What year is my Alfa Romeo Giulietta?

I get questions from readers every few days about what year a certain car is given a VIN number, or what car a given engine number would have originally come in, or if an engine is original to a particular car. The information to answer these questions is scattered around this website, but it being a blog and not a very well organized one, it’s hard to find.

So, here it is, the Giulietta VIN and engine number cheat sheet. I apologize for the length and complexity of what was supposed to be an easy read, but I couldn’t figure out how to dumb it down much more.

This is an original build plate. Notice it has model, body and engine numbers. Notice the font. This is the easiest way to tell if a car has a matching engine. See caveat III below.

Please be advised that this is based on books by Fusi, d’Amico & Tabucchi, Evan Wilson and John DeBoer; with modifications based on my own observations. It goes without saying that further refinement is likely as more cars are entered into the registers.

This is purely a VIN to year, model and engine number guide, with only slight regard to body type or body styling changes that happened within a VIN range. I’ll do a follow up post elaborating on production totals, maker body numbers and change milestones in the near future. I will not include Sprint Zagatos, Giulietta Berlinas or TIs at this time since even without them, this is a long post! Format is as follows:

Model Model number engine displacement :: Colloquial name(s)

Year: VIN prefix*VIN number range, engine prefix*engine number range

Sprint 750B 1300 :: Normale

1954: 1493*00011 – 00023, 1315*00001 – 00012

1955: 1493*00024 – 01438, 1315*00013 – 01430

1956: 1493*01439 – 03545, 1315*01431 – 03285

1957: 1493*03546 – 06008, 1315*03286 – 05400

1958: 1493*06009 – 06611, 1315*05401 – 06903

06611 is the last Eyebrow or early body Sprint, giving way to the 101 body style mid-year 1958.

1958: 1493*06612 – 07921, 1315*05401 – 06903

1959: 1493*07922 – 10301, 1315*06904 – 09002

Sprint Veloce 750E 1300

Note on VINs: Sprints and Sprint Veloces pulled from the same VIN range meaning not all cars in the stated range below are Veloces, but rather that they will fall in this range.

Note on markings: Sprint Veloces will have a capital “E” stamped between the VIN prefix and VIN number on the firewall below the cold air inlet on the left side (as you face the firewall from the engine side).

Note on engines: Sprint Veloce 750Es and Spider Veloce 750Fs share the 1315*3XXXX series engines, any given engine in the series may appear in either model. Alfa retains records matching engines numbers to VIN numbers, so whether an engine originally appeared in a given car can be determined by contacting them. See caveat II below.

1956: 1493*01380 – 03545, 1315*30001 – 30266

1957: 1493*03546 – 04718, 1315*30267 – 30761

04718 is the last Alleggerita Sprint Veloce, replaced by the Confortevole mid-year 1957.

1957: 1493*04719 – 06008, 1315*30267 – 30761

1958: 1493*06009 – 06611, 1315*30762 – 32007

06611 is the last Confortevole Sprint Veloce, giving way to the 101 body style mid-year 1958.

1958: 1493*06612 – 07921, 1315*30762 – 32007

1959: 1493*07922 – 10301, 1315*32008 – 32738

Spider 750D 1300 :: Normale

1955: 1495*00016 – 00017, 1315*40001 – 40002

1956: 1495*00018 – 01039, 1315*40003 – 41023

1957: 1495*01040 – 03232, 1315*41024 – 43217

1958: 1495*03233 – 05619, 1315*43218 – 44769

1959: 1495*05620 – 07213, 1315*44770 – 45854

Spider Veloce 750F 1300

Note on VINs: Spiders and Spider Veloces pulled from the same VIN range meaning not all cars in the stated range below are Veloces, but rather that they will fall in this range.

Note on markings: Spider Veloces will have a capital “F” stamped between the VIN prefix and VIN number on the firewall below the cold air inlet on the left side (as you face the firewall from the engine side).

1956: 1495*00018 – 01039, 1315*30001 – 30266

1957: 1495*01040 – 03232, 1315*30267 – 30761

1958: 1495*03233 – 05619, 1315*30762 – 32007

1959: 1495*05620 – 07213, 1315*32008 – 32738

Sprint 101 1300 :: Normale

Note on model numbers: 10102 is the generally used model number for the 101 Sprint Normale and 10105 is the USA specific model number. It is not clear when the 10105 model number was dropped, but 10102 models were shipped to the USA perhaps beginning in late 1959.

