My Alfa Giocattolo Group B

... nickname "Chook Lotto" and include a bottle of Bundy rum in the tool kit.Alfa Giocattolo Group B is a mouthful to say, but according to owner Ken Percival, 50, it's a delight to drive. The motor mechanic says the car's name is Italian for "toy" and the correct pronunciation is something like "jew-cat-oh-low". 

"But everyone just calls it the Chook Lotto," he says. Only 15 were made by Giocattolo Motori between 1986 and 1988 at a small factory at Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast and two were crashed in racing. Percival says the factory went bust after the Button car plan forced the company to buy the whole donor car - an Alfa Romeo Sprint - rather than just the body. 

The suspension was reworked, Simmons wheels fitted and the interior was decked out with VDO instruments, Momo steering wheel and hand-stitched Recaro racing seats. "They ended up being more expensive than a Porsche at the time," he says. "It couldn't go on like that and eventually the company went into liquidation in 1988." 

Percival bought his 1988 model at the Brisbane Motor Show for $50,000. "It had a `for sale' sticker on it and I hummed and hahed about it for a while then thought I may as well have some fun," he says. "I'm an Alfa nut. Always have been. I've owned about half a dozen of them. "You don't see them up for sale very often. I've only seen two come up since I bought mine, so you could name your price if you wanted to sell." 

His Giocattolo is chassis number two and Percival believes Giocattolo Motori boss Paul Halstead owns chassis number one. Percival also races a white 1969 Alfa Romeo 105 series GT Junior that has been modified to look like a GTA. He's currently headed for his second consecutive club series win. "I get all my thrills that way and just drive the Giocattolo as a beautiful street car," he says. 

"Although I have had it on Queensland Raceway and I wish my race car had as much power and handling. "It's pretty quick as it's only 1100kg and has 202kW of power. It's a bit like a Harley; you don't have to be in the right gear to really go. "The only problem is that it runs out of brakes pretty quickly." 

And what about that bottle of Bundy in the boot? "Being a Queensland-built car and having a sense of humour they put a half bottle of Bundy and a couple of shot glasses in the toolkit," he says. "I've still got it. Never opened it. I suppose it's there in case the car breaks down and it's not fixable. Then you can drown your troubles." 

* Percival's Giocattolo will be part of the multi-million-dollar display of classic cars at the Speed + Style + Beauty show at Brisbane's Hamilton cruise terminal on November 25-27. The show will be open on the Friday from noon to 8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. Admission is $15 adults, $12 concession and $5 children.

Alfa Giocattolo Group B at a glance

Year: 1988
Price new: $60,000
Insured for: $50,000
Engine: Holden 5-litre V8, 202kW
Body: 1988 Alfa Romeo Sprint 2-door hatch
Trans: 5-speed manual
Did you know: Giocattolo Motori originally transplanted Alfa V6 engines into the Sprint but they were replaced with the Holden V8s because they were too expensive.

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