1970 FIA rules & 105 coupe

[Dana Loomis <dloomis@domain.elided>]

A year or more ago, John Hertzman and others noted changes in the interior
dimensions of the Alfa Romeo 105 coupe that occurred some time around 1969
or 1970.   Two pieces of information appearing separately in the January,
1970s issue of Il Quadrifoglio may shed some light on these changes.  

A description of changes in the 1750 GT Veloce appearing at the front of
the number lists among other changes, "abitabilita posteriore maggiorata e
migliorata" (rear accommodations enlarged and improved).  

A summary of changes in FIA competition rules appearing on p. 68-69 shows
the Giulia Sprint GTA moving from Group 2, where it had raced since its
introduction, to Group 4, while the 1750 GTV, 1750 GT Am., and the GTA 1300
Junior were classified in Group 2, which was renamed "Turismo Speciale."
The text notes that a major change in the rules for 1970 was the adoption
of new requirements for the minimum interior dimensions of Touring cars
(Groups 1 and 2), and that vehicles previously homologated in the Touring
classes but which no longer met the interior-size requirements were
reclassifed as Grand Touring cars (Groups 3 and 4).  It goes on to note
that the GTA  was one of the cars reclassified from Group 2 to Group 4,
while the 1750s and the Junior could still be homologated in  Group 2 owing
to their larger interior dimensions.  

I would guess that the interior size of the production 1750 (and 1300
junior) coupes was updated so these cars could continue to compete in Group
2 where they had achieved good success.  It was probably not possible to
make the same changes in the GTA because the ones racing in 1970 had all
been built earlier and no new ones were being produced, as the factory and
Autodelta had moved on the the GT Am.  

An interesting sidelight on the latter car is that the text of the article
calls it the "1750 GT America."

Dana Loomis
71 1750 GTV

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