1934 Alfa Romeo 6C2300A Pescara

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The car, Engine/Chassis Number 700.610 is of the 7th series (1934-1935 Alfa Romeo production numbers 700.101 through 700.635) has a "cart" sprung chassis. There are no other numbers located to date other than on the steering box and a weld beaded number on the differential case. The engine has two side draft Solex carbs.

"A plaque embedded in the glovebox under tar and mastic I found to be signed by "Barney Oldfield" and indicating clocked at 135 mph at the Salt Flats in Utah. While it is believed that my car could not do 135 mph without aviation gas in her current Coachwork configuration (if at all), and as suggested by a close friend and former Ferrari Team Manager at Le Mans, if the "units" ascribed were kilometers per hour instead of miles per hour, she could very easily have done 81 mph (135 kph)..."

Scuderia Ferrari prepared several of them and they started their racing careers in 1934. Notable results:

• 1934 Giro d'Italia-Littorio Cup (3535 miles) - 2nd, 4th, and 5th
• 1934 Targa Abruzzo at Pescara (24 hours) - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• 1935 Targa Abruzzo (24 hours) - 1st, 2nd
• 1937 Targa Abruzzo (6 hours) - 1st, 3rd
• 1937 Agro Pontino - 1st

Scuderia Maremmana raced several 1934 6C2300's. Two serial numbers are known - 700.410 and 700.620. Among their races were the 1935 and 36 Mille Miglias. This team was founded by Swiss Baron Jaques de Rham. There are some indications this car may have been associated with de Rham.

• He was wealthy. This car has a gold plated grille and trim.
• His other Alfas were from the same series, i.e. serial number set.
• His cars were rebodied, as is this one. His started out in lightweight bodywork by Touring, then were rebodied by Zagato.

Scuderia Ferrari and Scuderia Maremmana as well as "other Scuderias" and various independents raced 1934 6C2300's in races throughout Europe. We know that there were many 1934 6C2300A Pescara cars entered in the '35, '36, '37, and '38 Mille Miglias, however we have as yet been unable to determine if serial numbers were even recorded for these entries. We do however have the Drivers names and position numbers in those Mille Miglia events. (Available to interested parties - email me).

Several vital pieces of information are not known about this particular car:

Who built the bodywork, and when?   [Update: More than one knowledgeable persons has speculated that the body maker was American! Possibly Dutch Darrin.] [Another update: No it isn't! It's German.] Here's more:

After 38 years of searching, the owner finally was directed to a photo of the car - it had been published in Special Interest Autos #142 as part of an article about "When Classics Were Mere Used Cars". This was the first photograph of the car prior to its current ownership to surface. The then editor was contacted, and somehow the dam holding back all the information on this car burst. The photographer/author was quickly located and provided useful help regarding the cars earlier history. But then, in an unrelated event - (see below)...... [Photo by Bill Schwartzberg]

..... Paydirt! A friend in the UK contacted the owner about a photo he'd found in a German book. "After intensive tracking down and locating and receiving a copy of the Book just last night!!!,and after some pleasant and extensive e-mails,I received a confirmation from the Author..that my car is "THE" unidentified and mystery "Rometsch",a Berlin Karosserie no longer in existence. The story continues and shows how a determined individual can leverage resources available to us all - phones, friends, and the internet - in order to achieve a research objective.

Did this car (700.610) run in any Mille Miglia?

Did Barney Oldfield ever drive the car?

The famous Alfa grille. The cars had a 2.3 liter, 6 cylinder, DOHC engine producing about 95 horsepower.	The Carrozzeria (Rometsch)  for this car was only recently determined after a 38 year investigation.
"The observer can sense and feel that the car was raced, everything's original, untouched from when she last roared: wiring harnesses, ceramic fuses, jacking point (quick wheel change-half the car off the ground in about a millisecond .... And under the peeling layers of paint in the engine compartment, beneath a layer of black and time encrusted effluents...it's clear that the entire engine compartment at one time was painted bright Red!"	These cars originally had mechanical brakes with twelve inch drums. This one appears to have a factory installed hydraulic braking system with fifteen inch drums with aluminum fins shrunk on

Comments on this Alfa? Please contact the owner, or e-mail me.