1967 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33-2 Daytona Coupe for sale at Fiskens

1967 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33-2 Daytona Coupe

Seller's description

This sublime Alfa Tipo 33, chassis 019, represents a remarkable piece of the Italian racing giant’s competition history. One of three cars built for the two-litre class at the mighty 24 Hours of Daytona race, 019 was made by Autodelta, the Alfa Romeo works competition arm. It competed in the 1968 race, along with its two siblings, resulting in an impressive first, second and third place in class for Alfa Romeo.

A company with racing at the heart of its DNA, Alfa Romeo started its endeavours on track as early as 1911. It gradually grew a fearsome reputation for creating exceptional racing machines and the advent of the Tipo 33 was therefore an eagerly awaited development. Indeed one journalist at Road and Track Magazine wrote, ‘Only a return to racing by Daimler-Benz, or the entry into the lists by General Motors, could top as major international news the recent unveiling of an all-new Group 6 sports-racing car by Alfa Romeo…. Not since the Type 159 of 1951, the Grand Prix car in which Fangio won his first Championship…has Alfa built a completely special car for major race entries by a factory-backed team’ (August, 1967).

The pains that the Italian behemoth went to create the Tipo 33 can be testified by the unseasonably long gestation period required in taking this model from the drawing board to completion. Development started in 1964 and the public did not see the car until February 1967. The model went on to be hugely successful in the 1968 sports racing scene, notching up 15 overall victories and six class victories during the season.

The Tipo 33 housed a new V8 engine with a cubic capacity of 1995. The engine positioning, at the rear of the chassis, was something of a departure for Alfa, who had only once previously positioned the engine thus; on a car - the 512 - that was never raced and kept under wraps for a staggering twenty years after its completion in 1940. The Tipo 33 engine forms an integral unit with the six-speed gearbox and was capable, in period, of maximum speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour.

With independent rear axles, a chassis built on aeronautic design and a fibre glass body fitted as standard, the Tipo 33’s total gross weight was a tiny 580kg. In 1968, those cars that were picked by Autodelta to take the fight to Daytona, including 019, were fitted with a new coupé type body, as can be seen on this example today.

019, following its success in Daytona, remained in the USA and was sold to handy privateer, John Martino who entered the Alfa in the six-hour race at Watkins Glen, along with other local events. 019 passed through a number of owners in the States before being purchased in the eighties by renowned collector, Mr. Hayashi, to join his prestigious collection in Japan. The car remained in the collection for many years before being acquired by Mr. Kosaka, owner of the Abarth Gallery Museum near Mount Fuji, where the car was also proudly displayed.

In 2001, 019 was purchased by its previous owner who returned the car to the UK and set about a significant yet sympathetic restoration, carried out by marque specialist, Tim Samways, in order to fully prepare the car for the race track. Following completion of the restoration, the current owner has campaigned 019 at many prestigious historic events, including Le Mans Classic in 2004 and 2006. 019 now houses the optional 2.5 litre engine, and is still eligible to compete at all the best historic events. 019 is presented today with its long tail body; a shorter Targo Florio tailed body is also offered as part of the sale, along with its two litre engine. 019 is accompanied by an extensive written and pictorial history file and looks forward to returning to historic competition with its next lucky owner.

Contact Fiskens for more details.