The Gentleman’s Rebel: The 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 That Brought the Busso Back to Life
Jamie Ong
Alfitis are the kind of collectors who look for soul and numbers second. This Alfa Romeo GTV6 is what happens when Italian engineering meets obsessive restoration - and when someone decides that preserving history isn’t enough. It has to breathe again.
Draped in rare olive green metallic, this low-ownership, meticulously restored 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6 is more than a polished ‘80s coupe for Sunday cruises. It’s a living time capsule - a reminder of an era when design was analog, drivers were engaged, and engines, particularly the legendary Busso V6, spoke with a voice all their own.
The Cars N Kopi Moment: Old Soul, New Admiration
At the Cars N Kopi at New Bahru meet on October 20th, themed around the legendary Toyota AE86, rows of sharp-edged 1980s icons filled the scene. Amid the boxy silhouettes, our client’s GTV6 slid in effortlessly - a wedge-shaped Giugiaro masterpiece with rear-drive balance and unmistakable Alfa attitude.
To those who knew, it was the kind of presence that turned quiet nods into hushed conversations. The kind that made you lean closer to listen first and look afterwards.
The Busso V6: Six Cylinders of Italian Mythology
Every collector has a holy sound. For the discerning, it’s the Busso V6 - a hand-built 2.5L engine that sings. Designed by Giuseppe Busso, this V6 powered Alfa Romeo’s finest from the late ’70s through the ’90s, earning its place as one of the most aurally intoxicating engines ever produced.
Its smooth induction growl, metallic rasp at high revs, and unmistakable note have been described by many as “a mechanical opera.”
This particular car? It’s powered by a Busso and rebuilt to perfection, every gasket, every bore, every harmonic dialed to factory precision as an authentic resurrection.
Design by Giugiaro: The Box That Became Beautiful
The GTV6’s shape is pure Giorgetto Giugiaro - crisp, geometric, confident. In the context of the AE86 and other boxy contemporaries, it shares the same era’s design DNA but elevates it with distinctly Italian proportions. Long bonnet. Taut beltline. Haunches that hint at rear-wheel power.
Where the Japanese perfected lightness, Alfa mastered feel. And that’s why this car drew admiration that day: it represented more intent over nostalgia.
Insider Detail: The Olive Code
Here’s what most passersby may have missed - this olive green metallic wasn’t a mainstream factory shade. It was a limited special-order color identified as Olivio Verde (AR213), scarcely seen even in Europe. Combine that with its low-ownership history, complete and meticulous restoration provenance, and South African specialist Dawie de Viller’s expertise, you’re looking at something far beyond “a nice example.” We’re looking at an appreciating rarity, one quietly making its way up the collector’s ladder as the analog Alfa era gains momentum.
Specialist Servicing & Collector Confidence
Attention to maintenance is just as critical as the car’s provenance. This GTV6 recently underwent a comprehensive service at Alfa City in Singapore, one of the region’s most respected Alfa specialists. Every component - from belts to suspension - has been evaluated and refined to maintain its original dynamic character.
For collectors, this level of specialist care ensures confidence that the car is not only beautiful but fully capable and road-ready, preserving the visceral driving experience that made the GTV6 legendary.
Praise from the Experts
Widely praised by automotive connoisseurs and revered journalists, the GTV6 has garnered acclaim from notable figures in the industry. The venerable Jeremy Clarkson himself has extolled the virtues of the car, highlighting its dynamic handling and the sheer joy it brings to driving enthusiasts.
It’s a car that rewards engagement, one that has inspired lifelong admiration among Alfisti. To drive it is to understand why Alfa Romeo created machines for experiences.
At the end of the day, the GTV6 reminds us that motoring was once a dialogue between man, machine, and road; an experience measured in soul over data. In a world growing quieter by the mile, the Busso’s voice endures, a reminder that passion, when preserved, never goes out of tune.
