The most fascinating and successful representative of the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 series was the Gran Sport from 1930. One such gem of automotive history is on display in the Alfa Romeo Museum Storico in Arese, Italy, and served as the model for a superlative CMC high-end model.
A super classic
The most fascinating and successful of the 6C 1750s that underpinned the sporting myth of the Alfa Romeo brand in the early 1930s was the Gran Sport, so named in 1930 to distinguish it from the supercharged Super Sport of the previous year.
In the 1930s, Alfa Romeo did not yet produce its own bodies but, as in the case of the 1750 GS, sourced the bodywork from coachbuilder Zagato. As it turned out, this was a good choice, because Zagato had once again done a great job with its unmistakable design language.
The four-meter-long car had two spare wheels, which were housed in a rear recess. An emergency textile soft top provided some protection from the rain in bad weather.
The red and removable plastic covers over the headlights were a striking distinguishing feature, which were intended to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle and probably also to protect the lamps.
Jano's six-cylinder engine
The Gran Sport is powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine developed by Alfa Romeo's ingenious chief designer, Vittorio Jano. With its Roots supercharger and the double flat-flow carburetor from Memini, the 6C 1750 GS produced an impressive 85 hp at 4500 rpm. A number of factory racing cars even had welded cylinder heads (testa fissa) and were able to produce an impressive 102 hp at 5000 rpm.
With this outstanding power output, whether 85 or 102 hp, combined with the low vehicle weight of 920 kg and a wheelbase shortening to 2745 mm, which radically changed the handling of the GS for the better, the Gran Sport became the most famous Alfa Romeo of the time.
Victorious
Numerous important victories throughout Europe, such as at the Mille Miglia in 1930 and 1931 or in the rain race for the Irish Tourist Trophy, to name but a few, made it a dominator of the racing era of the time. The 6C 1750 GS was only too weak for the rigors of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Noble model in 1:18 scale
The CMC company is now producing a model (M-138) of the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Grand Sport from 1930.
It has parts made of copper, plastic and leather and is finished with photo-etched parts. It can be ordered in the color red (as in the Arese museum), later a Nuvolari-MM version and a version without paint will be released.
More information about the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS from 1930 and the model from CMC can be found on the modelcar.de website, where the model car can also be ordered/purchased online.