Note on engine numbers: 10105 cars typically have 1315*01XXXX series engines, which it shares with the 10104 Spider Normale, while 10102 cars typically have 00102*xxxxx series engines, which it shares with the 10103 Spider Normale. It is not clear whether 10105 Sprint and 10104 Spider always have 1315*01xxxx series engines and 10102 Sprint and 10103 Spider always have the 00102*xxxxx series engines, but it appears Alfa meant for this to be the case, so this is how I have listed these. Also, the 101 1315*01xxxx series engine should not be confused with the Sprint 750B 1315*0xxxx engines.

1959: 10102/10105 1493*20001 – 21487, 1315*010001 – 014299 or 00102*14300 – 14384

1960: 10102/10105 1493*21488 – 26200, 1315*010001 – 014299 or 00102*14300 – 14384

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1960: 10102*155001 – 157384, 00102*14385 – 23835

1961: 10102*157385 – 162690, 00102*23836 – 31542

1962: 10102*162691 – 164608, 00102*31543 – 33882

VIN numbering changed again mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1962: 10102*350001 – 350975, 00102*31543 – 33882

1963: 10102*384001 – 384289, 00102*33883 – 34172

Model name changed to “1300” in 1964. Most cars delivered to Italy.

1964: 10102*384290 – 385571, 00102*34173 – 35455

1965: 10102*385572 – 386000, 00102*35456 – 35785

Sprint production began and ended with the 1300 Normale model. It is not confirmed, but I have heard that 101 1300 Sprint production continued after 1965 in Italy. One source says it is because some Italian buyers preferred the Sprint due to being ‘used to it’, another says it was an exercise in practicality on Bertone’s part ‘using up the bodies’.

Sprint Veloce 101 1300

Note on model numbers: 10106 is the generally used model number for the 101 Sprint Veloce and 10124 is the USA specific model number. It is not clear when the 10124 model number was added, but 10124 models were shipped to the USA perhaps beginning in late 1959 and ending in 1960.

Note on engine numbers: 1959 10106 Sprint Veloces have the 1315*3xxxx series engines, which they share with the 750E Sprint Veloce and 750F Spider Veloce. The 00106 Veloce engine was used in all subsequent Sprint Veloces.

1959: 10106 1493*11001 – 11101, 1315*32008 – 32738

1960: 10124 1493*21488 – 26200, 00106*00001 – 01742

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1960: 10106*155001 – 157384, 00106*00001 – 01742

1961: 10106*157385 – 162690, 00106*01743 – 02897

1962: 10106*162691 – 164608, 00106*02897 – 03257

The 1300 Sprint Veloce was discontinued in 1962 with the introduction of the 101 Giulia Sprint 1600.

Spider 101 1300 :: Normale

Note on model numbers: 10103 is the generally used model number for the 101 Spider Normale and 10104 is the USA specific model number. It is not clear when the 10104 model number was dropped, but 10103 models were shipped to the USA perhaps beginning in late 1959.

Note on engine numbers: 10104 cars typically have 1315*01xxxx series engines, which it shares with the 10105 Sprint Normale, while 10103 cars typically have 00102*xxxxx series engines, which it shares with the 10102 Sprint Normale. It is not clear whether 10105 Sprint and 10104 Spider always have 1315*01xxxx series engines and 10102 Sprint and 10103 Spider always have the 00102*xxxxx series engines, but it appears Alfa meant for this to be the case, this is how I have listed these. Also, the 101 1315*01xxxx series engine should not be confused with the Sprint 750B 1315*0xxxx engines.

1959: 10103/10104 1495*08001 – 08537, 1315*010001 – 014299 or 00102*14300 – 14384

1960: 10103/10104 1495*08538 – 11900, 1315*010001 – 014299 or 00102*14300 – 14384

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1960: 10103*167001 – 168733, 00102*14385 – 23835

1961: 10103*168734 – 171903, 00102*23836 – 31542

1962: 10103*370001 – 371096 , 00102*31543 – 33882

The 1300 Spider Normale was discontinued at the end of 1962 with the introduction of the 101 Giulia Spider 1600.

Spider Veloce 101 1300

Note on model numbers: 10107 is the generally used model number for the 101 Spider Veloce and 10125 is the USA specific model number. It is not clear when the 10125 model number was added / used, but 10125 models were shipped to the USA perhaps beginning in late 1959 and ending in 1960.

Note on engine numbers: 1959 10107 Spider Veloces have the 1315*3xxxx series engines, which they share with the 750E Sprint Veloce and 750F Spider Veloce. The 00106 Veloce engine was used in all subsequent Spider Veloces.

