After top notch engineer Vitorrio Jano designed the successful P2 Grand Prix racer, he turned to design a 'cheap light car with brilliant performance'. The new car was quite a departure from the earlier Alfa road cars, which all used big 'fours' and 'sixes'. First shown at the 1925 Milan Motorshow, it took another two years before the 6C 1500 would be available for the many eager customers. It was the start of a long range of Jano designed and highly successful Alfa Romeo sports cars.Like many of Jano's designs, the 6C 1500 was clean and simple, but highly effective. He believed that engines should look as good as they run, and his engines ran superbly. A six cylinder in-line engine, displacing just under 1.5 litres was installed in the 6C 1500 (hence the name). It was equipped with a single overhead camshaft driven by a shaft. A four cylinder gearbox was directly bolted on the engine.
The engine and gearbox were fitted in a steel frame, which was suspended by live axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs all around. It was available as a 2900 mm short wheelbase version and a 3100 mm long wheelbase version. The factory offered a number of four and six seater bodies as standard and a two seater spider was available upon request. Many of Italy's coachbuilders like Touring and Zagato also offered bodies for the lightweight and nimble chassis.
For competition use the 'Sport' version was launched in 1928. It was equipped with a double overhead camshaft version, which increased the power with 10 bhp to 54 bhp. Performance was further increased by adding a supercharger, increasing the power even further. With a supercharged 6C 1500, Alfa Romeo recorded the first of eleven victories in the Mille Miglia. The highest output of 84 bhp was achieved by the Super Sport Testafissa, which featured a block and head cast in-unit.
In 1929 the 6C 1500 was succeeded by the larger engined 6C 1750. Today very few of the around 1000 6C 1500s constructed and most of them are now equipped with the more powerful 1750 engine.
Featured is a rare Sport 6C 1500, equipped with the DOHC engine of which just 171 were constructed. Although they were mainly intended for racing use, road versions like the one pictured were also built. In immaculate original condition, this frequently driven 6C 1500 Sport is seen here in the paddock of the 2004 Le Mans Classic.
General specifications
Country of origin Italy
Years of production 1928 - 1929
Numbers built 171 (all versions)
Body design Castagna
Weight 960 kilo / 2116.4 lbs
Drivetrain
Engine Straight 6
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Displacement 1.487 liter / 90.7 cu in
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Zenith 30 D2 Carburetor
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Gearbox 4 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive
Performance figures
Power 54 bhp / 40 KW @ 4400 rpm
Torque N/A
BHP/Liter 36 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.06 bhp / kg
Top Speed 130 km/h / 81 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration N/A
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