Present owner since 1960
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
Present owner since 1960

Details
Present owner since 1960
1930 ALFA ROMEO 6C 1750 TURISMO DROPHEAD COUPE
COACHWORK BY JAMES YOUNG OF BROMLEY

Registration No. GJ 34
Chassis No. 0412349
Engine No. 0412319
Red with black hood and fabric upholstery

Engine: six cylinder, single overhead camshaft, 1,752cc, 46bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear; Brakes: four wheel mechanical drum. Right hand drive.

The 6C series had been founded as early as 1924 when Alfa Romeo engineer Vittorio Jano, perhaps the greatest automotive engineer of his era, was detailed 'to develop a medium capacity light car with brilliant performance'. The great engineer chose the balance and pick-up characteristics of an in-line six cylinder engine and combined them with what was, by the standards of the time, a very lightweight and nimble handling chassis design. Much experience gained in development of his AIACR World Championship-winning Alfa Romeo P2 Grand Prix car of 1924-30 was built into this production series.

The prototype, initially known as the model 'NR' - standing for Nicola Romeo - but subsequently renamed '6C-1500', was unveiled at the Salone dell'Automobile Milano in April 1925, and then reappeared at both the Paris Salon and the London Motor Shows. Deliveries to customers of the original single-camshaft version commenced in 1927, followed in 1929 by an increase in engine capacity in to 1,752cc. The grass roots of the highly successful twin cam supercharged competition version, these cars show the same quality of build together with a not inconsiderable 70mph performance.

An archetypal example of the early single cam 1750 model, this car would have been one of a handful that were supplied by agents Thomson and Taylor and retains its original handbook confirming such. It can safely be presumed to have been registered by them or the first local owner, with the London County Council prefix 'GJ' that it retains today.

The car came into the present ownership in 1960. It was first restored, by his own admittance, on 'very modest means', returning the car to the road as quickly as was possible so that he might continue to enjoy it. Later in his life it was restored under the auspices of John Guppy, with the bodywork refurbished and repainted to the present Alfa Red livery and interior reupholstered in black vinyl. There are copies of extensive bills for this work on file.

Today the paintwork, engine bay and interior are all in tidy order though they reflect the age of the restoration and general wear and tear caused by use. The dashboard retains period Jaeger instruments, Bosch centre switch, Le Nivex fuel gauge and Smiths clock, while externally a Boyce motormeter caps the radiator.

Although used regularly throughout its almost half-century of ownership, the 1750 has spent the last few years garage-bound due to the owner's own advancing years. Maintenance has continued apace, however, and it boasts an almost unbroken chain of MoT certificates dating back to 1982 (just 1994-1996 are missing). It is therefore reluctantly but happily offered to a similarly marque-enthusiastic custodian.
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No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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