I was reminded of the GT Junior earlier this week when I was out picking up parts for my project from north of the Alps. The man working the VW warehouse I was visiting saw my Verde and offered the GT Junior as his favorite Italian car of all time. As the story went, he used to admire the green example that his neighbor spent a lot of time waxing in their Detroit driveway in the 1970s.
It's fun to imagine what the modern take on a GT Junior would look like. Let's pretend for a moment that Alfa had the cash to actually go through with the Giulia GTV - yeah, they announced it as a future product, but we'll believe it when we see it. So, if the GTV magically appeared on the streets, how would we make a Junior version of it? We'd probably power it with something like the 1.3L GSE powertrain found in the newer Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. There, it's good for 177hp in top trim, which seems to be just about right for an entry-level coupe. We can't think of a current 6-speed manual from the FCA parts bin that would make sense for this RWD application, so just use your imagination there. As for wheels, would silver 16" steel wheels look out of place? We think they'd work.
Year: 1968
Model: Alfa Romeo Giulia GT 1300 Junior
Engine: 1290cc 4-cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 42,325mi
Price: $18,500 obo
Location: Brighton, CO
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1968 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT 1300 Junior
CLEAN AND CLEAR TITLE IN HAND
THIS ALFA ROMEO HAS 68,116 KM (42,325 MILES)
VERY STRAIGHT AND ORIGINAL COUPE
2000CC SPICA INJECTED ALFA INLINE FOUR CYL. ENGINE
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VERY SOLID, STRAIGHT AND ORIGINAL BODY WITH ORIGINAL FLOORS IN GREAT SHAPE
ALL THE ORIGINAL GLASS IS PRESENT
THE INTERIOR PRESENTS VERY NICELY
THE SEATS HAVE BEEN COVERED OVER THE ORIGINAL UPHOLSTERY BUT FIT EXTREMELY WELL
THE BUCKET SEATS ARE VERY CUSHY AND COMFORTABLE AND THE FOAM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE DETERIORATED AT ALL
EVERYTHING ON THE DASH IS STILL ALL THERE, WITH THE ONLY MODIFICATION OF AFTERMARKET STEERING WHEEL
THE MAIN COMPONENTS MISSING FROM THIS CAR ARE THE RADIATOR, ALTERNATOR, AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT
THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE IN GOOD CONDITION
MANY OF THESE CARS ARE MODIFIED INTO GTA CLONES, AND THIS WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR THAT
ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT
NOT RUNNING, WE'LL HELP WITH LOADING
Pricing seems pretty reasonable on this example, which makes us wonder how much it will take to set it straight. Floors are reported to be in good shape, but will the sills and wheel arches and other joints of sheetmetal require metalwork? Best to find out before making an offer. The engine and transmission are reported to be in good condition, and the interior is said to be complete minus the steering wheel. The list of missing parts is limited to the radiator, alternator and a transmission - not so bad, if you ask us. Reported to be garage-kept, there is some hope for this car's overall body condition.
This seems like a great candidate for spending minimal time, effort, and money getting it roadworthy and then just enjoying the car. The interior is ready to go, and the exterior really doesn't beg for much improvement as it sits. Having a nice driver could be a matter of sourcing the missing parts, swapping on a set of fresh tires, and getting it up running. With some more information on the body condition, we'd bet on that being the case.
-Graham