One to Buy: ex-works 1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/TT/3 (SOLD)
When Alfa Romeo decided to return to top flight Sports car racing in 1967, they did so with the Autodelta-designed and built Tipo 33 which was initially powered by a diminutive two-litre V8 created specifically for the task.
The uprated Tipo 33/2 followed for 1968 which was in turn followed by the three-litre Tipo 33/3 in 1969. At this point, Alfa Romeo moved into the premier engine category against Porsche’s 908/02 and Ferrari’s 312 P (a three-litre limit for Group 6 Prototypes had been imposed since the beginning of ‘68).
However, a spanner was about to be thrown in the works as the 1970 and ‘71 seasons went on to be dominated by the big five-litre Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512 S which contested the Group 5 class for which the FIA had reduced the homologation requirement from 50 to 25 cars.
Meanwhile, Alfa stuck with their three-litre machine which by 1971 was arguably as good as anything else in the Group 6 class. During the course of that ‘71 season (which would be the last for the big five-litre Group 5 cars), Alfa trialled a new Tipo 33/TT/3 at a handful of events; the TT moniker denoted a new tubular chassis (Teliaio Tubolare).
The Tipo 33/TT/3 really came into its own for the 1972 season when the 917 and 512 S were outlawed. Against Ferrari’s 312 PB (and to a lesser extent Matra), Alfa Romeo had an epic season-long battle that, despite no wins, yielded second place in the World Championship.
Currently on offer at the William I’Anson showroom in Gloucestershire is this sensational survivor from that ‘72 campaign. Most famously it was driven by Andrea de Adamich and Nino Vaccarella to a fourth place finish at that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
Reprinted below is William I’Anson’s description for this most significant Alfa Romeo sports prototype:
Tipo 33/TT/3
Following suit of their competitors Porsche and Ferrari, Autodelta introduced a space frame car midway through the 1971 season. Named the T33/TT/3, the TT standing for ‘Telaio Tubulare’, the all new steel tubed car replaced the now outdated aluminium skinned tub design of the T33/3. The engine was uprated with a redesign of the cylinder heads. The high revving 4-valve engine now produced 440 bhp at 9,800 rpm and was producing the same power as Ferrari’s heavier 12 cylinder unit.
Fitted with a new a new 5 speed gearbox the wheelbase was increased and newly designed full safety tanks were fitted. Again built in spider form, it initially weighed in at 600kg and had to be ballasted to meet the 650kg requirements.
Only really used in testing during the remainder of the 1971 season it was not until 1972 that the TT/3 started to come into its own with podiums at the Daytona 6 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, Brands Hatch 1000km, Nurburgring 1000km, a 2nd and 3rd in the Targa Florio and an impressive 4th overall for this car at the ultimate race, Le Mans 24 Hours.
This car: AR 11572 010
Built by Autodelta for the Alfa Romeo Works Team in 1972 and used during the 1972 and 1973 World Sports Car Championship seasons. Described as being confirmed by Stefano d’Amico, the president of Alfa Romeo Registro Storico, to be the car assigned to works driver Andrea De Adamich for the 1972 season.
On 10th of June 010 lined up as part a three car team for the most important race in the Sportscar calendar the 24 hours of Le Mans. With Vic Elford and Helmut Marko carrying race no.17, Rolf Stommelen and Nino Galli with race number 19 and as confirmed in the copy of the Le Mans entry form in the history file, Andrea De Adamich and Nino Vaccarella in this car, carrying race number 18 and identified by a white nose band.
All three cars ran in low downforce rear wing format apparently allowing them to rev an extra 700rpm on the straights. While the Matras lead the way, the Autodelta team showed well in qualifying with Stommelen and Galli qualifying 4th, Elford and Marko 6th and De Adamich and Vaccarella 7th with a time of 3 minuites and 52.6 seconds. Apparently both Helmut Marko and renowned Autodelta test driver Teodoro Zeccoli both also drove 010 in the early practice sessions.
Confident of a home victory the race was started by French president George Pompidou. Matra did not disappoint closing the first lap in 1-2-3 positions. Soon after Jo Bonnier took over the lead in his Lola T280. Extending his lead until the first round of pit stops where Matra regained control followed by tow of the Alfas of Stommelen in 3rd and De Adamich in 010 in 5th.
Following the second round of pit stops Galli in No. 19 actually led the race for a few laps before having to pit with a fuel pump problem. At midnight the two Matra were in the lead with the three Alfa Romeo’s holding the next three positions. Sadly in the thick mist of dawn two of the Alfa suffered clutch problems, the Elford / Marko car and this car. Vaccarella and 010 were forced to spend an hour in the pits while the team replaced the clutch. Later in the race 010 was also back in the pits for new brake discs.
