The Alfa Romeo GTV6 is a car noted for being one of the last Alfa Romeos to be designed before the Fiat takeover in 1986. With a 13 year production run, this rear drive coupe was a mainstay in the Alfa Romeo lineup. In 1982, the limited edition Balocco edition bowed, mainly a trim package named after the famous Alfa Romeo test track, later used by Fiat for their proving grounds. This particular Balocco has had an engine transplant, a turbocharged 3.0 V6 from a 164 sedan.
1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5 Balocco S.E.
Alfa Red with black leather interior, 5-speed, two owner Texas car, correct Balocco SE trim including numbered dash emblem, original 2.5 liter V6 (with an arguably inadequate 160 horsepower and 157 lb-ft of torque) was swapped out and replaced with a 3.0 liter V6 from an Alfa 164L (an AR06412 block) and then a large turbo was added to it (likely ~270 horsepower and ~270 lb-ft of torque now) to create a true Italian tuner car, original paint, four new high performance 215 mm tires on 17-inch Serpent Autosport Type 3 five-lug 5-spoke alloys (very tasty upgrade compared to stock 15s), significantly lowered, original manual sunroof, inboard rear brakes, and De Dion rear axle, super light sports coupe at only 2,702 pounds new. Only 4,674 GTV6s were sold new in the United States over its 6 year model run (fewer than 800 per model year) of which only 350 were Balocco SEs in 1982. This is an extremely rare, desirable coupe. Price of $7,900 is flexible, but is already way below cost of engine swap plus original low mile donor car.
The turbocharger slapped onto the later V6 engine concerns me, as there is no way of telling how professional of an installation this is. The updated wheels give this GTV6 a bit of a meaner stance and the fact that it has the original paint leads me to believe it is more honest of a car than I originally had thought. It is a bit pricey at $7,900, but being the rare Balocco version, it is one of a few hundred examples produced. Provided this car is well sorted and can provide a modicum of reliability, it would certainly be a sleeper, not only with the power but the legendary rear drive Alfa chassis.
-Paul