1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: AXN 153
Chassis No: 10814378
Mot Expiry: Aug 2004

From the 1906 formed S.A.I.D., an Italian subsidiary of Darracq, the then Managing Director, Cavaliero Ugo Stella, purchased the workshops, reforming the company as the Anomina Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili and Giuseppe Merosi now designed all-Italian motor cars which were raced with some success.
World War One saw a takeover by industrialist Nicola Romeo who wanted the extra production capacity to add to his military equipment building capability. In peacetime, with sufficient components in stock to build 105 cars which had never been completed due to wartime priorities, the operation was renamed Alfa Romeo with the now famous cross and serpent crest of Milan as its logo.
Ascending motor industry star engineer Vittorio Jano, who had joined Alfa from Fiat in 1923, designed the P2 which became one of the marque's most successful racers. To complement his competition work, some exceptional road cars were conceived on his drawing board with the first of these being the 1927 6C 1500 Turismo, with the engine based on the P2's power unit albeit with two cylinders removed, and soon afterwards a twin-cam engined Sport and the supercharged Gran Sport models followed.
By 1929, Scuderia Ferrari had been set up to handle Alfa's racing programme with Enzo Ferrari being assisted by engineer Luigi Bazzi and designer Jano, whose genius contributed hugely to the marque becoming a major force in competition. It was thanks to establishing a formidable track record running Alfas in competition, of course, that Ferrari was able to go it alone and found his own race and road car company. It's ironic that the companies are together again as of course nowadays both the Alfa Romeo and Ferrari marques belong to Fiat.
An even more powerful 6C 1750 also hit the streets in 1929 in Turismo, Sport and Gran Sport specifications and all with normally aspirated engines. Soon, however, the ultimate supercharged Super Sport and Gran Sport models appeared, which could do 100mph with unmatchable acceleration - as employed to victorious effect on the 1930 Mille Miglia by the great Tazio Nuvolari and co-driver Guidotti. The 1752cc six produced 85bhp and was mated to a crisp 4-speed gearbox, while semi-elliptic suspension and automatically adjustable shock absorbers earned the sporting Italian a reputation for outstanding roadholding.
We are exceptionally pleased to offer this highly desirable and extremely rare Alfa Romeo 6C, a 5th Series short-chassis Gran Sport. One of the very few cars to have been assembled in 1932 by SA Alfa Romeo in France, chassis number 10814378 carries an 'Alfa Romeo - Paris' badge instead of the more usual 'Alfa Romeo - Milano' badge and it is believed that there are only two such surviving French-built 6Cs, the other example being in America. Whilst the open sports bodywork was originally coachbuilt in the UK by Corsica, the only Corsica body ever made for a 6C, this particular car, which is claimed to be still to original specification, is referred to in both Angela Cherrett's definitive 'Alfa Romeo Tipo 6C' book (page 101) as well as the reference work on the model by Luigi Fusi and Roy Slater (page 142).
According to a very detailed ownership history on file, a Mr. C. Stammers owned the car during the 1930s, with a Mr. Jonathan Blunt from 1960 to 1965, whereupon it passed into the Seys family ownership of, first, Wing Commander Richard, a UK war hero and then his son William. Via Paul Halbard, Peter Harper (1985), David Howard (1989), C.S. Holder (1992) and Roy and Tatyana Middleton (1993), it was acquired by the present Singapore vendor in 1995.
Immediately upon its purchase by the present owner, he commissioned in excess of £14,000 to be spent on the car by Mr. David Baylis of Beaulieu Cars who is well known for repairing and restoring prewar Alfas - he has a couple of his own. The work included an overhaul of 1750cc 6-cylinder engine and clutch, refurbishment of brakes and shock absorbers, and renewal of the exhaust. At the same time, both the valance and the dashboard received attention and the additional aero screens were fitted, the rear fuel tank and pipelines tidied up, period-correct Scintilla rear lamps and a Brooklands steering wheel fitted, the weather equipment was refreshed, a new fawn hood was fitted, the tyres were renewed and oval side mirrors were added to the screen sides. The car has been constantly pampered and of course it has all the necessary servicing but in addition, last year, the 4-speed gearbox was rebuilt by a UK specialist.
During Wing Commander Seys ownership, which is recorded in print in the Fusi and Slater Alfa 6C book (page 140), the car was rallied successfully in Italy, returning to its home country in 1997 in the vendor's hands to participate in the 70th Anniversary of the Mille Miglia. The owner confesses that the car being unplaced can be explained by the fact that he took part strictly for fun and was more interested in appreciating the scenery!
In the Far East meanwhile, and appropriately in view of Enzo's early history campaigning Alfas, the car had the honour of transporting Ferrari F1 drivers World Champion Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine in the opening parade at the Sepang circuit before the 1999 Malaysia F1 round - and, again, carried Schumacher and team mate Reubens Barrichello round the circuit before the 2000 Malaysia GP. The car has also been exhibited at both Malaysian and Singapore events, winning a Concours d'Elegance and taking part in several local rallies.
Apart from appearing in leading Alfa reference books (as mentioned above), the car featured in an article entitled "Sporting Sculpture" in the December 1993 issue of the monthly publication 'Practical Classics' as well as being chosen to illustrate the 1999 January/February section of the 'Classic Cars' magazine calendar. On file, too, are three MOTs from 1990/2, when the car was used on the roads in the UK, as well as a FIVA passport and it has easily gained a new full twelve months MOT on its return.
This truly unique Alfa Romeo is claimed to be in pristine condition, both visually and mechanically. It is said to start on-the-button and run very well, and should require absolutely no further refurbishment expenditure before the next fortunate owner can enjoy one of the most stunningly gorgeous classics of all time.