[ToyDC145]

Hello Toy,

hope you are well?

I remember when I lived in South Africa and was a member of the Alfa Romeo Club of SA you, Dr Hugh Gearing, Piazza Musso, … were the ‘go to guys for Alfa Romeo History!

Do you know/remember the history of these two motors/motor vehicles?

Oops - cannot attach photographs!

Carlo

Hi Carlo.
First of all, thank you for the great pictures.
I've been a member of ARCSA since 1976, and after doing the Club's magazine for 11 years, which was named by an international author, the best in the world in its class, two committee members managed to cook a story accusing me of being a bad PR for the club.
At the same time, they wanted me to keep on doing the magazine. Fat chance. I have a FB page "Toy DC" and created a second one called "Alfa Romeo Unplugged".
Both Piazza Musso and Hugh Gearing have sadly passed on. I speak to his son, Patrick, occasionally. He has the GTAJunior, which was imported by Alderton.
On the positive side, Walli Rossi is still going strong at 98. His son Mario races the only new Giulia racing in the world, in the SA endurance championship.

There was never any GTAm imported to SA. There was a 1600 GTA, which had less power than a standard Superformance Sprint GT. Basil van Rooyen, who emigrated to Australia and passed on last year, did a fantastic job, followed by Sampie Bosman, in converting it into the fastest "GTAm' in the world. In the B&W image you sent me, we can see Basil testing his work of art. Thank you.
The first time it got onto Kyalami, it was something like 4 seconds faster than the Mustang he raced the previous year.
The Alfatte that became so famous in SA came after this one and was a GT. There was never a single genuine GTAm in SA. The closest they came was two in Angola. Bunny passed on as well recently. I just spoke to Laurie Steyn. He just had a hip replacement. I don't know who the GT driver is, but B33 was at one time driven by Arnold Chats, who is still the Alfa Romeo driver with the biggest number of victories in the world. The Alfetta Saloon in the picture was bought afterwards by Kurt Schultz, who is still a member of the club. I don't know what happened to it afterwards.
I had a chat with him in September last year.
Thank you once again for the comment and photos.
Regards
Toy

 

[South Africa]

Hello Toy,

The ALFETTA saloon was raced by Arnold Chatz as you mentioned!

From Kurt Schultz the ALFETTA was sold to a Milton (friend of Tony Collaro). It stood in a yard for decades until it was stripped and destroyed by Barry Hennig - according to Patrick Gearing. Patrick salvaged some parts from this which I purchased from Patrick in about 2018.

I had purchased the motor - photographs I sent you - from Laurie Steyn in about 1995. I wanted to buy the ALFETTA at the same time however I had too many projects on the go at that point in time.

Agreed, there was no genuine GTAm in South Africa however Arnold Chatz, Bunny Wentzel,…. brought in plenty of AUTODELTA stuff. Sampie Bosman had many parts for the GTA/GTAm 8 valve and the 16 valve. When Sampie closed AUTOUNIQUE in Booysen’s, Johannesburg Dawie de Villiers (as far as I know) bought/collected/? most of the 16 valve motor stuff. He sold one which ended up with Frank Punchek (?) and a second one to a certain Schumacher in Germany.

Philip Gairns obtained plenty of bits and pieces from Sampie Bosman. I purchased all the stuff Philip had in about 1993. There were distributors, rims, ……., original nuts and bolts.

The only genuine GTAm is the one that was in Angola, brought to the UK via Portugal by Piero Pizarro and sold in Italy. Restored and now owned by …

I cannot post photographs from my mobile phone however I will post photographs from my iPad later.

The rims and suspension next to the COBRA belong to somebody else- not mine. These came from Arnold Chatz’s car that looked like a GTAm.

 

[ToyDC145]

Hi Carlo.
Thank you for the details you have sent me. I didn’t know what had happened to the Alfetta after Kurt, who celebrates his birthday today, had sold it. Now that you mention Berry Henning, the name rings a bell. I haven’t seen Barry or spoken to him for many years.
I recall Lanrie having at least one GTA engine in his shop. Lauri just had a hip op and is in the Kempton Park Hospital.
Do you know Pino Bascelli? He was at Autodelta and told me Sampie got there and just grabbed everything he could.
His work paid off.
I know Frank Puncec, very well. In his heyday, he was a well-known international tennis player, as his father had been before him. At one time, I believe he had a BMW Batmobile and a genuine Junior (1300). He still has a 3.0 CSL.
I believe that there were two GTAm in Angola, but I can only trace one. Number plates AAD-95-18/ST-76-00.The chassis number is 1532346. Some say # 1532345 had also been there.
The information you have supplied me on the Angolan GTAm is very valuable.
Thank you once again.
Toy

