Automobile and Driver
• This Alfa Romeo is one of Trans-Am racing’s biggest heroes.
• Repainted in its authentic 1971 livery, this GTV won its ultimate race, only to be disqualified later on.
• The Provide a Trailer auction finishes on February 3.
Great racing tales are created on rivalries: Ford versus Ferrari, Hunt versus Lauda, Smokey Yunick compared to the NASCAR rulebook. Up for sale proper now on Provide a Trailer—which, like Automobile and Driver, is element of Hearst Autos—is one particular 50 percent of a duel that outlined compact-car or truck racing in the early 1970s. The 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 battled versus the Brock Racing Enterprises Datsun 510 to the bitter conclude, accomplishing a brief-lived victory after a fuel capacity technicality reversed the Alfa’s fortune.
The Sports Car or truck Club of America’s 2.5 Obstacle Sequence was fascinating if you have been a racer on a spending budget, not able to stretch to the likes of a V-8–powered Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang, or AMC Javelin. The 2.5 Obstacle cars and trucks ended up smaller and boxy–510s, Alfas, and BMWs–but the competitors was just as intense as in the ponycar discipline. If you liked modest, lightweight street cars, the 2.5 Challenge was the spot to be.
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Staring down a factory-backed Alfa Romeo staff, you could possibly envision Datsun as the scrappy underdog, but the BRE 510s experienced the enhancement funds driving them. With famed Nissan president Yutaka Katayama (a.k.a. Mr. K) cheering from the sidelines, and with Peter Brock’s team preparing the chassis and engines, the BRE 510s were hard to conquer.
This Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 was the racing device that Horst Kwech campaigned in the 1971 season. At the time, its 2.-liter inline-four manufactured 205 horsepower. Series restrictions meant the Alfa received a 200-pound penalty to provide it nearer to the BRE 510, but Alfa’s team positioned the ballast to reach a virtually perfect 48/52 pounds distribution.
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Donning 15-inch Minilite wheels wrapped in fats Hoosier tires, this common minimal Alfa is right away pleasing. The cockpit is very simple: three pedals, the important instrumentation, a 5-pace guide transmission, and a perfectly-worn leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Even though it may be light-weight on features, this auto is complete of stories. In 1971, Horst and his Alfa went back and forth with John Morton and his BRE 510, swapping wins like featherweight boxers exchange blows. The final race was held at Laguna Seca, with the countrywide title on the line. The are living-axle Alfa delivered a handful of oversteer adopted by understeer, even though the 510 was temperamental except if it was pushed with reckless abandon. Even with principles making an attempt to even the playing subject, the cars could not have pushed additional differently.
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In that ultimate round, Horst’s Alfa emerged triumphant. Nevertheless, suspicions were elevated when the Datsun hit the pits when the Alfa stayed out. Scrutineers descended and located that the GTV’s fuel method held two gallons far more than was authorized, and the trophy was handed to the Datsun workforce.
That season stays contentious with race fans even now, but additional than that, it continues to be unforgettable. A car with this amount of racing pedigree will come together very seldom. By alone, this Alfa is an intriguing and valuable classic racing equipment. The story–and the rivalry–just include to the enchantment.