25.08.2010 GIULIA GTAM TOPS POLL OF UK FANS FAVOURITE ALFA ROMEO

TOINE HEZEMANS - ALFA ROMEO 1750 GTAM

Toine Hezemans races the Alfa Romeo Giulia 1750 GTAm to victory in the 4 Ora di Monza in 1970 (above); this historic racing car came out top of a poll amongst Alfa Romeo enthusiasts in the UK.

Although Alfa Romeo has to date created more than 70 models in its hundred year history, it all came down to a battle between just two cars in a UK poll of fans’ favourites, initiated to celebrate the Italian marque’s centenary year. And it was the Giulia GTAm racer that came top of the poll, narrowly beating the 8C Competizione sports car to the chequered flag with less than one percent more of the vote.

The Alfa Giulia GTAm, which gained 20.4 percent of the overall tally, derived from the standard 1750 GT Veloce production model, and secured its place in the Alfa Romeo elite by winning the European Touring Car Championship in 1970 in the hands of Dutchman Toine Hezemans. The votes for this poll were collected from enthusiasts and owners – Alfisti - who submitted photos of their Alfas to the special alfacentenary.co.uk website which aimed to create a unique piece of mosaic artwork.

The GTAm and Alfa Romeo’s most recent "halo" sports car, the 8C Competizione, led the way against a shortlist of classics including the 2900 B Le Mans, Alfasud and the 156 GTA. A worthy runner-up with 19.8 per cent, the 8C Competizione - worth more than £123,000 - debuted as a concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2003 and went on to be produced in 2008 as a limited edition model of just 500 examples, selling out almost immediately. The car’s name derives from Alfa Romeo’s world famous 8 cylinder engine and the marque’s racing pedigree. The Spider/Duetto, widely regarded as a design classic, finished in third place with 16.01 per cent of the vote. This car was first launched in 1966 and famously starred in the film The Graduate in 1967, alongside Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.

Alfa Romeo UK Brand Communications manager, Damien Dally, says: “The Giulia GTAm was a great Alfa and a deserved winner. It’s really interesting to see how people voted in the poll. We all have our favourites which is testament to the fantastic cars Alfa Romeo has produced over the past century.”

Poll Results: Giulia GTAm 20.4%; 8C Competizione 19.8%; Spider/Duetto 16.1%; Giulietta 13.1%; Alfasud 11%; 156 GTA 7.5%; Alfa 159 Alfetta 7.3%; 8C 2900 B Le Mans 3.4%; Giulia 1600 Sprint Speciale 1.4%.
 

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