The Alfa Romeo 105 and 115 series coupés are a range of cars made by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1963 until 1977, based on a shortened floorpan from the Giulia saloon. They were the successors to the Giulietta Sprint coupé.

Bodywork

The basic body shape shared by all models was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro for Bertone. It was one of his first major projects for Bertone, and borrowed heavily from his earlier design for the Alfa Romeo 2000 Sprint/2600 Sprint. The balance of glass and metal, the influence of the shape of the front and rear glass on the shape of the cabin, and the flat grille with incorporated headlamps were groundbreaking styling features for the era.

A limited production (1000 units) convertible was a modification from the standard car by Touring of Milan, offered as a catalogue model by Alfa Romeo called the Giulia Sprint GTC.

A small number of the GT Junior Zagato were also built with a very different, aerodynamic two-seater coupé body designed by Ercole Spada for Zagato of Milan. These too were offered by Alfa Romeo as catalogue models, as the GT 1300 Junior Zagato and later GT 1600 Junior Zagato.

Mechanical features

All models feature the four cylinder, all-light-alloy Alfa Romeo Twin Cam engine in various cubic capacities from 1290 cc to 1962 cc, all with two valves per cylinder. All versions of this engine fitted to the 105 series coupés featured twin carburetors, except for US market 1750 GTV and 2000 GTV cars which were fitted with mechanical port fuel injection by SPICA. Competition models featured cylinder heads with twin spark plugs. Common to all models was also a five-speed manual transmission and solid disc brakes on all four wheels, although at South Africa's Brits plant a few automatic 2000 GTVs were made for the local market. These featured the three-speed ZF automatic transmission. The rear suspension uses a live axle with coil springs. Air conditioning and a limited-slip rear differential were optional on the later models. A limited-slip differential was standard on the GTV 2000 for North America 1972–1974. Factory air conditioning was available on the 1973–1974 only in the USA.

Models Version Years of production Units producedSprint GT from 1963 to 1966 21,542Sprint GTC from 1964 to 1966 1,000Sprint GTV from 1965 to 1968 14,2401750 GTV from 1967 to 1972 44,2692000 GTV from 1971 to 1976 37,459GT 1300 Junior from 1965 to 1977 91,195 GT 1600 Junior from 1972 to 1976 14,299 The 105 series coupés featured the GT (Gran Turismo) model description, which was common to all models in one form or another.

The various models in this range can be considered in two broad categories.

On one hand were the various Gran Turismos (GT) and Gran Turismo Veloces (GTV), (veloce is Italian for "fast"). These were meant to be the most sporting cars in the Alfa Romeo range and sold very well to enthusiastic motorists around the world. The first model available was the Giulia Sprint GT (1963) which evolved into the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce (1966), the 1750 GTV (1967) and the 2000 GTV (1972–1976), with engines increasing in cubic capacity from 1570 cc (Giulia Sprint GT/GTV) through 1779 cc (1750 GTV) to 1962 cc (2000 GTV). A limited production (1000 units) convertible, the Giulia Sprint GTC, was based on the Giulia Sprint GT, modified by Touring of Milan. It was only made over two years from 1964 to 1966.

On the other hand, was the GT Junior range, which featured engines with smaller cubic capacities. GT Juniors sold in great numbers to people who wanted a sporting, stylish car that handled well, but either did not require the maximum in engine power, or could not afford the taxation on larger engine capacities in some markets - most notably, Alfa Romeo's home Italian market. Junior models began with the first GT 1300 Junior in 1966. The GT 1300 Junior continued until 1976 with the 1290 cc engine and various modifications incorporating features from the evolution of the GT's and GTV's. From 1972 a GT 1600 Junior model was also available, with the 1570 cc engine.

The 1300 Junior and 1600 Junior also became available with a very different, aerodynamic two-seater coupé body designed by Ercole Spada for Zagato of Milan. These models were the GT 1300 Junior Zagato and GT 1600 Junior Zagato.

Both categories were used to derive GTA ("Alleggerita", or "lightened") models, which were specifically intended for competition homologation in their respective engine size classes. The GTA's featured extensive modifications for racing, so they were priced much higher than the standard models and sold in much smaller numbers. Practically all GTA's made were used in competition, where they had a long and successful history in various classes and category. These models included the Giulia Sprint GTA, GTA 1300 Junior, and GTAm (a much evolved version of the GTA built by Autodelta).Fusi, "Numbering of Alfa Romeo Cars from 1910 to 1972"

Although not commonly thought of as a 105 Series coupé variant, the Alfa Romeo Montreal used a strengthened and slightly modified 105 series floorpan and suspension.

GT and GTV models

Giulia Sprint GT (1963–1965)

Tipo: 105.02, 105.04 (right hand drive). Engine: 00502.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT was the first Giulia sport model introduced, and was manufactured from 1963 to 1965. It was revealed at a press event held at the then newly opened Arese plant on 9 September 1963, and displayed later the same month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In its original form the Bertone body is known as scalino (step) or "step front", because of the leading edge of the engine compartment lid which sat above the nose of the car. The Giulia Sprint GT can be distinguished from the later models by the following features: Exterior badging: Alfa Romeo logo on the front grille, a chrome script reading "Giulia Sprint GT" on the boot lid, and rectangular "Disegno di Bertone" badges aft of the front wheel arches. Flat, chrome grille in plain, wide rectangular mesh without additional chrome bars. Single-piece chrome bumpers; no overriders.