 

[vsharp]

Here is AR1530834 as seen this weekend at the Monterey Laguna Seca Reunion races: View attachment 1893671
View attachment 1893670

Just to clarify some information offered on the history board for GTAm 1530834:
The information says "Only about 100 units of the Giulia 1750 GT Veloce USA were produced for Group 2 homologation and only around 40 of the racing version by Autodelta....."
This reads fundamentally incorrect as 1000 base production model was required, to which the specialized homologated racing components could then be added to make the full Gp2 race car. The confusion probably arises from the FIA requirement that 100 sets of the special homologated parts had to be produced. Some of which went directly to produce race cars, and remainder for spares & future use. This set of course included the narrow angle head and the other parts that make up the Gp2 GTAm. The rule of 100 sets was intended to stop factory teams just making say, six special heads for their own team use, thereby leaving everyone else uncompetetive.
You can also find this misinterpretation of the FIA regulations on Wikipedia concerning the 1600 Giulia GTV, where the writer proclaims "1000 special Gp2 cars produced with close ratios, LSD etc". Again a fundamental mistake, as 1000 of the basic stock model only had to be made, to which parts from homologated list of alternative race components could then be added afterward by race teams, owners etc. after cars were delivered.

 

[ToyDC145]

Just to clarify some information offered on the history board for GTAm 1530834:
The information says "Only about 100 units of the Giulia 1750 GT Veloce USA were produced for Group 2 homologation and only around 40 of the racing version by Autodelta....."
This reads fundamentally incorrect as 1000 base production model was required, to which the specialized homologated racing components could then be added to make the full Gp2 race car. The confusion probably arises from the FIA requirement that 100 sets of the special homologated parts had to be produced. Some of which went directly to produce race cars, and remainder for spares & future use. This set of course included the narrow angle head and the other parts that make up the Gp2 GTAm. The rule of 100 sets was intended to stop factory teams just making say, six special heads for their own team use, thereby leaving everyone else uncompetetive.
You can also find this misinterpretation of the FIA regulations on Wikipedia concerning the 1600 Giulia GTV, where the writer proclaims "1000 special Gp2 cars produced with close ratios, LSD etc". Again a fundamental mistake, as 1000 of the basic model only had to be made, to which parts from homologated list of alternative race components could then be added afterward by race teams, owners etc. after cars were delivered.

Thanks. It's quite clear how it got mixed up. It's doubtful that 1000 GTAs were made.

 

[vsharp]

Thanks. It's quite clear how it got mixed up. It's doubtful that 1000 GTAs were made.

The FIA did allow overlapping production volumes from consecutive years. It also seems that they perhaps operated on a manufacturers 'promise' to eventually make the quantity. Certainly in the case of the GTA 1600, the chassis numbers go from 1 to almost 1000, but with around 500 unproduced numbers scattered at random throughout, appearing on paper as close to the required number produced..😉
This is one reason why GTA in particular need close attention, and the factory archives have the record of actually manufactured and unproduced chassis numbers.

 

[donrencos]

The FIA did allow overlapping production volumes from consecutive years. It also seems that they perhaps operated on a manufacturers 'promise' to eventually make the quantity. Certainly in the case of the GTA 1600, the chassis numbers go from 1 to almost 1000, but with around 500 unproduced numbers scattered at random throughout, appearing on paper as close to the required number produced..😉
This is one reason why GTA in particular need close attention, and the factory archives have the record of actually manufactured and unproduced chassis numbers.

I think in an honest way - all producers cheated - some more, some less.
I’m just writing an update on my book, after gathering lots of material in Czech Republic. There for example it gets obvious how Skoda cheated in the beginnings with the S130RS not having the right production numbers….

 

[ToyDC145]

I think in an honest way - all producers cheated - some more, some less.
I’m just writing an update on my book, after gathering lots of material in Czech Republic. There for example it gets obvious how Skoda cheated in the beginnings with the S130RS not having the right production numbers….

