To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$700,000 - $900,000
- Offered from the collection of vintage racing sportsman Peter
Giddings
- Exacting recreation of the stunning Zagato spider
coachwork
- Best in Class at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
- Recipient of Automobile magazine's "True Spirit" award at the
Monterey Historics in 2003 and the Chairman's Award at the 2013
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance
- Extensive vintage competition history, including numerous
Monterey Historics
- Unmistakable for its unique triple red headlight covers
- Recent service by Jim Stokes Workshops Ltd, including replacing
the cylinder head gasket
- Ideal for continued touring, rallies, and competition
In 1926, Alfa Romeo's Chief Engineer, Vittorio Jano, set to work on
a touring car that was centered around the brand-new overhead-cam,
1.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine. The 6C 1500 officially
entered production in 1927, and the Sport version, which became
available a year later, featured a twin overhead cam that raised
power by 10 to a brisk 54 horsepower. In 1929, the 6C 1500 Super
Sport was introduced, and it featured two-seat spider coachwork and
an optional Roots supercharger, which increased maximum power to
76. These cars were all produced in very small numbers through late
1929.
For the 1929 model year, Alfa Romeo bumped up engine displacement
to 1,750-cc, and the resulting 6C 1750 was produced in four more
series of gradual improvements over the following six years. The
model quickly proved to be one of Alfa's most popular, and
expensive, creations; nearly 2,600 left the Portobello factory
through 1933, each one tabbed at a price hovering around 50,000
lire-an incredible cost considering that most chassis left the
factory without any mounted bodywork.
Most examples of the 6C 1750 series were equipped as the single-cam
"Turismo" version. A minority were classified as a "Sport" version,
which were built on a 114-inch chassis and equipped with the
twin-cam engine. Of the Sport examples, most were clothed with Alfa
saloon coachwork and were soon more appropriately renamed "Gran
Turismo." This number of clear distinctions paved the way for the
topless, Zagato-bodied Super Sport examples, which rode on an
even-shorter 108-inch wheelbase and were available with finned
alloy superchargers and intake manifolds to further boost power
delivery. These high-performance spiders are some of the rarest and
most desirable pre-war models available to discerning Alfisti.
In 1930, the Super Sport name was updated to Gran Sport. Additional
modifications featured an ingenious sloping radiator that not only
gave the car a more rakish appearance, but also functionally
increased the surface area of the radiator for improved cooling.
The 6C 1750 Gran Sport now featured a standard Roots supercharger,
which developed an unprecedented 85 horsepower, and approximately
106 examples were produced. The 6C 1750 series was, quite simply,
the fastest road-racing car available at the time-winning nearly
every race it entered.
The 1929 racing season featured notable factory victories at Spa,
Tunis, Dublin, Monza, and others, including the Millie Miglia. The
following season saw the updated model exhibit repeated dominance
at Bordino, Madonie, and Spa-with several 1-2-3 finishes
solidifying Alfa Romeo's prominence. The 1930 rendition of the
Mille Miglia featured another 6C 1750 podium sweep, with a total of
eight examples claiming finishes in the top 12.
This stunning 6C 1750 is believed to have been dutifully crafted by
the artisans of Giovanni Giordanengo in Italy in the mid-1980s.
During this time, it was not unusual for aging Alfa Romeos to be
rebuilt into more attractive and desirable models for continued use
and enjoyment. It is believed that this 6C was built upon a longer
Gran Turismo chassis that was expertly shortened to accommodate the
ever-stunning Gran Sport spider coachwork. Constructed anew, the
Zagato-style body was finished to exceptional proportions and
quality and fitted to the modified chassis with a correct 6C 1750
powerplant. The chassis was subsequently numbered to match that of
the engine, which is believed to be a correct-type unit, as is the
gearbox, differential, carburetor, and supercharger.
The Alfa Romeo was subsequently sold to Emilio Comelli in Brescia,
Italy and in 1985 it was was acquired by William McClenahan from
Comelli. After its arrival stateside, the car was shown to great
acclaim at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it won
its class. The 6C would then go on to be a common sight at the
Monterey Historic Automobile Races, participating over half a dozen
times at the hands of his son, Scott McClenahan. Its vintage
competition accolades aside, most impressively this car was the
recipient of Automobile magazine's "True Spirit" award in 2003,
having been driven from San Francisco, raced in the Historics, and
driven home again!
After Scott McClenahan's passing in 2012, the car was inherited by
his wife, Shaun Halverson-McClenahan, who in familial tradition
continued to compete in and enjoy the Alfa Romeo at vintage racing
and concours events. So admired was the 6C that it would receive
further accolades, including the Chairman's Award at the 2013
Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance, and it was shown at The Quail, A
Motorsports Gathering in 2014.
In 2016, the Alfa Romeo was acquired by the late and much-admired
vintage racer, Peter Giddings. Certainly, he had plenty of time to
grow fond of the 6C, having himself competed against it for many
years at Laguna Seca. Now offered from his renowned collection,
this 6C 1750, with its unmistakable red-covered triple headlights,
is an exemplary, well maintained, and thoroughly exhibited Alfa
Romeo. As a fierce competitor in historic races and a thrilling
ride for vintage driving events, it will certainly continue to be
enjoyed by its next enthusiast owner.
Please note that an import duty of 2.5% of the purchase price is
payable on this lot if the buyer is a resident of the United
States.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.