Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint Coupe

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“It is difficult to convey in print the subtle fascination of driving this beautiful car. Instant response to the accelerator, quiet, rattle-free running in which no road noise and scarcely any wind noise permeates the tightly closed windows, stability, luxury and a rare individuality combine to lift 2600 Sprint motoring far from the commonplace, and its body appointments and very thorough heating and ventilation make it an ideal vehicle for long-distance touring.”
MotorSport, November 1963.

Introduced in 1962, Alfa Romeo's 106-Series 2600 range was a direct replacement for the preceding 102-Series 2000 cars and was available with a factory-built saloon body (Berlina), a two-door coupe bodied by Bertone (Sprint) and a 2+2 convertible with bodywork by Carrozzeria Touring (Spider). All retained the 102-Series chassis featuring independent front suspension with A-arms, a live rear axle with longitudinal radius arms and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

But in place of the old 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine was a brand new, all-alloy 2,584cc twin-cam straight-six. In triple carb form in the Sprint Coupe and the Spider, this unit developed 145bhp, MotorSport reporting a top speed of 125mph in 5th gear and a 0-60 time of 11 seconds for the Sprint, the road tester apologising that “in trying to convey what a splendid possession it is, and what unadulterated joy is derived from driving it, I find it difficult to avoid superlatives!”.

A handsome GT that could carry four adults in comfort over long journeys at high speeds, the Sprint considerably outsold both the Spider and the Berlina (production figures being 6,999 for the coupe, 2,255 for the convertible and 2,092 for the saloon), before all were discontinued in 1966. Now extremely rare and puzzlingly under-appreciated until fairly recently, the 2600 is becoming increasingly sought after by collectors and prices have risen strongly, top Spiders now fetching in excess of £70k at auction while the best Sprints are nudging £40k.

According to a document on file from the Alfa Romeo archives, this particular Sprint was manufactured on 21st February 1964 and sold on 25th February 1964 to Thomson & Taylor UK and was originally Rubino red. It was first registered on 6th April 1964 to a Hampshire landowner whose family appear to have kept it right up until August 2015 when the vendor acquired it (the V5C recording just two owners from new).

In conversation with the previous owners, the vendor established that the car had been in regular use up until the late 1970s/early 1980s when it was parked up in a barn on a Hampshire estate and forgotten about. It was to remain in storage for the next 35 years or so, the only excitement being when it was moved from one barn to another to allow some building work to be carried out. The indicated mileage of 63,570 is said to be genuine but there is insufficient documentary evidence to warrant this.

Shortly before the auction, the vendor removed the spark plugs from the engine, poured petrol down the bores, rigged up an external fuel supply and a fresh battery and turned the key. He reports that the windscreen wipers sprang into life, the headlamps came on and the engine turned and spluttered valiantly but would not run properly because the carbs are too gummed up.

Clearly in need of substantial restoration, this rare RHD two-owner Sprint is nevertheless complete and should make a rewarding project for someone.