The Dowsetts Tipo 184 was created as a carefully judged homage to the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/159 ‘Alfetta’—one of the most evocative Grand Prix cars of the post-war era. Rather than trying to be a replica in the strictest sense, it captures much of the original’s visual drama and single-seat theatre while using more accessible, modern mechanical components.
 
The Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 and 159 occupy an important place in motor racing history, with the ‘Alfetta’ enjoying remarkable success in period and famously carrying Juan Manuel Fangio to the 1951 World Championship. Real examples are now effectively out of reach for most collectors, making the Dowsetts Tipo 184 an appealing alternative for those drawn to the look and spectacle of early Grand Prix machinery.
 
Conceived by TV presenter Ant Anstead and engineer Darren Collins, the Tipo 184 is built around a Mazda MX-5 NB running gear, chosen for its mechanical simplicity, reliability and enjoyable driving characteristics. With a free-revving 1.8-litre engine and a quoted kerb weight of 750kg, the result promises lively performance in a package that should feel direct, light and highly involving.
 
This example has been built with great care, with details like its deliberately traditional wheel design helping to preserve the car’s pre-war and early post-war racing aesthetic without drawing undue attention to its more modern underpinnings.
 
Newly completed and configured for track use, this Tipo 184 would require IVA approval before being registered for the road. As it stands, it offers an exciting chance for an enthusiast seeking a distinctive, competition-inspired machine for track days, events or display—combining classic Grand Prix presence with familiar, easily maintained Mazda-based mechanicals.
 

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