Alfa Romeo’s history includes many beautiful two-door models but the pictured one-off special is not one of them. The 1995 Castagna Vittoria that will soon be auctioned by Car & Classic is not a product of Alfa Romeo but comes from the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Castagna. The unconventional styling can be hard to digest, although Alfa Romeo fans and collectors might appreciate the uniqueness that comes with it.
The Alfa Romeo Castagna Vittoria was introduced as a working prototype at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show, reviving the Milanese coachbuilder that existed between 1849 and 1954. The model was penned by Italian automotive designer Gioacchino Acampora, based on the underpinnings of the Alfa Romeo 75 (known as the Milano in the US market).
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The exterior bears no resemblance to the donor vehicle, featuring a completely redesigned bodywork made of hand-hammered aluminum. The proportions are closer to the mechanically related Alfa Romeo SZ by Zagato than the original 75 sedan, with a long front overhang, a seemingly shorter wheelbase, two doors, and an aerodynamic coupe-style roofline.
The angry-looking face of the Castagna Vittoria combines the headlights of the Opel Calibra with a unique reinterpretation of the iconic scudetto grille. The latter is floating above the large bumper intakes and the pronounced splitter similar to the modern Alfa Romeo Tonale. The curvy greenhouse looks like an early version of the lines that were later applied in the gorgeous 8C Competizione. Finally, the Kamm-tail design is rather futuristic, reminiscent of a massive diffuser.
The two-seater cabin is upholstered in dark green leather, combined with green Alcantara and wooden trim on the dashboard and gear shifter. Despite its age, everything appears to be in pristine condition with no signs of wear.
Despite the challenging concept looks, the Castagna Vittoria is street street-legal due to the fact it is based on a production vehicle. Under the hood lies a tuned version of the glorious 3.0-liter V6 Busso engine that makes 252 hp (158 kW / 255 hp). Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a 5-speed manual, most likely retaining the limited-slip differential of the original. According to Car & Classic, the car is in “excellent mechanical order”, spending most of its life in storage. This is proven by the odometer reading of 2,500 km (1,553 miles), making it one of the best-preserved examples of Alfa Romeo 75 underpinnings.
The chassis of the prototype has been upgraded with a new suspension setup including Koni coaxial shock absorbers in all four corners, and independent coil springs at the front. Stopping power is also improved courtesy of Brembo brakes with cross-drilled ventilated discs and 6-piston calipers.
The estimated value of the unconventional sportscar is £125k-£135k ($155k-166k), justified by its rarity and the amount of work that has been put into its creation. The auction will run between November 15-22, but those who would like to check out the Alfa Romeo Castagna Vittoria in person can visit the Milano Autoclassica show where it will be exhibited between November 17-19.
