Alfa Romeo 155 GTA Stradale

While today’s DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) quarrels a bit with the future as a result of Mercedes-AMG’s exit, older motorsport fans are thinking back with a little melancholy to the days of the old DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft), which run until 1996. Until the introduction of the so-called Class-1-Touring-Cars, the teams used compact cars and middle-class vehicles, which corresponded except of some necessary changes for motorsport to production cars from the showroom. This proximity to the customers was used by many manufacturers for special edition models that should transport the sporting success to the roads. Some even had to produce these cars in order to be able to use some technical modifications in racing. These include the well-known Evolution models of the Mercedes-Benz 190 E, the BMW M3 Sportevo or the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 500.

It is less well known, that Alfa Romeo was also considering a limited edition of the 155 after having surprisingly won the DTM title with Nicola Larini behind the wheel in their debut season 1993. Together with Abarth and under the leadership of Sergio Limone, who had previously put the Lancia 037 on the wheels, first came a series of ideas and then a wind tunnel model. At this they tested different aerodynamic components, which were finally transferred to the scale of 1:1, to test them again on a real prototype. Our picture gallery proves that they even thought about a large roof wing in the style of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, but finally rejected it.

Technically, the prototype was based on the top version of the 155 series, the 155 Q4. This took its platform from the very successful rally car Lancia Delta Integrale, but with a rear axle differential made of cast steel instead of aluminium, to move more weight towards the rear. Even the two-liter four-cylinder turbo engine came from the Delta, but received a Group N upgrade for the 155 GTA Stradale including an intercooler, a Garrett T3 turbocharger and an electronic multipoint injection system from Magnetti Marelli. Accurate performance data were not disclosed, but it should have been around 200 hp.

Visually, they focused a bit on the successful DTM racing car, which was also developed by Abarth under the development code SE051. The road vehicle (SE053), however, did not go that far. Wider fenders, redesigned bumpers and sills and a fixed rear wing made the visual difference. At the Bologna Motor Show 1994, the car debuted for the first time publicly with a race-ready interior, so with only one seat and a full rollcage. Later, the car switched to a full-fledged interior with four leather-covered seats. Only the sports steering wheel with thin spokes and the center console do not meet the standard condition of a normal 155. Overall, the prototype covered over 40,000 kilometers until today, but it wasn’t enough to start a production run.

The reason for this is varied, but is mainly because the Fiat board members would rather have seen a sporty V6 engine under the hood, thus also to remember the drive of the special edition to the DTM car. In addition, there were relatively high previously calculated costs due to the changed body parts, which would have necessitated a second production line. Therefore, the project was stopped in spite of already incoming pre-orders, which were also fuelled by a use of the prototype as an official Medical Car for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monza in 1994. Afterwards the vehicle was sold to former rally driver and Fiat dealer Tony Fassina, who parked it inside his workshop in Milan, where it was discovered and bought by one of his friends four years later. Subsequently, the car arrived in Germany and was officially registered for road use for the first time. After a brief episode in Monaco, the 155 GTA Stradale returned to Italy in 1999 and changed its owner again in the meantime. The auction house Bonhams is now offering this unique piece of touring car history as part of their annual auction event in Padua at 27 October. The hammer price is expected to be between 180,000 and 200,000 €.

Images: Bonhams