A 1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder that competed in the Mille Miglia and was once owned by Benito Mussolini will be auctioned by H&H at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse on February 27, 2008. Of historical importance, the stunning dark red two-seater carries an estimate of £600,000–800,000.
Chassis 700635, clothed in striking coachwork by Carozzeria Touring, was built to the special order of Benito Mussolini. Before delivery he had it modified with a dickey seat and an engine that was specially tuned to deliver 95 bhp rather than the 68 bhp of the standard model.
The car was driven in the 1936 Mille Miglia by Ercole Boratto—an ex-Alfa Romeo test driver who was Mussolini’s chauffeur at the time. The car finished 13th overall and 3rd in class. Mussolini retained the car until 1939, since when it has only had three owners, the latest of which had it restored by Dino Cognolato to a standard good enough to achieve 2nd in class in the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours and victory in the New York Concours meeting of the same year.
This “matching numbers” car of enormous historical interest even retains traces of the partial alcohol-fuelling system it is believed to have operated during the Mille Miglia, when the fascist regime was promoting the use of alternative fuels in the face of stringent petrol sanctions!
In addition, H&H will be auctioning a pair of ex-Paddy Hopkirk Works Minis. The first is a 1964 Morris Mini Cooper S “CRX 90B” and was the prototype for the hydrolastic rally Minis and contested the 1964 RAC Rally in the hands of Hopkirk and Henry Liddon. It was then used by BMC stalwarts Don and Erle Morley in the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. It remained with the BMC Competition Department until 1968, when it was purchased by Works codriver Paul Easter. It subsequently passed through several hands before being fully restored and finishing 2nd to Hopkirk’s AJB 44B on the RAC Golden 50 Rally of 1982. Estimate: £40,000–50,000.
The second is a 1967 Morris Mini Cooper S “OBL 45F” and began and ended its Works career as a circuit racer. First driven in anger by John Handley at Brands Hatch in 1969, it went on to contest the Tour de France that year in the hands of Paddy Hopkirk and Tony Nash, winning its class. The car passed into private ownership when the Competition Department was wound up. Following a lengthy restoration, it is now offered as seen at Brands Hatch nearly 40 years ago. Estimate: £30,000–40,000.
For further details visit www.handh.co.uk or call 01925 730630.
