1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 (2.5-liter engine variant)
- Engine
- 2.5L V8
- Colour
- Race livery as run at the 1968 Targa Florio (entry #220)

Alfa Romeo T33/2 chassis 015, one of roughly ten surviving examples from a production run of approximately 23 chassis, is notable as the first T33/2 to be fitted with the larger 2.5-litre engine, debuting that specification at the 1968 Targa Florio. The car was campaigned by Autodelta and subsequently the VDS team across major international events in 1968–69, before passing to Portugal and then Angola, where it raced extensively in the early 1970s. Rediscovered in Angola in the mid-1980s, it was eventually restored by former Autodelta mechanic Marcello Gambi and has since enjoyed an active historic racing career in Europe and North America.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,160,000
- 1968 → 1968Factory deliveryAutodelta (factory racing program)partial documentation
Entered the car directly in period factory competition during the 1968 season, including Daytona and Targa Florio.
- 1968 → 1970Acquisition unknownCount Rudi van der Straten / VDS Racing Teampartial documentation
Belgian nobleman and Alfa Romeo client who entered the car from the 1968 Austrian GP onward and ran it through at least the 1969 season before selling it.
- 1970 →Private saleAntonio Peixinhopartial documentation
Portuguese driver who transported the car to Angola, where he competed successfully at local circuits during 1970 and 1971.
- 1972 →Acquisition unknownSantos Peraspartial documentation
Raced the car in Angola, recording a win at Circuito de Carmona in mid-1974.
- → 1994Private saleJean Chambaultpartial documentation
French business traveler and racing enthusiast who tracked down the car in Angola, negotiated its purchase from De Santos in Lisbon, and arranged an airlift out of the country before offering it for sale.
- 1994 → 2000Private saleItalian-based ownership grouppartial documentation
A succession of Italian-based owners during which a former Autodelta mechanic, Marcello Gambi, carried out a restoration.
- 2000 → 2006Private saleEuropean owner registered in Germanypartial documentation
Subsequent caretakers who had the car road-registered in Germany, freshened it, and campaigned it at the 2000 and 2004 Le Mans Classic.
- 2006 → 2012Private saleDavid Jacobspartial documentation
Former competitive skier and skiwear entrepreneur based in Boulder, Colorado, who undertook further restoration and ran the car in multiple vintage events before selling it.
- 2012 →Private saleConsignorfull documentation
Invested heavily in two engine rebuilds by S. Jennings Racing (documented by invoices exceeding $115,000 combined) and campaigned the car at numerous historic venues through at least 2017.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownAntonio De Santospartial documentation
Portuguese national who stored the car in Angola alongside other significant period racing machinery; left the cars behind when he returned to Portugal as independence-war violence escalated.
Competition
- 19681968 Daytona 24 HoursDriver: Lucien Bianchi5th in class, 6th overall
Co-driven with Mario Andretti; one of three Autodelta T33/2 entries that finished consecutively 5th, 6th, and 7th overall. Car was equipped with a 2-liter engine for this event.
- 19681968 Nürburgring 1000 KMDriver: Udo Schütz4th in class, 7th overall
Co-driven with Lucien Bianchi; a recovery result for the 2.5-liter car after the Targa Florio retirement.
- 19681968 Austrian Grand PrixDriver: Teddy Pilette3rd in class, 4th overall
Entered by Count Rudi van der Straten's VDS team; co-driven with Gustave Gosselin.
- 1968-05-011968 Targa FlorioDriver: Nino VaccarellaDNF — contact with wall
First T33/2 fitted with the 2.5-liter engine; Vaccarella held 2nd place early before handing over to co-driver Udo Schütz, who spun into a wall on loose gravel. Car entered as race number 220.
- 19691969 Monza 1000 KMDriver: Teddy Pilette5th in class, 8th overall
Run under VDS team management; co-driven with Rob Slotemaker.
- 1969-05-011969 Spa 1000 KMDriver: Teddy Pilette5th in class, 6th overall
Again co-driven with Rob Slotemaker under VDS entry.
- 1974-07-011974 Circuito de CarmonaDriver: Santos Peras1st
- 2000Le Mans Classic2000 Le Mans Classic
Campaigned by the German-registered European owners after a period of refurbishment.
- 2004Le Mans Classic2004 Le Mans Classic
- 2008Le Mans Classic2008 Le Mans ClassicDriver: David Jacobs
Part of Jacobs' vintage racing campaign after he acquired the car in 2006.
- 20092009 Monterey HistoricDriver: David Jacobs
- 2010Le Mans Classic2010 Le Mans ClassicDriver: David Jacobs
- 20172017 Monterey Historic
One of several historic venues where the consignor campaigned the car; others included Watkins Glen, Silverstone, Nürburgring, Zandvoort, and Spa.
- —Malange circuit raceDriver: Antonio PeixinhoVictory (one of at least five wins)
Peixinho recorded at least five victories at Angolan circuits during the 1970 and 1971 seasons.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1994RestorationMarcello Gambi
Comprehensive restoration carried out during Italian ownership by Marcello Gambi, a mechanic who had previously worked at Autodelta.
Work took place during a short chain of Italian-based ownership following the car's acquisition from Jean Chambault.
- 2000Service
Additional freshening and preparation undertaken by a European-based owner prior to Le Mans Classic participation; car also registered for German road use at this time.
- 2006Restoration
Further restorative work carried out under David Jacobs' ownership in preparation for a vintage racing programme.
- 2013Engine rebuildS. Jennings Racing
Full V-8 engine rebuild costing over $50,000 USD, documented by invoices; work encompassed the engine and associated components.
Workshop was located in Tooele, Utah at the time; invoices retained on file.
- 2018Engine rebuildS. Jennings Racing
Second full engine rebuild including ancillary components, undertaken after the V-8 accumulated significant running hours in competition; expenditure exceeded $65,000 USD as documented by invoices.
Car was returned to S. Jennings Racing following the 2017 Monterey Historic; invoices on file.
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