Description
Chassis number '0312906' was ordered in rolling chassis form by the sole British Alfa agent, FW Stiles of Baker Street, London and fitted with a four-seat body by Carlton, in style reminiscent of a 'blower' Bentley. The design included a large fuel tank so that the car could take part in long distance races in England. The Alfa was sold to the enthusiastic and wealthy amateur driver from Leeds, Leonard Headlam, and was one of two that would take part in the inaugural 'Double Twelve' race at Brooklands (shared with 'Bentley Boy' JD Benjafield) on 10 and May 11, 1929. but was not finished on time. In its April 16, 1929 edition, The Motor had reported that the cars were on their way from Italy: 'The first of the two-litre Alfa Romeo cars to take part in British events arrived at the Alfa Romeo British Sales depot last week. ...the outstanding feature, which will be invaluable in endurance racing, is the fitment of a large fuel tank. This feature was very important when Giulio Ramponi won the Essex Motor Club 6-Hour Relay Race, as he only had to stop once to refuel. ' This article (copy of file) shows the tank and semi-folding front seat, which only survives in this example of the four surviving 1929 team cars.
When '0312906' was delivered to Headlam it arrived with a handsome lightweight touring car, complete with twin spare wheels either side of the scuttle, while Carlton also built up a sister car in the same way for Earl Howe. Because its engine capacity exceeded 1.500cc, the competition rules for the Tourist Trophy race, and also Le Mans, stipulated that it had to have four seats, this requirement being intended as a handicap for the larger cars.
The Alfa's debut was actually the BARC Six Hours race on 29 June at Brooklands (competitor number '23') in which Headlam shared it with his brother William, with Benjafield having acquired his own Alfa Romeo 1750 SS. The Headlams finished second behind Barnato/Dunfee's winning Bentley Speed Six, which had a capacity advantage of almost five litres, but ahead of Cook/Callingham's 4½-litre Bentley. The Headlam's class-winning average speed for the race was 70,22 mph, which compared very favorably to the much greater winner's 75,66 mph. Press releases from the race are available in the archive.
In July, the Alfa Romeo was entered in the first Irish International Grand Prix at Phoenix Park in Dublin (competitor number '19'), as part of the FW Stiles team representing the factory. After consistently running second, ahead of Benjafield, Headlam suffered steering problems. Ivanowski's works Alfa went on to win the race.
In August Headlam entered his Alfa in the International Tourist Trophy race at Ards. In addition to the factory-supported Alfas, this race attracted major European teams including Mercedes, OM, Bugatti Lagonda and Bentley. Competitor number '41', Headlam finished a creditable 14th overall (despite an unfavorable handicap for the 1.750cc cars) and first in class, winning the Royal Automobile Club Trophy. For this race, Headlam used an aerodynamic metal shroud, which fit over the lowered windscreen in place of the usual aero screens, and featured dual hoods for driver and mechanic. This is clearly seen in an action photo illustrating The Autocar's report on the race (copy on file). On October 4, Headlam raced the 1750 SS for the final time, in the 500 Miles at Brooklands. Co-driven by Leslie Callingham, the sole Alfa finished an incredible 4th place overall behind the Bentleys of Jack Barclay and Clive Dunfee, and John Cobb's V12 Sunbeam. The winner's average speed was over 107 mph, the fastest ever recorded for a race of that distance, while Headlam/Callingham averaged 96,74 mph. Taking pit stops into account, this means the Alfa must have been constantly cruising at over 160mph for much of the time. Despite its supercharged induction, this was a great achievement for a car with a capacity of less than 2 liters.
Chassis '0312906' was advertised by Headlam in Motor Sport in December 1929 with an asking price of £925. After Leonard Headlam was, sadly, killed in an unrelated road accident in early 1930, it was not until April 1931 that the car was sold by Alfa Romeo ( British Sales) was sold to an HA Ducksbury from Huddersfield (see Alfa Romeo correspondence in the file). The next owners were HW Preston of Washford, Somerset (1931-1935) and Arthur Shepherd (1936-1938), whose son confirmed that his father did indeed change the car's color from green to red.
In June 1950 the ex-Headlam Alfa was offered for sale by Simmons of Croydon (again in Motorsport). The text of this advertisement is interesting to read: 'This Alfa is in incredibly perfect new condition and the history is known. The engine was stripped and rebuilt 2000 miles. The chassis is 100 percent perfect in every possible way. To date, this is the most sublime vintage Alfa Romeo. The accompanying photos clearly show the registration 'VN 397' and the original bodywork which has been modified with the addition of a front apron, louvered panels covering the lower chassis and one of the spare wheel mountings removed. The original Lucas headlights, fitted for the 1929 Double Twelve and TT races, are clearly visible.
The identity of the buyer is unknown, but it is known that the Alfa was owned by a certain C Allen of Stockport in the early 1964s. Subsequent owners were collectors Peter Newens (1981-1981) and F Majzub (2005-2001), for whom Martin Chisholm Collectors Cars Ltd arranged the sale to the current seller (correspondence on file). Fortunately, Newens never got around to restoring the Alfa and while in the possession of the Majzub family it remained unused and preserved apart from light recommissioning around 0312906. The engine was then dismantled revealing the original factory number on the cylinder block. (indicating it had never been scraped off) and virtually no evidence of internal wear, while the castings retained their original hand-scraped finish. 'XNUMX' must be the most original of the remaining team cars. Indeed, the Carlton bodywork is the only known survivor of this particular style.
Between 2005 and 2007 the Alfa was sympathetically restored by Peter Shaw of Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire at a cost of approximately £60.000, returning the car to its original racing configuration and green livery (as found on the chassis) whilst retaining the original red leather of the interior.The refinishing itself was carried out in March 2009 by marque specialists Traction Seabert & Co of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, who also rebuilt the supercharger with new rotors. Other specialists involved included Jim Stokes Workshops, which provided a drive clutch for the crankshaft and supercharger; TA & JM Coburn of Blunsdon, Wiltshire (new double hood, hood bag and tonneau cover); and Star Engineering of Caerleon, Gwent (radiator rebuild). This painstaking renovation is detailed in correspondence, photographs and numerous invoices in the accompanying history file. The latter is particularly worth seeing, not only for the above accounts, but also for the extensive documentation, drawn from contemporary car magazines, documenting his illustrious racing career.
This unique, faithfully restored and truly exceptional Alfa Romeo 1750 SS, with Brooklands and international Grand Prix history, and eligible for all major historic motorsport events.
