Alfa Romeo 1900C SZ Coupé Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato 1955, Itália
Fotografia
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SZ Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato
Chassis no. AR 1900C.02062
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Zagato
Chassis no. AR 1900C.02062
•Matching numbers engine and chassis
•Conrero-prepared engine from new
•Present family ownership since 1991
•Professionally restored in Italy the early 1990s
•Eligible for the Mille Miglia
According to Alfa Romeo's Centro Documentazione, chassis number
'02062' left the factory fitted with engine number '1308.01045' on 21st May
1955. The car was sold new to Alfa's Milanese neighbours Carrozzeria Zagato to
be clad with their distinctive bodywork, as evidenced by the invoice on file
date 25th October 1955.•Conrero-prepared engine from new
•Present family ownership since 1991
•Professionally restored in Italy the early 1990s
•Eligible for the Mille Miglia
According to accompanying documentation, the first owner was Mr Esteban Sala of
Barcelona, Spain. A racing driver, Mr Sala participated in various editions of
the Coppa Montjuich Rally among other races, although it is not known if he
used this car for those events.
As Mr Sala had the engine prepared by the well-known Turin-based Alfa Romeo specialist tuner, Conrero, it is highly likely that this car was used for racing in period. A letter from Conrero to a later owner confirms that the engine was extensively modified by them. The engine's original specification included four Weber 45 DOE carburettors (later replaced with Solex 40 PIIs); balancing of the crankshaft, flywheel and clutch; modifications of the intake systems and valve seats; different camshafts; Conrero-type competition pistons, and a higher compression ratio of 9:1. The suspension was left standard, although the stock shock absorbers were specially adjusted. The original power output with the Weber carburettors was 150bhp, a substantial increase over the standard 115 horsepower. (Conrero estimated the power output with the later Solex carburettors to be in the region of 125bhp).
The list of owners as per a US-based dealer who sold the car to the current custodian's father is as follows:
Esteban Sala of Barcelona, Spain
Claude Levy of Switzerland (there are photocopies of a photograph apparently taken at the 10th Lyon-Charbonnières Rally depicting an Alfa Romeo 1900 Zagato with Geneva number plates)
Alexander Thompson of York, Pennsylvania
Thomas M Spencer of Salt Lake City, Utah (correspondence on file between Conrero and Spencer dates from 1959)
R L Zwart of El Toro, California (he apparently repaired earlier front-end damage with a glassfibre wing and bonnet)
Dr Douglas Rucker of Virginia
Bob and Patricia Taylor
Stephen Schwartz
According to the list, Stephen Schwartz owned the car from 1978 until 1990 when he sold it to Barry Russinof of Miami-based dealers Auto Strada. Barry Russinof sold the car as a project to the current owner's father in 1991. Apparently, Mr Schwartz recorded that he found traces of the (possibly) original light blue colour under the dashboard, and it is believed that the doors were a darker blue.
Imported into its native Italy in 1991, the Alfa was comprehensively restored: the bodywork being entrusted to well-respected specialist Emilio Galbiati of Milan while the mechanicals were overhauled by Preparazioni Mendogni near Parma. Mendogni's documentation of the work recorded that some 383 hours were spent on the mechanicals alone. The car was finished in time for the 1993 Mille Miglia retrospective. Since then it has been regularly maintained and has participated in various editions of the Vernasca Silver Flag hill climb (in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2016).
Now nicely patinated, both inside and out, the car still presents beautifully, while on a recent test-drive a Bonhams specialist was able to experience first-hand the capabilities of this amazing Alfa Romeo. This stunning car is offered with an ASI certificate; FIVA passport (now expired); Italian registration documents; and a wealth of documentation and correspondence from previous owners and other parties, including Alfa Romeo and Conrero.
With only some 38 examples built with Zagato's lightweight body, and very few equipped with a Conrero-prepared engine from new, this rare Alfa Romeo 1900C deserves close inspection and is eligible for a wide variety of competitive and touring events including the Mille Miglia retrospective.
As Mr Sala had the engine prepared by the well-known Turin-based Alfa Romeo specialist tuner, Conrero, it is highly likely that this car was used for racing in period. A letter from Conrero to a later owner confirms that the engine was extensively modified by them. The engine's original specification included four Weber 45 DOE carburettors (later replaced with Solex 40 PIIs); balancing of the crankshaft, flywheel and clutch; modifications of the intake systems and valve seats; different camshafts; Conrero-type competition pistons, and a higher compression ratio of 9:1. The suspension was left standard, although the stock shock absorbers were specially adjusted. The original power output with the Weber carburettors was 150bhp, a substantial increase over the standard 115 horsepower. (Conrero estimated the power output with the later Solex carburettors to be in the region of 125bhp).
The list of owners as per a US-based dealer who sold the car to the current custodian's father is as follows:
Esteban Sala of Barcelona, Spain
Claude Levy of Switzerland (there are photocopies of a photograph apparently taken at the 10th Lyon-Charbonnières Rally depicting an Alfa Romeo 1900 Zagato with Geneva number plates)
Alexander Thompson of York, Pennsylvania
Thomas M Spencer of Salt Lake City, Utah (correspondence on file between Conrero and Spencer dates from 1959)
R L Zwart of El Toro, California (he apparently repaired earlier front-end damage with a glassfibre wing and bonnet)
Dr Douglas Rucker of Virginia
Bob and Patricia Taylor
Stephen Schwartz
According to the list, Stephen Schwartz owned the car from 1978 until 1990 when he sold it to Barry Russinof of Miami-based dealers Auto Strada. Barry Russinof sold the car as a project to the current owner's father in 1991. Apparently, Mr Schwartz recorded that he found traces of the (possibly) original light blue colour under the dashboard, and it is believed that the doors were a darker blue.
Imported into its native Italy in 1991, the Alfa was comprehensively restored: the bodywork being entrusted to well-respected specialist Emilio Galbiati of Milan while the mechanicals were overhauled by Preparazioni Mendogni near Parma. Mendogni's documentation of the work recorded that some 383 hours were spent on the mechanicals alone. The car was finished in time for the 1993 Mille Miglia retrospective. Since then it has been regularly maintained and has participated in various editions of the Vernasca Silver Flag hill climb (in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2016).
Now nicely patinated, both inside and out, the car still presents beautifully, while on a recent test-drive a Bonhams specialist was able to experience first-hand the capabilities of this amazing Alfa Romeo. This stunning car is offered with an ASI certificate; FIVA passport (now expired); Italian registration documents; and a wealth of documentation and correspondence from previous owners and other parties, including Alfa Romeo and Conrero.
With only some 38 examples built with Zagato's lightweight body, and very few equipped with a Conrero-prepared engine from new, this rare Alfa Romeo 1900C deserves close inspection and is eligible for a wide variety of competitive and touring events including the Mille Miglia retrospective.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário