Alfa Romeo · 1976–1989
Alfa Romeo Sprint
The Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint (later only Alfa Romeo Sprint) is a boxer-engined coupé produced by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo from 1976 to 1989, and based on the Alfa Romeo Alfasud. 116,552 units of the Alfasud Sprint and Sprint were built in total. The Sprint was sold in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Predecessor: Alfa Romeo Giulia GT · Successor: Alfa Romeo GT
All Alfa Romeo Sprint data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
History
=== 1976–1983: Alfasud Sprint === The Alfasud Sprint was presented to the press in September 1976 in Baia Domizia (Caserta), and shown at the Turin Motor Show in November. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro like the Alfasud, whose mechanicals it was based on, it had a lower, more angular design, featuring a hatchback (although no folding rear seats). The Alfasud Sprint was assembled together with the Alfasud in the Pomigliano d'Arco plant, located in southern Italy—hence the original "Sud" moniker, which means south in Italian. Under the Alfasud Sprint's bonnet there was a new version of the Alfasud's 1186 cc four-cylinder boxer engine, stroked to displace 1,286 cc (78 cu in), fed by a twin-choke carburetor and developing 76 PS (56 kW; 75 hp) at 6,000 rpm. Mated to the flat-four was a five-speed, all-synchromesh gearbox. The interior was upholstered in dark brown Texalfa leatherette and tartan cloth. Options were limited to alloy wheels, a quartz clock and metallic paint. In May 1978 the Alfasud Sprint underwent its first updates, both cosmetic and technical. Engine choice was enlarged to two boxers, shared with the renewed Alfasud ti, a 79 PS (58 kW; 78 hp) 1.3 (1,350 cc) and an 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) 1.5 (1,490 cc); the earlier 1186 cc units was not offered anymore, remaining exclusive to the Alfasud. Outside many exterior details were changed from chrome to matte black stainless steel or plastic, such as the wing mirrors, window surrounds and C-pillar ornaments; the B-pillar also received a black finish, the side repeaters changed position and became square, and the front turn signals switched from white to amber lenses. In the cabin the seats had more pronounced bolsters and were upholstered in a new camel-coloured fabric. Just one year later, in June 1979, another engine
Design
The 4.02 metres (158.3 in) long coupe has a very low profile and is representative of late 70s and 80s Italian car design. A year earlier than the Sprint but from the same drawing board, although with slightly different proportions, another classic 70s design was created - the Volkswagen Golf. Until 1983 the Alfasud Sprint had stainless steel bumpers, restyling in 1983 brought plastic and lower bumpers, a different grille, and some other upgrades like 14-inch (360 mm) Italspeed wheels with 8 circles and nonstandard Michelin 340 mm tyres. Depending on equipment, some Sprints had plastic side bumpers and rear spoiler (mainly Quadrifoglio Verde). The most common was the Zender pack add-in, with lower bumpers and side-skirts, sold mostly in the UK and a few other countries. Interior. The Alfa Sprint is a 2+2, with two seats in front and two in the rear. The two front seats came in two versions, an ordinary version and sport version with elongated thigh bolsters. An uncommon feature is the ignition key, which is on the left side of the steering wheel (instead of the more common right). On the middle console there are a few switches for the front and rear fog lamps, the rear window defroster and rear window wiper. Next to this is an analog clock by Jaeger instruments; until 1983, after which it was replaced with a digital one. Underneath are the ventilation control levers, one for hot, a second one for cold air intake, and a third to distribute flow to upper or lower vents. The rear cargo area has a capacity of 425 litres (15 cubic feet), largely due to the high-profile at the rear, and it has a leather cover to conceal items from view.
Specifications
Initially the Sprint had disc brakes all around, the front ones being the inboard brake type. At the front there is independent MacPherson strut suspension, and at the rear a rigid axle with trailing beams and a Panhard rod. From 1984, all Sprints got the Alfa Romeo 33 floorpan and modified front suspension and front brakes (no longer of the inboard type). The rear end now had drum brakes. This means that the Alfa 33 (1st generation) and Sprint 83-89 practically share the same mechanics. This is helpful when finding parts for 2nd generation Sprints, since 10 times more Alfa 33s were produced. Engines.
Alfa Romeo Sprint 6C
In 1982, Autodelta built the Sprint 6C as a prototype for a possible race car. The prototype was given a mid-mounted, rear-wheel-drive, 2.5 L V6 engine from the GTV6 that made 158 hp (118 kW) at 5600 rpm. The 6C also received new bumpers, a rear spoiler, widened wheel arches, and wider 205/50VR15 wheels. Autodelta built a second car with a reinforced chassis for the purpose of rallying, but neither car resulted in production.
Giocattolo Group B
Giocattolo Motori Pty. Ltd. in Caloundra in Queensland, Australia, produced a sports car using the Sprint as a base donor car for their Group B model. The Giocattolo Group B was developed by entrepreneur and car fanatic Paul Halstead along with Formula One engineer Barry Lock. The chassis and body, along with parts of the front suspension and door handles, glass etc., was kept from the Sprint. The use of a donor car allowed Giocattolo to focus on the design and engineering, since door hinges, locks and other items were already done for them. The original idea was to use the Alfa 2.5 L (2,492 cc) V6 (160 hp [119 kW; 162 PS]) as engine and was mid-mounted in a few prototypes. The sourcing of the V6-engines proved too expensive and difficult hence Giocattolo went on to produce the cars with the Holden 5.0 Walkinshaw group V8, as fitted to the VL Commodore group A cars, along with a ZF 5 DS-25-2 transaxle, giving them a power-to-weight ratio on par with a Mclaren F1. In total, 15 Giocattolo Group B cars were built from 1986 to 1989, including three prototypes. 14 of these cars remain, while one - Build No. 007 - was destroyed in a high-speed crash at the Eastern Creek Raceway in February 2001, killing the driver, 29-year-old Todd Wilkes.
Sprint EVO.35
Fabrica Italiana, LDA in Portugal built a road version of their race cars in 2011 to commemorate the 35th anniversary named Sprint Evoluzione 35. The car debuted at Autoclassico Oporto salon. One chassis is known, numbered #019. It had a full roll cage, road trimmed interior, race derived suspensions, 4 piston outboard vented brakes, LSD and 8 valve 1800cc engine with 180 hp at 7000rpm and 210Nm at 3800rpm. A production series was planned but no other cars are known.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint, Alfa Romeo Sprint
- Manufacturer
- Alfa Romeo
- Production
- 1976–1989
- Assembly
- Italy: Pomigliano d'Arco, South Africa: Brits, North West
- Designer
- Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign
- Body style
- 3-door coupé
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
- Related
- Alfa Romeo Alfasud, Alfa Romeo 33, Giocattolo
- Engine
- 1.2 L Boxer H4 (petrol), 1.3 L Boxer H4 (petrol), 1.5 L Boxer H4 (petrol), 1.7 L Boxer H4 (petrol)
- Transmission
- 5-speed manual
- Wheelbase
- 2455 mm
- Length
- 4019 –
- Width
- 1610 –
- Height
- 1305 –
- Kerb weight
- 915 kg
- Predecessor
- Alfa Romeo GT Junior
- Successor
- Alfa Romeo GT
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q249483CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_SprintCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1367254878 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alfasud_Coupe_Bianca.JPGPublic domain · Photo: Charles01 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.