1974 Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12 Spider

At the end of the 1953 season, Alfa Romeo withdrew from top-class international competition, returning in the early 1960s with Auto-Delta, a competitions department under the direction of Ing. Carlo Chiti. The team officially became a department of Alfa Romeo on March 5th of 1963, and in 1964, it officially became Autodelta SpA.
Initially, Autodelta modified production cars and racing specials that were based on production components. In 1967, Alfa Romeo and Autodelta jointly developed a bespoke sports-racer name the Tipo 33. Over the course of the succeeding decade, the Tipo 33 would persist even though it came with a variety of engines and methods of chassis construction.

Initially, the Tipo 33 employed a 2.0-liter V8 installed in a tubular chassis, progressing via a 3.0-litre V8 in a monocoque, before ending its career with a 3.0-litre flat-twelve in another spaceframe. Success was elusive during its inaugural season, with its best finish being a 5th place at the Nürburgring 1,000km. 1968 was more fruitful thanks to improved reliability, with the T33B-2 earning a 1, 2, 3 finish in the 2-Liter Prototype class at Daytona, followed by a class victory in the Targa Florio, Nürburgring 1,000km and at Le Mans.

The 2.0-liter version of the T33/2 was competitive in its class but seldomly challenged for outright victory. This was resolved when Alfa Romeo introduced its 3.0-liter T33/3, which initially suffered from reliability issues. Once the 'bugs' were worked out, it showed promise by the end of the 1970 season. The first outright victory for the T33/3 was in 1971, in the BOAC 1,000km at Brands Hatch (Pescarolo/De Adamich) and the Targa Florio (Vaccarella/Hezemans). The T33/3 excelled on the short, twisty tracks but on most circuits, it was outpaced by the 5.0-liter Porsche 917.

1972 ushered in new rules for sports prototypes which limited displacement to 3.0-liters, which meant the T33/3 was ideally positioned to secure its first World Championship. However, top honors would go to Ferrari's 312PB, with the Alfa once again settling for 2nd.

Alfa Romeo briefly retired in 1973, returning a year later with the flat-twelve-engined Tipo 33 TT 12. Mario Andretti and Arturo Merzario led an Alfa Romeo 1, 2, 3 finish at the season opener at Monza. At the end of the year, Matra had secured the World Championship, but Alfa Romeo was close behind. During the following season, the Tipo 33 TT 12 was victorious at Dijon, Monza, Spa, Watkins Glen, the Osterreichring, the Nürburgring and the Targa Florio, winning the 1975 World Championship.

This Particular Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12 made its racing debut at the 1000kms of Monza on April 25, 1974, where it was driven by Jacky Ickx and Rolf Stommelen to second place. The following month, on May 19th, it placed second at the 1000kms of the Nürburgring where it was driven by Stommelen and Reutemann. Two weeks later at Imola, it was driven by Stommelen and Reutemann to another 2nd place finish. At the Osterreichring on June 30, the car failed to finish.

This car, along with a second Alfa, was flown to Watkins Glen to contest the 6 hours and Can Am race on the weekend of July 13/14. Unfortunately, the car crashed during practice and was unable to race.

For the 1975 season, this Alfa race in the Targa Florio with Casoni and Dini in July but failed to finish for Autodelta.

At the end of the season, it is believed that this car was gifted to Jacky Ickx. In the early 1980s, it was traded into the collection of Jacques Setton, in France. When Mr. Setton began to disperse his collection, the cars were selectively sold through dealers, this example being entrusted to London house, Gregor Fisken. It was there that the current owner acquired the car in 2005.

This Alfa is powered by a 2,995cc DOHC flat 12-cylinder engine with Lucas Fuel injection and develops 500 horsepower at 11,000 RPM. There is a five-speed manual transaxle, an independent suspension system, and four-wheel ventilated disc brakes.

This Alfa Romeo has been in the care of its current owner for 17 years before being offered for sale at Bonham's Quail auction in 2022.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022