Beschreibung:

In motor racing legend, few names rank higher than that of Enzo Ferrari, the former racing driver and mechanic who, after establishing himself as sole dealer for the Alfa Romeo marque in the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy, at the end of 1929 joined with three wealthy motor racing enthusiasts, plus Alfa Romeo and Pirelli, to establish a racing stable “to buy, race and perhaps someday build, high-performance cars”. The first race in which the Scuderia Ferrari competed was the 1930 Mille Miglia, the fourth running of the classic endurance event, for which a team of three Alfa Romeos was entered, driven by Ferrari’s partners Alfredo Caniato and Mario Tadini and the political activist and amateur racing driver Luigi Scarfiotti, at the wheel of the car offered here, 6C1750 GS chassis 8513033. Scarfiotti, a Deputy in the Italian parliament, had, it seems, wanted a car that was distinctive, elegant and sporty, and could be used not only for racing but also driven in local political parades. His choice fell on the new supercharged twin-cam GS (Gran Sport) version of the 1750cc version of the Fourth Series of the 6C Alfa Romeo designed by the gifted Vittorio Jano, which had been launched at the 1929 Rome Automobile Show. It was the latest iteration of Jano’s 6C series first seen in prototype (and much tamer) single-cam form at the 1925 Salone di Milano. For 1930 the 6C1750 was available in three versions, according to Alfa Romeo production figures quoted in Angela Cherrett’s authoritative book Alfa Romeo Tipo 6C; the naturally-aspirated 3rd series Turismo with a single overhead camshaft, the 2nd and 3rd series twin-cam Super Sport available with or without a supercharger and the 4th series supercharged Gran Sport. Both supercharged models had Alfa-built twin-lobe Roots-type blowers, the main difference between the Super Sport and the Gran Sport being the supercharger installation: the Super Sport had a smaller, geared-up supercharger, while that on the Gran Sport was driven at engine speed, which eliminated the high-pitched supercharger whine emitted by the SS. Power output of the GS was quoted as 102hp at 5000rpm, and the car was built on the short 1.745m/ 9ft wheelbase, with the engine set back some 15 inches in the frame and a distinctive sloping radiator. Alfa Romeo production figures quoted by Angela Cherrett give a total of between 206 and 213 cars for the combined production of the 4th and 5th Series 6C1500 and 6C1750 Gran Sport, for both the SS and the GS were produced in the smaller capacity for specific racing classes. Supplied by Enzo Ferrari’s agency, Luigi Scarfiotti’s car – first registered on 1 April 1930 with the local Macerata provincial index “MC 2012” – still carries the “Concessionaria Emilia Romagna-Marche – Cav. Enzo Ferrari - Scuderia Ferrari” plaque on its dashboard. Its declared value at registration was the significant sum of Lire 70,000 – approximately $4200 at the then rate of exchange – and its two-seater body was built by Zagato. Recalled Scarfiotti 40 years later: ”I confirm that the body is by Zagato; as Scuderia Ferrari, we asked him for a lightweight body for the Mille Miglia.” And, indeed, the image of the Madonna of Loreto on the badge on this car’s steering wheel might well be a subtle reference to Ugo Zagato’s old nickname of “el gagà de Loret” (“the dandy from Loreto”) from the days when, as a young man, he lived near the Piazzale Loreto in Milan and dressed in the latest of fashions. Ugo Zagato, who had learned his trade in the old-established “Varesina” coachworks of Cesare Belli in Milan, had set up on his own account after the Great war, using the skills that he had acquired while building fighter aircraft for the Italian Air Force to create automobile bodies that were as light as they were beautiful. Among his appreciative customers was the newly-elected leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini, who expressed his “highest compliments” for the “magnificent motor with the very best coachwor