One to Buy: ex-works 1995 Alfa Romeo 155 V6 Ti Class 1
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For 1993, organisers of the DTM elected to adopt arguably the most radical regularity framework for production-based machinery since the Group 5 Silhouette era. Dubbed Class 1, the new rules enabled manufacturers to create cars that bore a passing resemblance to their production counterparts, but which underneath were little more than out-and-out prototypes.
Because BMW did not have a suitable power unit, the Bavarian firm sat on the sidelines which meant the ‘93 season became a three-way battle between Mercedes-Benz, Opel and Alfa Romeo.
Driving a works 155 V6 Ti for Alfa Corse, Nicola Larini was ultimately crowned ‘93 DTM champion following a record haul of ten wins from the season’s 20 points-scoring races.
However, the following year, when Mercedes debuted its brand new C-class, Alfa Romeo was de-throned and the best its top two drivers Larini and Alessandro Nannini could manage was third and fourth in the final standings.
For the 1995 DTM, Alfa Romeo ran a further uprated 155 which now appeared in a spectacular Martini colour scheme. Larini and Nannini were once again paired together in the premier Alfa Corse cars, driving chassis SE062-007 and SE062-004 respectively.
On April 24th, that very car piloted by Alessandro Nannini throughout the 1995 DTM season will be going under the hammer at Bonhams’ sale in Monaco.
Unfortunately, despite the 155’s undoubted pace, Alfa Romeo’s 1995 DTM campaign was blighted by a plethora of mechanical issues. Nannini’s best results were a brace of third places (at the high speed Avus and Norisring circuits), but just three other points-scoring top ten finishes meant he ended the year a disappointing ninth in the final standings.
Today, this extraordinary ex-works Class 1 Alfa Romeo is unusual as its remains in complete, period specification. Acquired by the supplying vendor in 2014, at which point it joined a collection of significant Touring Cars, chassis SE062-004 is being offered in superb condition throughout.
