1930 Alfa Romeo 6C

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Imagers from the late 1950s a very sad looking 6C unlikely to have been road legalPerché il vostro stupendo - Because your gorgeous

Coach-built automobiles enjoyed decades of success and in the UK some of the finest world-wide plied their trade; the popularity for a more ‘bespoke’ vehicle continued into the 1960’s. James Young originated in Bromley, Kent in 1863 supplying the finest horse-drawn carriages and went on to supply his local Member of Parliament with their first car body in 1908. By the 1920s the business had expanded and their clients included Rolls Royce, Bentley and Alfa Romeo who towards the end of the decade had produced the 6C model. Two bald front tyres and in a poor condition but still complete minus only a few itemsIt was December 1930 when this actual rolling chassis left the Milan factory on route to James Young via Alfa concessionaire Fred Stiles of Baker Street, London. In Bromley this 5th series 6C chassis (priced alone at 42000 lire) was clothed in a most beautiful hand crafted body with a sumptuous interior containing the finest leather and most luxurious carpet. Final enhancements included chrome and superb wood trimming, invisible joints and refined touches; craftsmanship that can still be appreciated today 84 years after it was completed. Returned to the Baker St showroom this Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 Drop Head Coupe was registered GO6038 in April 1931.

Allevati per la pista – Bred for the racetrack

The 6C story is filled with great names and tales both on and off track. Working for Alfa Romeo since 1920 a certain Enzo Ferrari began racing the marques machines on a local level and in 1923, his most successful year, he persuaded the top designers Luigi Bazzi and Vittorio Jano to leave Fiat and join the Milan based factory. It was Jano who would go on to produce some of Alfa’s finest road machines and also design the company’s 1925 World Championship winning Grand Prix car, the P2. Many still regard this time as Alfa’s heyday; they were leaders on the circuit and suppliers of the finest sports cars at the time. Everything a car should have leather, wood and chromeShortly after the P2 victory a road version, the Tipo 1500 6C arrived and Jano used this successful formula as a base for the updated 6C. First launched at the 1929 Rome Motor show it was fitted with the new six cylinder 1752cc motor incorporating a Single Overhead Camshaft and a Twin Cam sport version later known as the GT (Grand-Turismo) plus a supercharged version. Power units ranged from 46-85hp; the un-supercharged twin cam version featured here has a very healthy 55hp available at 4400rpm and 85lb ft of torque at just over 2000rpm. Instant success both on the road and track followed; light and very rapid for the time the 6C also enjoyed superb handling characteristics and in factory race trim boasted 161km/h or passing the magic ‘ton’ in the UK. The 6C was to have great success in Italy winning the Mille Miglia in 1928 with the 1500 engine and then again in 1929 with the 1750 motor. Legendary drivers throughout history have taken part in this 1000 mile event including the great Tazio Nuvilari who in 1930 lifted his status to ‘superhero’ in his 6C by winning the event in a most unorthodox fashion. With a pair of 6C Zagatos constantly passing each other both Nuvilari and his great friend and competitor Achille Varzi were told by the Alfa team to ‘cool it’ fearing they could lose both cars if they continued to battle. The cars were ahead of the field such was the dominance of their skills and the 6C. Nuvilari started behind his team mate and was leading on time but not on the road, so just before dawn as the finish line neared he switched off his headlights and followed Varzi undetected for many miles. Custodian Mike Toynbee is rightly very proud of his glorious AlfaOnce the chance presented itself he switched his lights back on, passing his stunned team mate just prior to the finish at Brescia, the first car to average 100km/h on the Mille Miglia. This daring story just enhanced the 6C’s status; the car though was already as legendary as the brave pilots who drove it. In 1929 the 6C won every race it entered as well as the Mille Miglia; victory in the Spa 24 hours (also won in 1928/30) and Brooklands Double 12 race along with six Grand Prix events. Success continued in 1930 including the Ulster TT event and although the 1750 models production ended in 1933 its race career continued still competitive for years to come.

Caio bella - Hello beautiful

Hello beautiful was my first thought on seeing GO6038 for the first time; I suggest it had a similar effect on engineer Bill Toynbee, father of current custodians, brothers Mike and Mark. The year was 1959 and information led Bill to a yard where this Alfa Romeo 6C sat somewhat unloved but Mr Toynbee could see through that, this was the big project he had been looking for. Mike recalls his father parted with around £100 for the 6C, which was not a small amount in 1959, making Toynbee the second registered name in the log book, the first being Elsa Ruth Angier of Kingston, Surrey, who had acquired the vehicle on December 30th 1940; mystery though, surrounds the first decade of the 6C’s existence. Everything a car should have leather, wood and chromeA new hood and some ‘fettling’ saw the Alfa back on the road and for around 18 months Bill just enjoyed the car knowing that once the restoration started it would be a long time before he could revel in its Italian charms again. Engine problems finally saw GO6038 pushed into the garage; conrod failure with all the collateral damage that entails would see parts purchased but for thirty years the Alfa would not see daylight. Sadly, Bill passed away in 1993 and the brothers were left with a dilemma, what to do with this ‘one-time’ jewel of Alfa Romeo excellence. Mike Toynbee explained, ‘the sensible choice would have been to sell the car as a huge box of bits and let someone else get on with it’. I am so glad they didn’t do the sensible thing and so is Mike. No doubt the rebirth of this amazing machine, over twenty years in the making, not only gave some sleepless nights but also some credit card bills not easy to recover from. This project was not for the ‘faint hearted’ or the inexperienced so Rees Bros in Aldershot were privileged to undertake the ground up restoration. Having been in business since the very early 1920s the company was older than the ‘6C’ however their experience and craftsmen would surely be tested with GO6038. With cars in the condition of the Alfa, replica bodies are often chosen as it is obviously easier, quicker and almost certainly cheaper but not necessarily better and certainly not original. Mike is happy to point out that the thought of a replica body had never even occurred to him as the car was almost totally original and he wanted to keep it that way. Rees Bros replicated the original luggage trunk tucked behind the twin spare wheelsThe James Young coachwork would be restored in all its glory; stripped completely the ash frame was replaced but surprisingly most of the car survived very well, everything did however require refurbishing but not much replacing. Mike explained ‘the chassis was in excellent condition, showing no signs of damage and once the new ash frame had been made and fitted, attention then turned to the body and mechanicals’. The engine work was carried out by Jim Stokes Workshops in Waterlooville, specialists in early Italian power-plants with 40 years’ experience and a worldwide reputation for engineering excellence; this was the ideal venue for the original block and head. New pistons, strengthened con-rods, valves and a sensible anti-surge sump conversion were all fitted. Back at Rees Bros the original instruments were all reconditioned and the interior completely re-upholstered in the finest leather although using the same seat frames; as for the hood, the images say it all.

