If you were on the hunt for a rapid little Italian sports car in the 1920s, something like this 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS would be right at the top of your wishlist. One of only 50 or so supercharger-equipped Super Sports models boasting a mighty 85bhp, this Alfa caught the eye of automotive legend David Brown (pictured above), who purchased the car around the end of 1932, well before he took ownership of Aston Martin Motor Cars. Whether it was the 1750’s outright victories at the 1929 and 1930 Mille Miglia, or its incredibly rare three seat configuration that caught his eye, we can’t say, but we can appreciate how beautiful this car’s James Young-built coachwork is.
Come 1933 and this Alfa was getting involved in some local racing, notably at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb in July of that year. David Brown is thought to have lent this car, VR 4659, to motoring personality J A M Patrick, who managed to achieve an impressive third in class finish. Following its brief competitive stint, this 6C would fall under the care of a number of different owners, unit it was purchased by Robin Toone in 1965. Dr. Toone clearly loved his Italian sports car and kept it in his collection for the next 50 years, competing extensively with it in VSCC events over the period.
In 2015, this Alfa was acquired by its current owner. It was in decent condition, but needed some restoration after fifty years of mostly competition use. A complete but sympathetic cosmetic restoration was undertaken, where the priority was to replace as little of the original structure as possible. This restoration revealed just how original VR 4659 remained and how lovingly it has been cared for over the years. As a final feather in its cap, in 2023 this Alfa was added to the Registro 1000 Miglia, meaning it is now eligible to take part in the official 1000 Miglia events. So, if you’re craving an analogue driving detox, this gorgeous 6C available with Brian Classic & Co is the remedy.
Period photos by Stuart Gibbard
