Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sports Two Seater

After engineer higher Vitorrio Jano of notch designed the successful large runner of P2 Prix, it turned to design “a cheap light car with the brilliant execution”. The new car was completely a departure with the cars earlier of road of Esparto, than all used large “furnaces” and “sixes”. Initially shown in Milan 1925 Motorshow, it took still the two years before the 6C 1500 would be available for the many eager customers. It was the beginning of a long chain of the sports cars designed and strongly successful of Jano d' Alfa Romeo.

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 speed 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 are left of the around 1000 6C 1500s constructed and most of them are now equipped with the more powerful 1750 engine.

Featured is a 6C 1500, fitted with an open body built by Alfa Romeo along the lines of a Zagato design. It is seen here at Christie's 2005 Retromobile Auction, where it changed hands for just over $150,000.

General specifications
Country of origin Italy
Years of production 1927 - 1929
Introduced at 1925 Milan Motorshow
Numbers built 862 (all versions)
Body design Alfa Romeo inspired by Zagato
Weight 1000 kilo / 2204.6 lbs

Drivetrain
Engine Straight 6
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Displacement 1.487 liter / 90.7 cu in
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, SOHC
Fuel feed Zenith 30 D2 Carburetor
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Gearbox 4 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive

Performance figures
Power 44 bhp / 33 KW @ 4200 rpm
Torque N/A
BHP/Liter 30 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.04 bhp / kg
Top Speed 110 km/h / 68 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration N/A