I did a booklet on the 8C2900A and B series, which took 8 to 10 years of research.
Officially, eight 2900A were made, but I managed to trace 18. What happened is that if a car, say chassis 412004, had been entered in the Spa 24 Hours and before that had been sent to South America, and not arrived in time, they would simply take a similar car and stamp the same number on it. Sometimes a car would be entered in the MM and after the race, cleaned up, restamped and sold as a new car.

 

[aguirola]

Just a spot of deviation, was there ever a set of knockoffs for the GTAm?
I know this is for stub axles, so no dice

Regards,
Alberto


View attachment 1893989 View attachment 1893990 View attachment 1893991



View attachment 1893986 The rims and suspension next to the COBRA belong to somebody else- not mine. These came from Arnold Chatz’s car that looked like a GTAm. View attachment 1893987
View attachment 1893988

 

[South Africa]

The knockoffs come from the ALFETTA

 

[South Africa]

Hello Toy,

this is the accident between Arnold Chatz in the ALFETTA (B33) and Bunny Wentzel (B29) in his ‘GTAm Reccreation’ or whatever!

The collection of photographs was kept by Bunny in his study and is signed by Arnold on one side and Bunny on the other.

 

[ToyDC145]

Hello Toy,

this is the accident between Arnold Chatz in the ALFETTA (B33) and Bunny Wentzel (B29) in his ‘GTAm Reccreation’ or whatever!

The collection of photographs was kept by Bunny in his study and is signed by Arnold on one side and Bunny on the other.

View attachment 1894359

Wow, thank you. I must mention this next time I see him.
Regards,
Toy

 

[South Africa]

Hello Toy,

the GTAm that came out of Angola via Piero Pizarro was restored in Italy - as previously mentioned - and at my last sighting belonged to Vittorio Stella who lives/lived in a town close to Genoa/Milan in Northern Italy.

We tried to trace the second GTAm in Angola however we could not. There were a few race Alfa Romeo’s in Angola - the GTAm (Vittorio Stella) the type 33 that was brought to the UK and restored.

I followed the restoration of the Vittorio Stella GTAm and that of the type 33 and have the photographs somewhere in our house!

The gold colour rims and bits of suspension came from a guy called Joe. Joe lived in Durban and had collected the GTAm lookalike that Arnold Chatz raced all over Southern Africa - including Angola, Mozambique,…. When the vehicle had rusted to …. Joe sold the rims etc to Carlos Gameiro Senior. Carlos has a large collection of Alfa Stuff plus races Alfas. The car that Joe striped etc looked like a GTAm however was a highly modified step nose GT. if one looks carefully at the photographs thus can be seen including the fact that the front suspension had the early two bolt front suspension mount compared to the later four bolt - correct GTAm.

Another point, if you can clarify, is: (maybe I have misunderstood something?)

If you look carefully at the black and white photograph of the Alfa motor on test in Basil van Rooyen workshop one can clearly see that this is a GTAm type motor - fuel injection, narrow head, oil filler, 8 plug distributor,…..
My point to be clarified: what did Basil/others do with this motor?

Carlo

 

[South Africa]

Just a spot of deviation, was there ever a set of knockoffs for the GTAm?
I know this is for stub axles, so no dice

Regards,
Alberto


View attachment 1893989 View attachment 1893990 View attachment 1893991



View attachment 1893986 The rims and suspension next to the COBRA belong to somebody else- not mine. These came from Arnold Chatz’s car that looked like a GTAm. View attachment 1893987
View attachment 1893988

Check the AUTODELTA catalogue of the 1970’s!

 

[ToyDC145]

Hello Toy,

the GTAm that came out of Angola via Piero Pizarro was restored in Italy - as previously mentioned - and at my last sighting belonged to Vittorio Stella who lives/lived in a town close to Genoa/Milan in Northern Italy.

We tried to trace the second GTAm in Angola however we could not. There were a few race Alfa Romeo’s in Angola - the GTAm (Vittorio Stella) the type 33 that was brought to the UK and restored.

I followed the restoration of the Vittorio Stella GTAm and that of the type 33 and have the photographs somewhere in our house!

The gold colour rims and bits of suspension came from a guy called Joe. Joe lived in Durban and had collected the GTAm lookalike that Arnold Chatz raced all over Southern Africa - including Angola, Mozambique,…. When the vehicle had rusted to …. Joe sold the rims etc to Carlos Gameiro Senior. Carlos has a large collection of Alfa Stuff plus races Alfas. The car that Joe striped etc looked like a GTAm however was a highly modified step nose GT. if one looks carefully at the photographs thus can be seen including the fact that the front suspension had the early two bolt front suspension mount compared to the later four bolt - correct GTAm.