1959: 10107 1495*07501 – 07612, 1315*32008 – 32738

1960: 10125 1495*08538 – 11900, 00106*00001 – 01742

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1960: 10107/10125*167001 – 168733, 00106*00001 – 01742

1961: 10107*168734 – 171903, 00106*01743 – 02897

1962: 10107*370001 – 371096 , 00106*01743 – 03257

Sprint Special 1300 :: SS

Note on markings: Factory build plates for very early cars have 750SS, but still the 00120 engine designation. Also, in 1959/1960 a batch of cars had a US designation 10117.

Note on engine numbers: The 1300 SS shares the 00120 type engine with the Sprint Zagato.

1957: 750SS/10120, 10120*00004 – 00008, 00120*00001 – 00020

1958: 750SS/10120, 10120*00009 – 00020, 00120*00001 – 00020

1959: 10120*00021 – 00114, 00120*00001 – 00120

1960: 10120*00115- 00376 , 00120*00121 – 00442

1961: 10120*00377- 00750, 00120*00443 – 01346

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1961: 10120*177001- 177374 , 00120*00443 – 01346

1962: 10120*177375- 177624, 00120*01347 – 01576

The 1300 Sprint Speciale was discontinued at the end of 1962 with the introduction of the 101 Giulia Sprint Speciale 1600.

101 Giulia Sprint 1600

Note on engine numbers: The 101 Giulia Sprint 1600 shares the 00112 type engine with the 101 Giulia Spider 1600.

1962: 10112*352001 – 355702, 00112*00001 – 06847

1963: 10112*355703 – 359090, 00112*06848 – 11188

1964: 10112*359091 – 359106, 00112*11189 – 13149

101 Giulia Spider 1600

Note on engine numbers: The 101 Giulia Sprint 1600 shares the 00112 type engine with the 101 Giulia Spider 1600.

1962: 10123*372001 – 375175 , 00112*00001 – 06847

1963: 10123*375176 – 378730, 00112*06848 – 11188

1963: Right Hand Drive 10119*383001 – 383404, 00112*06848 – 11188

RHD information is from Fusi, I’ll dig into some other references and provide a bit more info later.

1964: 10123*378731 – 379999, 00112*11189 – 13149

VIN numbering changed mid-year to avoid overlap with other models.

1964: 10123*392001 – 392852, 00112*11189 – 13149

1965: 10123*392609 – 392852, 00112*13150 – 13433

Giulia Sprint Special 1600 :: SS

Note on engine numbers: The Giulia Sprint Speciale 1600 shares the 00121 type engine with the 101 Giulia Spider Veloce 1600.

1963: 10121*380001 – 380620, 00121*00001 – 00620

1964: 10121*380621 – 381296, 00121*00621 – 01587

1965: 10121*381297 – 381399, 00121*01588 – 02490

101 Giulia Spider Veloce 1600

Note on markings: The 101 Giulia Spider Veloce 1600 did not have a capital “F” stamped on the firewall, probably because it had its own distinct numerical series from the Normales it shared a production line with at Pininfarina.

Note on engine numbers: The Giulia Sprint Speciale 1600 shares the 00121 type engine with the 101 Giulia Spider Veloce 1600. FUSI famously indicates that the 10118 Spider Veloce has an 00118 type engine. Alfa never made an 00118 engine.

1964: 10118*390001 – 390290, 00121*00621 – 01587

1965: 10118*390291 – 391091, 00121*01588 – 02490

Caveat I: Year. When considering year, be aware that the year you think your car is may not be reflected here. This can be due to two factors: in most cases the difference is based on the year the car was registered being reported as the year of manufacture of the car; and very occasionally the stated ranges are not exact.

Caveat II: 750 Veloce engines: Veloces were driven hard. Cars were crashed and engines blew up catastrophically and replacements were required. These were found most often from Normales, but occasionally as transplants from wrecked Veloces or even blank factory replacement blocks. Sometimes these replacements were reworked to factory Veloce Spec, usually they were not. Your Veloce is still a Veloce without its original Veloce engine, the rarer the Veloce the more so this is the case, and the less it really matters. If you have a Veloce and the engine number doesn’t make sense with what you are reading here, your car doesn’t have its original engine. Read that again so I don’t have to repeat it. I have had numerous conversations with owners who swear they have the exception to the rule… a Veloce with a factory installed Normale block -how could it not be original, it was done so well!!

Caveat III: Matching number engines. In late 1959 the build plates for the cars no longer reported the complete engine number, and it is not clear if Alfa continued to record exact engine numbers in their records when this change was made. An email can be sent to Alfa requesting build information on your car. Someone please comment with the email address -I don’t have it handy.