This example of the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is a much rarer Selespeed version.

Of 5,029 147 GTAs built, just 1,004 were Selespeeds making this a rare car at birth.

The Selespeed is Alfa Romeo’s version of an automated manual transmission.

It consists of the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and clutch and adds an electronically controlled actuator that operates both gear and clutch.

It can be operated via paddle-shifters on the steering wheel or via a lever like a conventional sequential manual gearbox as used in touring cars.

This car is a 2004 model and started its life being supplied to the Japanese domestic market via the official Alfa Romeo dealer network.

It has spent its life on the salt-free roads and in the benign and dryer climate of Japan.

The car has been owned by two diligent keepers in that time and very lightly used.

To date the GTA has covered a mere 54,655 km equating to 33,961 miles or just 1,698 miles per year on average.

The GTA was imported to the UK by a Japanes...