Another point, if you can clarify, is: (maybe I have misunderstood something?)

If you look carefully at the black and white photograph of the Alfa motor on test in Basil van Rooyen workshop one can clearly see that this is a GTAm type motor - fuel injection, narrow head, oil filler, 8 plug distributor,…..
My point to be clarified: what did Basil/others do with this motor?

Carlo View attachment 1894365
View attachment 1894364
View attachment 1894362

Thank you, Carlo, for all the information you've provided.
I doubt that the ghost GTAm Chassis 1532345, ever been in Angola. I have spoken to many people who were there at the time, and they don't remember having seen it. ST-76-00 wen't from Angola to Portugal before being sold.
I've also followed the full history of the 75033 0015, which was left behind in Angola. It was driven there by Peixinho, Basil van Rooyen, and Santos Peras, a coloured guy who I've been told was a master mechanic. He passed on two years ago in Portugal. That same car was driven by Andretti at the Daytona 24Hours. A friend in Florida raced his GTA in the same event.
If you are referring to the SA-made "GTAm" which Basil and later Chatz drove, that car was sold in Angola in August 1973, for R3800. 160 Euros in today's money. Peixinho used it and claimed that it was years ahead of the genuine cars.
A car that Chatz drove with great success was the Alfetta GT, B22/B33. Sadly, that car rusted away from neglect. I had its history. Many people confuse it with an Alfetta used later by Abel de Oliveira, which was claimed to have been fitted with a Chevy V8 at one time in the Cape.

The narrow head motor you are referring to on the Dyno, at Basil's workshop, is another mystery.
I wonder if Patric Gearing knows anything about it.
Regards,
Toy

 

[markivan]

Here is the engine:
(Note the connection from the coolant expansion tank to the cylinder head)

View attachment 1893728

This is the original AR*1530834 Autodelta GTAM mono-sleeve engine that comes with the car. The US Alfa engine guys could never get it to run with the mono-sleeve. The engine run at the 2025 Rolex Monterey Reunion was built with Webers from Formula GT of Germany.

 

[South Africa]

Hello Mark,

hope you are well?

Hope you are enjoying driving your GTAm?

We discussed on a few occasions the journey you experienced restoring AR*1530834 in the USA. This vehicle has an amazing history. We also discussed your difficulties with the motors and sourcing one from FormulaGT in Germany.

There are a few genuine GTAm motors running successfully in Europe - guilotine throttle, SPICA fuel injection,… AR*1532346 in Northern Italy is one good example…

It would be good to understand, if at all possible, why the guys in America could not succeed in sorting out one of the motors you have? One wonders if the Americans tried to push the motor/s too hard and extract close to 230bhp! Consensus with ALFA motor rebuilders is that this is too high for this configuration! It is also worthwhile to acknowledge that different manufactures/rebuilders claim a certain bhp for a motor however the same motor could give different readings on different dynamometers …..

I investigated, with Peter Praller of FormulaGt, in having my two motors rebuilt by them. Peter notified me that the reproduction GTAm motors they build are different to the originals and that any parts required for rebuilding mine would have to be purpose made.

I decided to rather sell these, if possible, to somebody with a longer lifespan - more resources than myself.

Carlo

 

[Zagato_Olaf]

Great topics, contributors and readers!

I took the liberty to link some of the recent information here to post #500 of this thread.
That post contains the most up to date (September 2025) list of 1750 GTAm chassis numbers.
See the link below.

More to come.

https://www.alfabb.com/threads/1750-gtam-chassis-numbers.162337/page-25?post_id=8807697#post-8807697

Ciao Olaf 👌🍀

 

[vsharp]

The link to the updated information list is a great help in just finding it again. There is so much information now.
Interesting to note if you count up the known period history cars including the 'questionable' ones, but not the later 'copy' cars, the total number is still only about 45. And I guess at least a couple of the questioned ones will be probably eventually be discounted as new info comes to light.
Keep up the fantastic work Olaf, it is quite some job collating and sorting all this data.

 

[alfasprinty]

Hi all,

I found this factory (?) GTAM picture. Would this be Bianchi himself behind the steering wheel ?
Any idea where and when the foto was taken ?

Rgds,

Thierry