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Dominic's Auto Museum
One man's passionate quest to survey finest motorcars in the world

#0056 - Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Spyder by Zagato, 1931

Photographed: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, 2009. Owner: Ray Scherr

Alfa—Beginning at the Beginning: In many ways, the 6C Alfa is the archetype of the modern sports car. Small, light weight, and long legged, the 6C Alfa was prime motive transport for both the gentleman racer and well shod tourister. But beyond looks and performance, the 6C also fostered the idea that a company could produce a good sporting car, and then refine it in subsequent years by releasing models of distinct improvement, and many variations on the theme. All 6C Alfa cars are identifiable as close kin, but of course there are bags of minutae to differentiate each particular series. So it was for Porsche in the post-War era; the 356 fit the same concept of designing a strong platform for road and race, and then refining and improving the breed over consecutive series. In fact, Porsche may yet be better at executing this philosophy than any other performance auto-maker, but Alfa Romeo deserves a good long look for what they produced in these, their finest years.

The 1750: For the RL and 1500, basic trim was termed Normale, but this pedestrian nomenclature was done away with for the 1750, which in basic trim is referred to as Turismo. According to their official registry, third and fourth series Turismo cars were bodied by Zagato, with the fourth series (this one included) spanning 1931 and 1933. The 1,752cc 6-cylinder motor is capped by a single overhead camshaft. Sport and Grand Sport models recieve exotic upgrades to dual overhead cam, race-tuned, forced-induction specification, but the majority of 6C cars are more complacent touring machines.

Vittorio Jano: This is also a good opportunity to introduce the classic era's eminent competition engineer, Vittorio Jano. Born to a Magyar family with a rich history of military administration and organization, Jano's hometown remained Turin for the duration of his life, excepting the time he spent at work in Milan, most notably at the Alfa Romeo factory. Remarkably, it was a young Alfa racing driver named Enzo Ferrari who visited Jano at his home in Turin to convince the engineer (unseccessfully at first) to move his family to Milan and work for the marque of the four-leaf clover. Jano was installed as the chief engineer and head of the racing program; the latter position would be wrested from him by the same Ferrari, giving birth to the great pracing horse cars that played sage to that most romantic marque of the post-War era.

Jano was integral in developing Alfa Romeo into a dominant racing force. He briefly carried the torch of Lancia's inimitable record of innovation by working on a new V-6 platform, not to mention the incredible D-50. Then after World-War II, Jano, along with so many talented designers, helped thrust Ferrari into sporting deity, again contributing to a V-6 program, the Dino. As far as the Alfa Romeo 1750 is concerned, around 1924 Jano was tasked to develop a medium capacity light car with brilliant performance. There remains no great drama in his choice of an in-line six cylinder motor—a formidable unit for its perfect balance in both rotational and reciprocal forces—although the full development of the motor would see numerous exotic changes including fixed aluminum heads, superchargers, and of course the mainstay addition of twin-overhead cams.

Jano would perform severely important work for Alfa Romeo; his were the designs that powered hordes of Mille Miglia and Grand Prix winners, first with the amazing P2, and culminating in the awesome 8C 2900. However, as Dale Drinnon notes, "Between the budget constraints within by-then state-owned Alfa, power struggles with the Enzo Ferrari-controlled racing team, pressure from German racing rivals, and the increasing corporate emphasis on military production, Jano's position became ever less tenable." Yet, for all he accomplished after leaving, Jano's name is linked most strongly with Alfa Romeo.

Morphology: Zagato coachwork of the early classic era is recognizable by simple lines in the bonnet and running gear, cut-down door sills, and curt tail fitted with a spare wheel set. Though not necessarily different in component from the work of other contemporary designers, Zagato's execution is the benchmark. Running gear is adequate, defined by a set of chrome speedlines just aft of the doors. Over the wheels, the skirts are thin and shapely, and overhangs are minimalized both front and rear, a measure that gives the car a most sporting appearance. Compare this skirt treatment to the 1500 Grand Sport, and note that on the competion-derived 1500, front and rear overhang is ever further restrained. Chrome is also prevalent on this road-going 1750 as opposed to the competition car, though it should be noted that on many racing 1750 chassis, Zagato did employ brightwork of similar style. The lesson involved producing automobiles that went fast and looked good doing so; Zagato handled both charges admirably, pinning down a factor of speed through lightweight alloy body fabrication, while creating a shape to make any prospective owner wish to run such a car through the pastoral countryside of his or her chosing.

Among the most dynamic features on this simple little sports car is the set of bonnet clamps located just along the frame behind the front skirts. These functional articles give a jewel-like shine against the deep black paint, and compliment the chrome of the running gear. An additional chrome strip frames the doors, serving notice of the graceful panel line and how it matches the curves of the running gear. The bonnet and rear deck are comparatively straight, as was the fashion on early Alfa Romeo cars. A last nod to luxury, this 1750 features leather trim around the dashboard and along the door sills, an immediate tell-tale of public road intentions, while a small cabriolet top is fixed aft—a device not likely to be employed, and so hardly ever seen in use.

Sources:

Suggested Reading: Automobile Design: Twelve Great Designers and Their Work, Second Edition, Edited by Ronald Barker and Anthony Harding, Vittorio Jano by Peter Hull and Angela Cherrett, pages 225-254—a wonderful focus on the people and places surrounding Jano's work, which is tremendous counterpoint to the attention paid the work itself

Christie's International Motor Cars - Pebble Beach Auction Catalogue, 1999, Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, 1931 p.122-123

Zagato: The factory maintains an online database of their work.

Octane: Gone But Not Forgotten: Vittorio Jano, by Dale Drinnon, Issue 70, April 2009, p.108

Keith Martin's Sports Car Market: Offers sensible assessments of fine cars as they appear on the market.

 

 

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