Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1977 – 1985) Review

Also known as the Nuova Giulietta, the 1977 saloon to bear the legendary name had all the potential to be one of the era's finest sports saloons. It certainly looked the part - a voguish wedge-shaped body finished with a high, stubby boot might have been as fashionable as flared jeans in 1977, but the underpinnings were pretty much pure Alfetta Type 116.

The compact saloon was offered with a much wider range of twin-cam engines than its larger cousin. Yet, like the Alfetta, the Giulietta flattered to deceive and proved troublesome for all but the most forgiving owners. And more infuriatingly, the quality was patchy - so if you got a good one, you were blessed with a brilliant car. But get a bad one, and it could drive its owner to distraction. And that’s a shame, as the Giuletta should have been a BMW 3-Series basher – but instead it’s viewed as one of the company’s poorer efforts in recent years.