2005 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

This example of the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is the much rarer automated manual Selespeed version. Standard manuals outnumbered the Selespeed equipped versions by about four to one from the factory (1,004 Selespeeds played 4,025 manuals), making the latter a very rare Alfa Romeo indeed. That’s a good start, then, and it only gets better. This car is a 2005 model and started its life being supplied to the Japanese domestic market via the official Alfa Romeo dealer network. It has spent its life on the salt-free roads and in the benign and dryer climate of Japan. 

It seems its Japanese stewards not only used it lightly but also diligently maintained this Italian icon. Nine services regularly punctuated the verified 71,000 kms (44,100 miles) covered between its delivery in 2005 and the end of its Japanese life in 2025. For it was in September of this year that the GTA was transported by ship to the UK at the behest of an experienced and Japanese market specialist collector and connoisseur. The Alfa obtained its first MoT in September of this year (advisory free, of course) before being registered in November. A miles per hour speedometer head and UK spectrum radio were also fitted around this time.

The Alfa Romeo 147 is a good-looking car with the design work undertaken by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo under the auspices of Walter de Silva. Whereas the standard car is handsome but fairly meek looking the GTA is hunkered down with a much more muscular, sporting persona. Its purposeful body kit emphasises the chunky, stocky demeanour of the GTA – and that’s a good thing.

This example presents beautifully in Nero Metallico seemingly benefitting from the benign, preservative Japanese road conditions and light, sympathetic use. The front end looks especially purposeful with small mesh filled apertures sitting aside the sleek Xenon headlamps. The deep chin spoiler features a pair of much wider mesh grills with the shield shaped radiator grill dissecting them. The signature, offset front number plate is enough to get Alfa purists positively tingling with anticipation. The rear of the GTA is differentiated by a centrally placed mesh diffuser, twin chromed tail pipes and “GTA” script badging. Aluminium door handles round off the look very distinctively.

Our diligent consignment team do report a few minor areas of note, however. There are a few stone chips present around the Alfa’s front end and curvy nose as well as to the door edges. A small black mark was noted on the passenger door as well as some minor scratches and swirls as often found on black finishes. There is a small mark on the rear bumper cover close to the number plate and a scratch on the rear offside wheel arch. The driver’s door handle exhibits some wear also. An area of delamination also appears present on the rear window.

From the sides it is the arch-filling, 18-inch, anthracite hued Jet Fin Spoke alloy wheels that dominate. These appear pristine and a matching set of brand new, Goodride tyres are fitted in a 225/40 configuration. The open architecture of the sublime wheels allows full sight of the big Brembo branded callipers and associated disks.

The interior of the GTA received much praise at launch being noted, mainly, for being reassuringly different from the usual German and Japanese suspects. That seems certainly true of this beautiful example. An obvious case in point are the superb bucket sports seats with their deep, almost triangular, bolsters and integral headrests. The centre panels are stitched into horizontal padded pleats and finished in pristine looking self-patterned, black, flecked fabric. 

The rear seats are surprisingly commodious and are also deeply bolstered and box pleated and identically trimmed. A third, occasional position is available in the centre with its own headrest and seat belt making the car a full five-seater. When not in use a central armrest can be deployed for the benefit of the outer occupants.

The dashboard is finished in black and formed into a shaped centre console and hooded instrument binnacle. This provides home to three overlapping apertures which house the red on black speedometer (calibrated in miles per hour), tachometer and combined petrol level and water temperature gauge. A digital matrix display is integrated to provide other key metrics and information. These sit behind the original multi-function steering wheel. The GTA is a well-equipped car, too with refinements including climate control, electric windows and mirrors, CD changer, and tinted rear windows. It is noted that a boot lid open warning light is showing despite it being properly closed. The low fuel level warning message is also showing despite the tank being around a quarter full. We also note that the windows mist up when the car is standing, possibly indicative of some moisture ingress.

Original buyers of the GTA probably bought and engine and were delighted to find they got a very good car thrown in for free. The V6 Busso unit dished out 247bhp which was more than its contemporary competitors the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R32. Whilst the Germans were both four wheel drive, the GTA fed all its power through the front wheels via, in this case, the Selespeed gearbox. The car is equipped with extremely effective VDC, ASR, ABS and EBD systems to keep you on the straight and narrow with no tangible disadvantages compared to the aforementioned Teutonic twosome. 

The other aspect of the Busso virtually guaranteed to thrill, of course, is the deeply impressive noise it makes. One contemporary test noted that its sound “is as good as it gets this side of Italy’s other houses of royalty – Ferrari and Lamborghini.” Have a listen to our accompanying video and judge for yourself. 

Like many iconic power plants, the Busso is a great looking engine complete with its six separate chromed intake pipes and finned alloy cam cover with red, embossed “Alfa Romeo” and “3.2 V6” script. The underside of the car is straight and clean and very much in keeping with such a low mileage example that has spent almost all of its life on salt free, well maintained roads. Owner Danny comments that “it runs and drives superbly” and notes that the gearbox has only just been serviced. 

All the key documents are present with the 147. This includes the V5 registration document in the name of the first and sole UK keeper. A current, advisory free MoT is also on hand in hard copy. This is valid until September 2026.

What we can also learn from this instructive archive is how much more compelling the Japanese service records are. They open out to create a graphical check-list complete with self-explanatory diagrams and annotations. Luckily there is also a nice English summary of this car’s diligent service record together with other useful information. In short this seems to consist of nine services across less than 45,000 miles travelled. The original glossy book pack is also present.

Alfa Romeo, in more recent history, has not always produced cars worthy of their storied name. The Alfa 6 being a case in point, of course. The 147 was a bit of a star, however, winning over 20 international awards. The Alfa Romeo 147 GTA doubles down on that innate prowess to deliver a true early hot-hatch hero. There are no turbos and over-stressed, low capacity four-cylinder lumps here. Just a sublime V6, 3,179cc naturally aspirated 247bhp powerhouse with an awesome accompanying soundtrack. The automated manual Selespeed version is by far the rarest with a shade over 1,000 ever produced.

This is a beautiful example of an increasingly sought after vanishingly rare car, today widely considered as hot-hatch royalty. Its Japanese heritage helps make it an exquisite, corrosion and imperfection free example which will be hard to match in European equivalents. The sub-45,000 mileage just adds to this compelling desirability and allure. This is a pulse quickening ownership opportunity for anyone with even passing interest in modern classics. It is one, in our opinion, that should be grasped with both hands.

We estimate this one will sell for somewhere between £10,000 and £14,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET, HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.