A Tribute to South African Racing Legends
Built as a passionate nod to two of South Africa’s greatest Alfa Romeo drivers, Arnold Chatz and the late Basil van Rooyen, this GTA-inspired race car is more than just a machine, it’s a rolling piece of motorsport heritage.
Constructed by master engineer José Lopes, the car has been meticulously prepared with no expense spared. Many of the specialist performance parts were sourced directly from Alfaholics UK, ensuring race-ready quality. Power comes from a fully built 2.0-litre twin-cam engine with side-draught carburettors, breathing through a hand-crafted exhaust manifold and delivering the raw Alfa soundtrack that defined an era.
Weight-saving was a priority: the doors, bonnet and boot lid are fiberglass, and all the glass, including the windscreen has been replaced with lightweight Perspex. Even better, the bonnet carries the autograph of Arnold Chatz himself, making this car a genuine collector’s piece.
Inside, the stripped cockpit houses a full roll cage, race seat, and safety equipment – built to Historic Racing SA regulations. Importantly, although prepared to specification, this car has not yet been raced – meaning it is effectively a fresh, unused race build ready for its first chapter.
And here’s the truly rare part: unlike most dedicated racers, this GTA Tribute comes with road-legal papers, offering the option to keep it street-registered. Whether that’s for spirited Sunday drives or the convenience of driving to and from race meetings, it makes this car even more versatile and desirable.
Highlights:
- Tribute to Arnold Chatz & Basil van Rooyen
- Engine built by José Lopes – 2.0L twin-cam with side-draught carbs
- Hand-crafted exhaust manifold
- Lightweight panels (fiberglass doors, bonnet & boot)
- Perspex windows including windscreen
- Signed bonnet by Arnold Chatz
- Historic Racing SA compliant – never raced since build
- Comes with road-legal papers
Whether you want to take it straight onto the track, or enjoy the thrill of a road-registered GTA Tribute, this car offers both – a rare combination of motorsport pedigree and real-world usability.
