Highlights
- Highly detailed 6C replica built over 3 years and completed in 2021
- Replica of one-off 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C MM built for Franco Cortese
- Hand-painted in Alfa Red just like the original
- Glass fibre composite body over aluminium bulkhead with integrated steel roll hoops
- Reliable Rover P4 engine and running gear with added electric power steering
- Registered correctly with DVLA as a Rover Cortese
- The vendor advises that the fibreglass moulds can be offered to the winning bidder for first refusal
The Appeal
If the title has confused you, let us explain. This remarkable car was built by the seller between 2016 and 2019 as a replica of the one-off 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C Mille Miglia built for Italian racing driver Franco Cortese. It is highly detailed and with original 6C MMs going for seven-figure sums, a fascinating way to channel some of that Milanese style.
The chassis and running gear are from a 1962 Rover P4 2.6L, but the work has been done so well that you would hardly know. It has even been hand-painted in red, just as the original was. This is the sort of car you could roll up to any show in and steal the crowd.
The Rover running gear means it is likely to be reliable and fairly easy to work on, while useful additions like power steering, electronic ignition and electric fuel pump improve drivability and durability. This car is a paean to those beautiful pre-war Alfas and a tribute to the seller’s enthusiasm and dedication. You won’t find another.
The vendor says:
“It is not a car for shy and retiring types and attracts interest everywhere. It is considerably lighter and more streamlined than the Rover P4, so it performs well. The bigger wheels mean it is slightly higher geared so cruising in overdrive is relaxed. It is important to remember, however, when cornering, that it is shod with skinny cross-ply tyres.”
History and Paperwork
- Registered as a 1962 Rover Cortese with the DVLA
- Built between 2016 and 2019 by the current owner
- Based on a Rover P4 donor vehicle
- DVLA documentation as shown
- Two page project summary shown in photos
- V5C
The vendor says:
“The story begins in 2016 by idly searching images on the internet for the most striking-looking car ever. The result was a 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C MM built as a one-off specially for the Italian racing driver Franco Cortese (He won his class in the 1938 Mille Miglia and the Italian sports car championship). I emailed a picture to my granddaughter, who replied "Why don't you build one?" So I did. The starting point was identifying a donor vehicle with a separate chassis, and the Rover P4 proved to be just the right size and had an appropriate straight-six engine. A body replica was then completed by the start of 2019.”
The Condition
- Well-detailed 6C MM replica in Alfa Red with hand-painted body like the original
- Glass fibre composite body over aluminium bulkhead and floor
- Bodywork and structure said to be in good condition
- Incorporates steel roll hoops for body stiffness and roll protection
- Hand coach-painted body looks smart from a distance but with light age up close
- Limited brightwork with some items such as bonnet catches showing some pitting
- Period Rover wire wheels (possibly 1930s) powder-coated and with matching spare
- Open-topped roadster design with no roof
- Tonneau consists of a removable body panel for the passenger seat and fabric cover for the driver's seat
- Black interior appears in reasonably good condition with bucket seats
- Rover Jaeger dials, twin aero screens and three-spoke vintage-style wheel
- Removable headrests provided for the seats
- Underside as shown in photos
The vendor says:
“The exterior of the car is a close replica of the original 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C MM. It is constructed from glass fibre composite over an aluminium bulkhead and floor. The glass fibre is in pretty good condition. The bodywork incorporates steel roll hoops, which provide significant body stiffness and roll protection. The exterior is hand-coated painted (as the original would have been). It looks stunning from three feet away but does not bear close examination. There is very little exposed brightwork on the car, but some items, such as the bonnet catches, are somewhat pitted. The car has Rover wire wheels (thirties?) that bolt directly to the P4 hubs. They have been powder-coated and look smart. The car is an open-topped roadster with no roof (like the original but is provided with a tonneau. This takes the form of a removable body panel over the passenger seat and a fabric cover over the driver's seat.
“The interior is in reasonably good condition. Headrests are provided for the seats if required. The instruments are essentially all from the Rover donor car and are in working condition. The transmission uses the Rover 4-speed gearbox together with original overdrive.”
The Mechanics
- Original Rover P4 2,625cc straight-six engine
- Four-speed manual Rover gearbox with original overdrive
- Engine starts well and runs smoothly we are told
- Electric power steering for easier low-speed manoeuvring
- Upgraded with electronic ignition and electronic fuel pump
- Front and rear shock absorbers recently replaced
- Fitted with period-correct skinny cross-ply tyres
- Slightly higher gearing from the larger wheels provides relaxed cruising in overdrive
The vendor says:
“Mechanically, the car is 100% Rover P4. The engine starts well and runs smoothly as it should. The long bonnet means that the steering column had to be extended, so advantage was taken to add electric power steering, which is useful during slow manoeuvring. Electronic ignition and an electronic fuel pump have been added. Front and rear shocks have recently been replaced.”
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