After the successful series of B.A.T. prototypes (Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica) designed by Franco Scaglione for Carrozzeria Bertone between 1953 and 1955, in 1957 by the same stylistic current it was born a berlinetta prototype intended for a small production, an exclusive and sporty version of the Giulietta Sprint. It was a study of a faster version of the Giulietta Sprint, during which in-depth aerodynamic research was carried out in order to enable the little engine Alfa Romeo to break the 200 Km/h barrier.
The car was presented as a prototype (chassis 00001) at the Turin Motor Show in 1957, and was a great success. It was called "Sprint Speciale" but the forms was still too extreme for the production and so was reviewed in the second prototype (chassis 00002) exhibited in Geneva in 1958.
The model went into production in 1959 embodying a number of styling updates and improvements and was offered as a more luxurious version of the popular Giulietta, as it was created with lightweight construction and competition in mind.
The Sprint Speciale was modeled by Carrozzeria Bertone and featured striking high fenders and a rounded roofline. The forward-thinking aerodynamic design boasts a drag coefficient of only .29. Built on a slightly shorter wheelbase than the standard Sprint, the curvaceous ‘SS’ was powered by a 1.3-liter, Veloce-specification twin-cam engine, which had twin two-barrel Weber carburetors and offered 116 horsepower. Between 1957 and 1962, just 1,366 examples were produced
Chassis 00001 is the prototype presented at 1957 Turin Motor Show. It wad sold in 1960, and the recent restoration brought back the original shape. The body is in aluminum alloy, a feature of the first prototypes of SS only.