One to Buy: ex-works / Racing Team VDS 1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2
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After a disappointing debut campaign with the first generation Tipo 33 in 1967 during which the car showed a formidable turn of speed but poor reliability, Alfa Romeo commissioned Autodelta to come up with a thoroughly reworked machine for 1968.
That car was the appropriately title Tipo 33/2 which most notably featured a revised chassis, beefed-up suspension, a reconfigured cooling system and brand new bodywork.
Lighter, stiffer, stronger and more aerodynamic than its predecessor, the Tipo 33/2 went on to have a great year in the 1968 World Sportscar Championship. Highlights were second place overall and first in class at the Targa Florio, fourth overall and first in class at the Nubrurgring 1000km, fourth, fifth and sixth positions overall at the Le Mans 24 Hours and fifth, sixth and seventh positions overall at the Daytona 24 Hours (when the 33/2s were the first two-litre cars home).
Set to go under the hammer RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction scheduled for August 15th and 16th is a veteran of that successful 1968 season: chassis ‘015’.
Raced with a two-litre V8 by the works Autodelta outfit to sixth place overall at the Daytona 24 Hours (where it was the second two-litre Prototype across the line), ‘015’ was subsequently fitted with a 2.5-litre unit for the Targa Florio (DNF) and Nurburgring 1000km (seventh overall, fourth in class).
The car then passed to Racing Team VDS who continued to campaign it with much success before the car found its way to Angola where it was ultimately discovered many years later.
Since then, ‘015’ has been restored by ex-Autodelta mechanic Marcello Gambini who was careful to preserve the car’s remarkable originality and authenticity.For more information visit the RM Sotheby’s website at: https://rmsothebys.com/
