Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV

Sports Car Digest - The Sports, Racing and Vintage Car Journal: March 28th 2011
Click link above to read the full review by Will Silk

The model that Auto Art selected to replicate is the 1750 GTV that first appeared in 1967.  From 1967-1971 Alfa Romeo produced over 44,000 1750 GTV models.  It is important to note that there were no Alfa Romeos imported to the United States for 1968, as new federal emission regulations went into effect and Alfa Romeo decided to wait a year to re-launch its line in North America in 1969, only to get caught out again in 1970 and not bring their new models into the largest market in the world at the time.  While 1750 GTV models outside the North American market used dual Weber carburetors as their source of induction, North American cars sported a 1779cc engine with SPICA fuel injection to help comply with the increasing involvement of Washington in the auto industry.  The 1779cc twin cam unit still offered spritely performance with 115bhp on tap backed by the traditional 5-speed transmission and live axle rear set-up.  When 1971 came around, Alfa Romeo was set to debut the new 2000 GTV to replace the 1750 GTV model, though the successor to the 1750 would fall 10,000 units short of the popular 1750 GTV model’s production total.

While many will agree that there are much more significant cars in Alfa’s rich 100 year history to concentrate on replicating in scale, Auto Art has focused on perhaps one of the Italian marques most mass produced sporting successes, and the detail that they provide is really quite good.  The packaging is attractive, as the box offers several nice pictures of the model that rests inside.  Once you open the box and unseal the replica from its Styrofoam “tomb”, the general heft of the piece becomes quite noticeable.  There is no doubt that diecast metal is in abundant use.  The scale version of the 1750 GTV measures out to almost 9 inches long, roughly 3.75 inches wide, and 3 inches tall.  The car we reviewed was painted in a classic white hue.  The fuel filler door was engraved, and therefore did not open.  The grille was very well detailed with nice chrome work around the headlamp bezels.  All the lenses for the external lighting of the replica are of great quality and assist in making the replica’s appearance even more profound.  The Alfa Romeo crest and “1750” script on the rear deck lid were done with tampo graphics.  The paint quality is nice, but the panel fit of the rear deck lid was a bit off, something to be noted on a model in this price range.  The windscreen wipers were replicated in chrome finished plastic, which was also used to replicate the metal trim around the model’s windows.

The attention to detail seems to carry over in the interior with realistic grey carpeting standing out the second you open the doors.  The steering wheel is appropriately detailed, complete with a decal of the Alfa crest in the center.  The multi-function switch is painted, as are the seatbelt release buttons, gear shift, and handbrake levers.  The seats are replicated in plastic, but a nice job was done on the seat belts by using actual cloth material to recreate the real item.  The plastic dash uses decals for the gauges and wood grain trim.  Inner door panels are of some mention, as they offer two chrome strips, one running high, the other low on the panel; as well as detailed window cranks and armrest.

Under the hood you find a fully detailed Alfa Romeo twin-cam four-cylinder engine complete with plug wires and detailed cam covers along with the Alfa Romeo script across the timing chain cover.  The brake booster is clearly visible and painted accordingly, as are all reservoirs as well as the battery.

The undercarriage features a large and accurately painted finned oil sump, transmission, and live axle differential.  The front suspension is plastic and offers no actuation, and although there are springs present at the rear, the rear suspension still offers no movement.  The exhaust is painted, but one must watch turning the front wheels as the steering linkage pushes on the exhaust enough to cause some concern.  There is also no brake detail visible on the model, which is surprising since most other replicas by Auto Art offer such a feature.