The 6C 1750 was in production from 1929 to 1933 with 369 examples built. The Super Sport came in normally aspirated 64 hp or supercharged 85 hp variants.
The 1929 chassis number #0312961 seen here was originally supplied as a double overhead cam normally aspirated model, after it was successfully used in competition it was returned to the Alfa Romeo factory in 1932 and upgraded with a supercharger and replacement crank case.
The body is unusual for the type having an ash frame with steel panels rather than the steel frame with aluminium panels preferred by Zagato.
After it's initial foray in competition this vehicles adventures continued with a fire department in Ivera, Aosta near Turin. Somewhere around 1939 the vehicle turned up in Eritrea, then an Italian colony where many other vintage Alfa Romeo's including this one are known to have been used for racing, there is a possibility that during one race #0312961 may have been in collision with a donkey while leading a handicap race in Asmara, Eritrea in 1943.
In 1947 the car was acquired by a British Captain serving with the victorious occupying forces in the former Italian African colony and he imported it to the UK in 1950.
After several more changes of ownership being painted blue, then red again and an engine rebuild the car was sold to an American in Zurich in 1959 who returned with #03122961 to Ohio in 1962. The car was sold to it's present owner Nick Benwell in 2009 who then set about completing a rebuild that had started in Ohio in the 1960's.
Nick is a great fan of original patina and as can be seen he has left the bodywork more or less as he found it. With the restoration complete Nick took his car on a 2,100 mile round trip to the Alfa Centenary celebrations last year where the car was waved past 400 other Alfa's and honoured with being the first to pass through the Arese Factory gates as the oldest vehicle present.
My thanks to everyone at Alfabb.com 'Help Identifying Vintage Alfa's at Prescott ?' thread who provided clues as to which car KYR 564 is including, Odin, Orouge and Duncan Macnab who kindly showed me a copy of Simon Moore's excellent 2 part feature on this vehicle which appeared in 'The Automobile' August 2010.
Hope you have enjoyed today's journey across 5 countries on three continents and that you will join me for a look at an Alfa Romeo Giulia Super. Don't forget to come back now !
Don't paint it, just race it!
ReplyDeleteThat seems to be Mr Benwell's philosophy and all credit to him for not doing a 'Pebble Beach' job on it :-)
ReplyDeleteThe sight of that Alfa brought back fond memories I have of a similar car owned and vintage raced by James Carlson. It was during the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, Jim was driving a 1750 Alfa in the pre-war goup. I was diving a SAAB special built by Walter Kern in about 1959. !I always tried to race in the pre-war group because they are true gentleman drivers.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, our two cars were so enenly matched that we raced the whole weekend, nose to tail, with the Alfa always in the lead! I never minded that fact because I had the best seat in the house as I watched Jim slide the Alfa in beautiful drifts around that demanding circut.
Thank you for reminding me of those great experiences.
John Aibel
99j2123
Was this a car that Enzo Ferrari worked on and raced for Alfa?
ReplyDeleteIf so, this blog should of run on Ferrari Friday.
Lovely story it is always a pleasure to hear your anecdotes, I'll get to you about the Saab at some point if I may ?
ReplyDeleteJC this was a production car that was raced privately and did not come under Ferrari's control.
But well remembered it's Friday soon !
It's like "twofers" when my Dad replies with a story of his own! Super cool.
ReplyDeleteTow for the price of one sounds like a bargain to me Chief, thanks John :-)
ReplyDelete