Alfa Romeo’s Abandoned Group B Rally Car is Reborn as a Restomod

It wasn’t just Lancia that had its sights set on rally glory in the early Eighties. Italian stablemate Alfa Romeo also hatched plans for a Group B special to take to the world’s stages.

The Alfa 6C was to be based on the Alfasud Sprint, but totally transformed for the FIA’s new homologation rules. Out went the 1.5-liter front-mounted four-cylinder boxer engine, to be replaced by a 2.5-liter V-6 positioned amidships and sending its power to the rear wheels via a ZF five-speed as previously seen in the Lancia 037.

The car made its debut at the 1982 Paris Motor Show, completed with box arches, a louvred lid in place of the rear window and wide wheels with grippy Pirelli tires. It soon became apparent that the 6C would need four-wheel drive to be competitive so a second prototype was developed but by 1983 the money had run out and the project was axed.

Forty years later rally fans can finally get to drive a modern interpretation of the 6C thanks to Portuguese tuner Alma. In its Alma Sprint you get the same widebody styling as the original, albeit with closer panel gaps and a redesigned front end with Hella headlamps. The interior is pretty plush, with leather, Alcantara and corduroy trim, racing seats, and Sabelt harnesses.

Alma hasn’t gone as far as Alfa did when it comes to power, however. The Sprint retains its four-pot motor, bored out to 1.8-liters and much modified. There are redesigned heads, forged pistons, custom camshafts and valvetrain, a stainless steel exhaust and Dellorto carbs with polished velocity stacks. The changes increase output to 160 hp and drive goes to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission and an open Torsen differential.

Alma hasn’t released prices, but says it will build 20 examples, with the first delivery due by the end of 2025.

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