Alfa Romeo Engined 'bitsarrini'
Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:48 am
A quick introduction: my name is David from Somerset.
Alfa Romeo engined ‘bitsarrini’
(so named because it's 'a bit of this and a bit of that!')
I have always dreamed of a “proper” sports car (one that guarantees wind in the hair and flies in the teeth motoring!). My ‘ultimate’ car is the 1936 Mille Miglia winning 8c Alfa Romeo 2900A.
The idea of a two seater GP car being driven on ‘real’ roads appeals to me but as I don’t have the necessary £20 million to buy an original 8c 2900A, I’ve tried to make my own interpretation – a tribute to one of history’s greats. Whilst it’s not an original Alfa Romeo racing car, neither is it a replica nor a kit car but a one off evocation.
Back in 1989 a company called Classic Specials did a brilliant job of constructing a bespoke chassis utilising MGB mechanics and a Lenham Healey bodyshell. Unfortunately, in 1999, at the Castle Combe Classic Action Day I 'blew' the engine.
This turned out to be a turning point. I mean, at some point – surely - all us car enthusiasts must have dreamed about designing our own car??? But amongst all the dreamers are us fantasists; a very small, deluded, minority who actually believe that we can engineer a car as well as Vittorio Jano or Enzo Ferrari… and some of us actually put our spanners where our mouths are! Utilising the MG-Lenham chassis and Lenham Healey rear bodywork I replaced the MG engine/gearbox with that of a 1969 AR 1750 GTV. I then constructed a buck from the aeroscreens forward and used this to make a mould and from that a moulding. Although my bodywork is in no way accurate I hope it reflects the spirit of the original. Was it worthwhile? Yes. Finished just in time for my birthday a few years’ back it was a wonderful present – even if I did pay for it myself!
My cars first run: doing a ‘lap of honour’ down Bath’s main shopping street, 30 affluent looking, elderly Italians spilled over the road, blocking all the traffic pulling out cameras waving, clapping & cheering: “Bello!”, “Magnifico!”, “Sontuoso!”. Three of them (all old boys in their 70’s) got down on their knees, in the middle of a busy shopping street and mock worshiped me (well the car!). I think I made their day, they certainly made mine!
Alfa Romeo engined ‘bitsarrini’
(so named because it's 'a bit of this and a bit of that!')
I have always dreamed of a “proper” sports car (one that guarantees wind in the hair and flies in the teeth motoring!). My ‘ultimate’ car is the 1936 Mille Miglia winning 8c Alfa Romeo 2900A.
The idea of a two seater GP car being driven on ‘real’ roads appeals to me but as I don’t have the necessary £20 million to buy an original 8c 2900A, I’ve tried to make my own interpretation – a tribute to one of history’s greats. Whilst it’s not an original Alfa Romeo racing car, neither is it a replica nor a kit car but a one off evocation.
Back in 1989 a company called Classic Specials did a brilliant job of constructing a bespoke chassis utilising MGB mechanics and a Lenham Healey bodyshell. Unfortunately, in 1999, at the Castle Combe Classic Action Day I 'blew' the engine.
This turned out to be a turning point. I mean, at some point – surely - all us car enthusiasts must have dreamed about designing our own car??? But amongst all the dreamers are us fantasists; a very small, deluded, minority who actually believe that we can engineer a car as well as Vittorio Jano or Enzo Ferrari… and some of us actually put our spanners where our mouths are! Utilising the MG-Lenham chassis and Lenham Healey rear bodywork I replaced the MG engine/gearbox with that of a 1969 AR 1750 GTV. I then constructed a buck from the aeroscreens forward and used this to make a mould and from that a moulding. Although my bodywork is in no way accurate I hope it reflects the spirit of the original. Was it worthwhile? Yes. Finished just in time for my birthday a few years’ back it was a wonderful present – even if I did pay for it myself!
My cars first run: doing a ‘lap of honour’ down Bath’s main shopping street, 30 affluent looking, elderly Italians spilled over the road, blocking all the traffic pulling out cameras waving, clapping & cheering: “Bello!”, “Magnifico!”, “Sontuoso!”. Three of them (all old boys in their 70’s) got down on their knees, in the middle of a busy shopping street and mock worshiped me (well the car!). I think I made their day, they certainly made mine!
