Scott McLenahan offers this info on
his great car:
"The Alfa 6C-1750 followed the 6C-1500
and was produced in six series from 1929 to 1933. In total, 2579 chassis
were completed and they became the quintessential model for both the amateur
and professional drivers. Available in several body styles, most cars were
sold as a rolling chassis to be bodied by coachbuilders including Zagato,
Touring, Castagna, Ghia, Farina, Pinin Farina, Weymann and James Young.
The definitive form of the 6C-1750 was the short chassis Supercharged Gran
Sport and Super Sport versions of which approximately 360 cars were made.
In competition, the 6C-1750 was quite
possibly the most successful car/chassis ever manufactured by Alfa Romeo.
In addition to winning the 1929 Mille Miglia, twenty-five out of twenty-six
supercharged 1750s completed the 1000 mile course. During the 1930
Mille Miglia, the 1750 would sweep the first four places in the race and
would become known for an epic 6C-1750 duel between Nuvolari and Varzi.
Nuvolari overtook Varzi in the pre-dawn with his 1750's headlights switched
off and continued to win the race with a finishing time of 16 hr 18 min
59 sec (avg 62.78 mph) making the 6C-1750 the first car to ever complete
the 1000 mile Mille Miglia Race averaging over 100 kph. Other victories
included the 1929 and 1930 24 Hours of Spa, 1930 Tourist Trophy, several
World Speed Records (2000 cc class) at Montlhery France in 1931 (including
1000 kilometers @ 97.1 mph, 4000 Mile Record @ 93.97 mph and 48 Hour Record
@ 94.4 mph) as well as winning numerous other Road Races, and Hillclimbs.
The red
headlight covers (removed at night) served several purposes and were
used by most Alfa Romeos competing in the pre-war Mille Miglia races.
Being an open road race, the covers protected the headlights from flying
rocks, allowed the cheering crowds to easily identify an Alfa as it approached
and could be used to distract non-Alfa competitors by turning on those
big 12v Bosch lights and tailgating the opposing car. (Mercedes and
Bentley ran 6v lights)
This particular car won its class in
the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and was also the recipient of
Automobile Magazine's "True Spirit Award” in 2003 for driving from San
Francisco, racing in the Historics, and driving home again… all without
using a trailer. |