1956 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder

Earliest Actively Raced Giuletta In The US - ex-Al Leake - CSRG, SVRA Ready

Chassis Number AR1495 – 00163

163 as its referred to, is a historic Alfa Romeo Giulietta 750 Spider that was the 163rd off the production line and is the oldest known Giulietta Spider still racing. It is listed as the seventh oldest overall.

It was campaigned for many years in SCCA Competition before it was restored to Vintage Racing Specification in 1990 by SCCA National Champion, Al Leake. Christened “Il Postino” by Al in honor of the owner at that time, Rick Beress.

Rick acquired the car in 1974 and it had previously been raced since the 1950's. Rick raced the car in SCCA and then in vintage races until he retired and sold it to the current owner, Michael Vogel in 2009.

Since then 163 has had new paint and tender loving care but remains as it was when handed on. 163 has been campaigned actively in the last seven years with numerous visits to the Monterey Rolex Motorsports Reunion, Sonoma Historics, CSRG events and twice at SVRA National Historics at the F1 Track in Austin Texas, the Circuit of the Americas. ((COTA)

The vehicle is fitted with a tonneau reproduced from the original alloy cover of the 1956 Mille Miglia car. The car is equipped with a headrest fairing duplicated from the 1956 Sebring version. This configuration was raced at the Sacramento Road Races in 1956.

Current Condition

Exterior – complete body work and paint to high quality

Interior has been freshened up

Motor runs strong but is on its fourth season

Transmission is a built by Steve Schwitters and is in great race shape.

Recent Accomplishments

2013 - 3rd in Class at the SVRA National Championships at Circuit of the Americas

2013 - 1st in Class and 2nd overall at the Alfa Romeo National Meet in Northern California

2014 – 2nd in Class at the SVRA National Championships at Circuit of the Americas

2009 – 2016 – Numerous podium finishes CSRG

Monterey PreHistorics, Historics, PreReunion, ReUnion, – many top ten finishes over the years against higher HP cars.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Race History

In the summer of 1955 Alfa introduced the “Spider” open roadster featuring an all-aluminum block twin overhead cam engine. Soon after, in 1956, Alfa introduced the Veloce version featuring the higher compression, hotter cams, and twin Weber Carburetors.

Many distinguished drivers including Carroll Shelby, Phil Hill, and Bill Pollack campaigned the Alfa Spiders successfully over the next few years. Even today, after the passage of more than 62 years, a race prepared Alfa Spider is a formidable foe.

Alfa Romeo was present at the birth of sports car competition in the in the United States and remains a staple of vintage racing throughout the world.