By noon on Sunday the Matra were still leading and 010 was in an intense battle for 5th place with the Duckham’s LM of Chris Craft and Alan De Cadenent, when rain hit the circuit and both cars spun off by the Dunlop Bridge. De Adamich was back on track after 20 minutes with a replacement nose (now all red) and went on to bring 010 home an impressive 4th overall behind the two Matra and the Porsche 908 and having covered 307 laps. Sadly this was to be the Alfa Romeo factory teams last ever finish to date at Le Mans.
010 remained with Autodelta until the winter of 1973/74 when it was bought by well known English racer Martin Morris. Well like and much missed Martin was famous for racing his ex-Works D and Ecurie Ecosse C Type Jaguars as well as his much loved E.R.A, Humphrey.
The deal with Autodelta was negotiated by his close friend Richard Pilkington who also bought a Tipo 33/3 at the same time. In true Martin style he drove to Italy through the snow, with a trailer to collect his new car along with a variety of spares. Nicknaming 010 Groundhog, he raced 010 in 1976 and 1977, taking 2nd overall at the AMOC Brands hatch meeting in 1976.
In 1977 Martin sold 010 to the manager of the Pink Floyd, Steve O’Rourke. Not just an avid racer and collector of historic cars Steve took on the Le Mans 24 hours a staggering 8 times between 1979 and 1998, finishing an impressive 12th overall on his first attempt driving his own Ferrari 512 BBLM and 4th overall in a McLaren GTR in 1998. In 1980, he flew to London halfway through the race to oversee a Pink Floyd concert, before returning to see the 512 BBLM to the finish.
010 remained in Steve’s ownership until 1986 when it entered the famous Hayashi collection in Japan. In 1995 ownership passed to Mr. Yamaguchi and in 1998 to Takeshi Fujita. Around this time the engine was fully rebuilt by former a former Autodelta chief mechanic.
In 1999 010 returned to Europe passing through respected dealer Jean Guikas in France to Mr. Dubochet. In 2002, Dubochet sold 010 back to Guikas, who in 2006 had the engine, suspension and brakes rebuilt before entering the car into the 2011 RM London Auction where it was purchased by Californian collector Peter Read.
During Mr. Read’s ownership 010 was maintained by international renown race preparation specialist Tim Samways. The car was completely stripped and prepared of racing, with a new wiring loom, fuel cells and suspension fitted. The brakes were overhauled and all of the relevant parts were crack tested. 010 returned to the tack in July 2012 in the hands of Peter Read and Brian Redman, competing in Plateau 5 at the Le Mans Classic. Three month later on the 5th to the 7th of October 2012 010 was back on track, driven by Peter Read at the Peter Auto Paul Ricard meeting.
On the 4th of April 2013, 010 was sold to avid racer and German collector Alexander Rittweger. Joining a Tipo 33/2 and the Tipo 33/TT/12 we have the pleasure of offering for sale, in his collection, he continued to have Tim Samways maintain the car.
After a test at Ascari in Spain 010 was back on track on the 10-12 of July 2015 at the Peter Auto meeting in Monza. In February 2017 the engine and gearbox were rebuilt by Tim Samways and his team. On the 17th and 18th of March 010 was demonstrated at the Goodwood Members Meeting driven by Sam Hancock. On the 15th of October 010 was taken along with Mr. Rittweger’s T33/2 and T33TT12 to a very special private event at the Autodelta test track at Balocco in Italy where it was driven by Derek Bell, Arturo Merzario, Nino Vaccaerlla and Sam Hancock for a film and photo shoot.
A week later, 010 was raced by Sam Hancock and Derek Bell at Peter Auto’s Paul Ricard meeting. The engine was checked and run on the dyno in early 2018 and was raced at the 2018 Le Mans Classic, again in Plateau 5. Following Le Mans 010 returned to Tim Samways where the car was thoroughly inspected and prepared. The engine was refreshed with new valves, springs, spring tops and big end bolts.
Sold to the current owner in 2019, it has seen little use having been prepared and maintained by Pearsons Engineering.
Having the opportunity to handle and offer for sale a car that ran at Le Mans in period is a privilege, let alone such an important and strong contender as this car. A significant piece of Alfa Romeo and international sportscar racing history. Whether to race or to form part of your collection, 010 offers a rare opportunity to acquire a world class example of arguable the most exciting era of sports car racing of all time. With Peter Auto and events like Goodwood and Le Mans Classic continuing to go from strength to strength, this is your chance to get out there and put 010 through its paces once more.
