The historical re-enactment of the Mille Miglia will be held from 19 to 22 May. This is the race famously defined by Enzo Ferrari as “the most beautiful travelling museum in the world”. Now in its 34th edition, the event will welcome several rare classic Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo vehicles from the FCA Heritage collection, the new structure that coordinates all the company’s activities in the world of classic motoring. In line with tradition, this old-fashioned race - of which Alfa Romeo is the “Automotive Sponsor” - will start and end in Brescia, having travelled through some of the most striking locations in Italy, with the turning point in Rome.
These rare vehicles will be accompanied by the latest new FCA models, confirming that eternal link between the icons of the past and the vehicles currently produced by the group. In particular, the new Giulia, will have the honour of setting the pace. This model is the Alfa Romeo brand’s most exciting innovation this year, presented to the international press over the last few days. Finally the organisers of the race in Brescia can rely on a fleet of the New Giulietta, the recently redesigned Alfa Romeo model that presents a strong family feeling with the new Giulia.
The mythical “Freccia Rossa” itinerary once again sets the stage for the 6C 1750 Gran Sport from 1930, the 1900 Sport Spider from 1954 and the 1900 Super Sprint from 1956. Just three superb cars from the Alfa Romeo Historic Museum, chosen to travel the roads where the real competitive Mille Miglia race used to take place (from 1927 to 1957), won by the Brand's cars no less than eleven times: a record that can never be beaten.
All eyes will especially be on the 6C 1750 Gran Sport, the legendary model in which Tazio Nuvolari and Giovanni Battista Guidotti won the Brescia-based race in 1930. As well as the famous "overtaking in the dark" episode, that edition also saw Nuvolari achieve the unprecedented feat of averaging 100 km/h over the entire course. The bodywork was created by Milan atelier Zagato, and still draws gasps of admiration from those lucky enough to see it today.
Also taking part this year, the 1900 Sport Spider of 1954 produced in just two units. Equipped with the 4-cylinder twin-cam dry sump "1900" engine, developing power up to 138 HP, this racing roadster reaches speeds of 220 km/h, thanks to a weight of just 880 kg and particularly efficient aerodynamics. With its beautiful Bertone design, the 1900 Sport Spider comes with a 5-speed transmission and a De Dion rear axle: performance and driveability worthy of a modern car, reactive and reliable, with outstanding road-holding abilities.
Joining them on the 2016 Mille Miglia racing roads is the 1900 Super Sprint from 1956, an elegant coupé with Touring bodywork in a "gran tourism" version of the 1900, the model that became famous in the 1950s for its advertising claim "the family car that wins races". The 1900 SS is no newcomer to the Brescia-based event, since in the 1950s, when the competitive race was still held, it was chosen by many "private" drivers, on account of its superb performance and reliability.
In other words, three extremely rare cars which proudly represent the exquisite collection housed in the renovated Alfa Romeo Historic Museum in Arese, known as "La macchina del tempo". Its spacious rooms display the 69 models which have most sumptuously marked the evolution not only of this brand, but also of the history of the motorcar: from the first model, built by the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, the 24 HP, to the P2 thanks to which Alfa Romeo won the first Automobile World Championship in 1925; from legendary winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, like the 8C 2300, to the Grand Prix Alfetta 159 with which Juan Manuel Fangio won the Formula 1 Championship in 1951, and on down to sporting glories such as the 33 TT 12 of the 1970s and the 155, which won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1993.
Info and opening hours at www.museoalfaromeo.com.
