetta since new, which had spent all its life in North East as all season daily driver, which still wore original paint, with barely any rusts on it. I guess you just never know what you get with Alfas.)
Lovely car – you must be delighted with it!
my first car was an ’81 sud sprint veloce; beautiful, even in metallic brown (better to hide the rust). A special edition, it had the interior from the Alfetta GTV. I kept the 1.5 but tuned it where possible. Ultimately though i couldn’t stop the rot – it didn’t help living on the NE coast of the UK.
Ive looked out for them recently on car and classic etc, but the early ones are obviously very rare!