Un pre-guerra alfa? - A Pre-War Alfa? Mike shares his thoughts

View from the pilot’s seat the dash is one curvaceous piece of timberThe Alfa had been part of the family for so long it seemed only right that we should attempt to have it restored following my father’s death in 1993, although frankly, the sensible thing to have done would have been to sell the car for spares. Perhaps naively, I thought it could be made roadworthy for about £20k and take about a year. However, once the decision had been made to remove the body from the chassis it became clear that it was going to be a very much bigger and more expensive undertaking. The ash frame pretty well disintegrated and from that point on we were committed; as indeed, I should have been! As neither I nor my brother, who is the joint owner of the car, had much in the way of funds, it was a case of paying what we could, when we could. For the restorers, Rees Bros of Aldershot, it was a back-burner job which to some extent suited us both. 1930 Alfa Romeo 6CThe finished product looks amazing. Yes, it has cost a small fortune; my long-suffering wife describes it as a “financial black hole” but we adopted the attitudes that if we were going to do it, then let’s do it properly. It would have been tempting to take some shortcuts, like skimping on the bonnet clips. When these were replaced some 15 years ago, the cost then was £400 each and there are four of them but look at any vintage Alfa, and they are all the same; to have replaced them with something cheaper or inferior really wouldn’t have been right and this has been our guiding principle throughout the restoration and I would like to think that the result bears this out. It is an interesting driving experience; no hydraulics for brakes or steering, no synchromesh on any of the four gears and a central accelerator pedal, with the brake on the right. The steering is not as precise as on a modern car but the car drives well and the exhaust note from the 1.75-litre twin-cam, straight six sounds crisp and the handling is surprisingly good. It is possible to adjust the shock absorbers from inside the car to suit the road conditions. Bearing in mind this is an 84-year-old car, it is surprisingly sophisticated, technically advanced and with some very nice features which James Young provided when they fitted the original body. I would like to think my father would approve of the restoration – even if he would have been truly shocked at the cost!

Gli artigiani – The Craftsmen

1930 Alfa Romeo 6CAndy Child and Richard Battyll are the names behind Rees Bros and I was keen to find out their take on the restoration, the time factor and the final result. Richard explained that a lifetime restoring historic machines enables him to see beyond the rust and wreckage that confronted the team back in 1993. ‘Yes, there were a few bits missing and many parts needed replacing but it was mostly all there, although very tired; even the tyres were through to the cords’! He explained the company philosophy is to give the customer what they want even if it takes decades and the Alfa was just a pleasure to be around; sure there were a few heartaches but the team enjoyed the responsibility of the task. ‘Many of these cars will spend some time with us’ he went on, ‘the Alfa though is not our oldest resident, one machine has been with us 3 decades’. Finally, Richard wanted to stress that much of the credit should go to the Alfa’s owners, ‘they took a very brave, expensive, long term gamble twenty years ago and Rees Bros were thrilled to get the opportunity’.
Specificazione - Spec Details
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 – Gran Turismo Drop Head Coupe with coachwork by James Young Engine: 1752cc Straight-six Twin cam Two Valves per cylinder Single carb Performance: 55hp at 4400rpm / 86lb ft at 2000rpm Top speed 84mph Gearbox: Four speed manual, no synchromesh Kerb Weight: 1100kg / 2425lbs Length: 14.3ft / Width: 5.66ft Brakes: Drums x 4 / Steering: Worm & helical wheel Suspension: Semi Elliptic Leaf Springs, Friction Dampers
Buying a 6C
1930 Alfa Romeo 6CIt is impossible to fault and represents my argument perfectly that pre-war cars match any other era in beauty and character; the problem with early Italian sports cars is that they are way outside the price bracket of most folk. If you are lucky enough to be in the market for such an amazing machine then prepare yourself for a £200,000 plus price tag, you really are at the top end of the market. This is Bugatti, Bentley and early Rolls Royce territory will change hands discreetly but occasionally such machines appear at specialist auctions. Whilst never likely to own such a car I certainly appreciate the chance of spending time around such engineering excellence and beauty.