Inside the cabin the padded vinyl dashboard was characterised by a concave horizontal fascia, finished in grey anti-glare crackle-effect paint. Four round instruments were inset in the fascia in front of the driver. The larger diameter inner pair were tachometer and speedometer; the outer ones were smaller combination instruments, the left hand one holding oil pressure and fuel level gauges, the right hand one oil and water temperature gauges. The steering wheel was non-dished, with three aluminium spokes, a thin bakelite rim and a centre horn button. Vinyl-covered seats with cloth centres and a fully carpeted floor were standard, while leather upholstery was an extra-cost option.

The Sprint GT's could be ordered in the Bertone De Luxe body which included extra options. One of the extra options was leather seats. There were five leather seat colours available for the Sprint GT they were dark brown leather (pelle testa di moro), red leather (pelle rossa), black, grey and beige.

After initially marketing it as a four-seater, Alfa Romeo soon changed its definition of the car to a more realistic 2+2.

The Giulia Sprint GT was fitted with the 1570 cc displacement version of Alfa Romeo's all-aluminium twin cam inline four (78 mm bore × 82 mm stroke, 6.38 L oil sump, 7.41 L radiator), which had debuted on the 1962 Giulia Berlina. Breathing through two twin-choke Weber carburettors, on the Sprint GT this engine produced or at 6000 rpm. Like all subsequent models, the Sprint GT was equipped with an all-synchromesh 5-speed manual transmission. The braking system comprised four Dunlop disc brakes and a vacuum servo. The rear brakes featured an unusual arrangement with the slave cylinders mounted on the axle tubes, operating the calipers by a system of levers and cranks. According to Alfa Romeo the car could reach a top speed of "over "; Italian car magazine Quattroruote observed a top speed of in its December 1964 road test.

In total Giulia Sprint GT were produced from 1963 to 1965, when the model was superseded by the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce. Of these were right hand drive: 1,354 cars fully finished in Arese, and 920 shipped in complete knock-down kit form for foreign assembly.

Giulia GTC (1964–1966)

Tipo: 105.25, 105.29 (right hand drive). Engine: 00502.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC was a cabriolet version of the Giulia Sprint GT only offered between 1965 and 1966, and built in around 1,000 examples. While entering production in 1964, the cabriolet was introduced to the press (together with the Giulia Super) at the Monza race track on 4 March 1965, and then made its public debut at the March 1965 Geneva Motor Show.

The Giulia GTC was based on the coupé's body and parts, maintaining the same specifications and performance, with the cabriolet modification being carried out by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan.

Besides the convertible top, distinguishing features are the dashboard finished in black instead of grey crackle paint, and a script reading "Giulia GTC" on the boot lid. The 2+2 seating layout was retained. To restore some of the bodyshell rigidity lost by removing the fixed roof and pillars, Carrozzeria Touring added reinforcement to several areas of the bodyshell. Through the production life of the model, several modifications to the reinforcement applied were made by Touring, apparently in an effort to increase the rigidity of the body. Carrozzeria Touring was in financial trouble when the Giulia GTC was introduced; the company went out of business shortly after production of this model ended.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" |+ ! Model || 1964 || 1965 || 1966 || 1964–1966 |- | Giulia GTC (LHD) || 106 || 548 || 247 || |- | Giulia GTC (RHD) || — || 54 || 45 || |- ! Total | 106 || || ||

Giulia Sprint GT Veloce (1965–1968)

Tipo: 105.36, 105.37 (right hand drive). Engine: 00536.

In 1966 the Giulia Sprint GT was replaced by the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, very similar but featuring a number of improvements: a revised engine—slightly more powerful and with more torque—better interior fittings and changes to the exterior trim. The Sprint GT Veloce was introduced at the 36th Geneva Motor Show in March 1966, and then tested by the international specialist press in Gardone on the Garda Lake. Production began in 1965 and ended in 1968. The Giulia Sprint GT Veloce can be most easily distinguished from other models by the following features:

Badging as per Giulia Sprint GT, with the addition of round enamel badges on the C-pillar—a green Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) on an ivory background—and a chrome "Veloce" script on the tail panel. Black mesh grille with three horizontal chrome bars. Grille has 7 bars instead of 6. Stainless steel bumpers, as opposed to the chromed mild steel bumpers on the Giulia Sprint GT. The bumpers are the same shape, but are made in two pieces (front) and three pieces (rear) with small covers hiding the joining rivets.

Inside the main changes from the Giulia Sprint GT were imitation wood dashboard fascia instead of the previous anti-glare grey finish, front seats revised to a mild "bucket" design, and a dished three aluminium spoke steering wheel, with a black rim and horn buttons through the spokes.

The Veloce's type 00536 engine, identical to the Spider 1600 Duetto's, featured modifications compared to the Giulia Sprint GT's type 00502—such as larger diameter () exhaust valves. As a result, it produced or at 6,000 rpm, an increase of over the previous model, and significantly more torque. According to the manufacturer top speed now exceeded .