1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider (Zagato)
- Colour
- Red
Chassis 10814362 is a Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider, one of only 106 examples built, delivered new to Switzerland in October 1931. The car survived World War II hidden behind a brick wall before being rescued in 1955. Its most celebrated owner was American racing champion Phil Hill, Formula 1 World Champion in 1961 and three-time Le Mans winner, who kept the car for roughly three decades. A sympathetic restoration preserving the original Zagato coachwork and matching-numbers engine was completed in Pennsylvania in 2004.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €1,833,125 (≈ $2.02M)
- 1931-10-02 →Acquisition unknownUnknown first owner, Gonda, Switzerlandpartial documentation
Vehicle registered in Gonda upon arrival; identity of this initial registrant is not recorded.
- 1933-07-25 →Acquisition unknownMarguerite Ulrichpartial documentation
Resident of Blonay, Switzerland; she and her husband used the car for travel to Germany during the 1930s. The vehicle was de-registered at the start of WWII and concealed behind a brick wall at the family property out of fear of military invasion.
- 1955 → 1955Acquisition unknownLouis Visinandpartial documentation
Discovered and retrieved the car after the Ulrich family home was sold following Mr. Ulrich's death. Returned it to working order within approximately three months before selling it on.
- 1955 → 1956Private saleJean-Frédéric Buzerpartial documentation
Held the car for roughly twelve months, then returned it to Visinand after clutch issues developed.
- 1956 → 1957Private saleLouis Visinandpartial documentation
Reacquired the car from Buzer due to mechanical problems; subsequently sold it on to Allan Dulles.
- 1957 → 1957Private saleAllan Dullespartial documentation
Former OSS operative and later CIA figure; retained the car for roughly one year before arranging its sale through Swiss racing driver Emmanuel de Graffenried to an American buyer.
- 1957 →Private saleAmerican buyer via Emmanuel de Graffenriedpartial documentation
Purchased via Swiss racing driver Emmanuel 'Toulo' de Graffenried for a reported 15,000 Swiss francs; the car was described as well preserved with around 30,000 km at that time.
- → 1988Private salePhil Hillfull documentation
Renowned American racing driver and Ferrari Formula 1 competitor; an Alfa Romeo enthusiast who kept the car for approximately 30 years, registering it as 'PMV 789'. Period photographs of Hill with the vehicle are included in the documentation.
- 1988 → 1993Private saleBob Rubinpartial documentation
Long Island, New York resident who acquired the car from Phil Hill.
- 1993 →Private saleJeffrey Vogelpartial documentation
Acquired the car in 1993; it subsequently changed hands twice more before reaching the consigning owner.
- 2010 →Acquisition unknownCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Acquired the car in 2010; it was offered at auction while in this owner's possession.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownHawley Marionpartial documentation
Dealer based in Costa Mesa, California, through whom Phil Hill purchased the car.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownTwo intermediate owners between Vogel and consignornone documentation
The car passed through two unidentified owners after Vogel and before the current consignor. One of these owners commissioned a thorough restoration at D. L. George Coachworks in Pennsylvania between early 2003 and early 2004.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1955Mechanical
After the car was recovered from storage behind a wall, Louis Visinand returned it to full running order prior to sale.
- 2003RestorationD. L. George Coachworks
Comprehensive sympathetic restoration carried out between March 2003 and January 2004, costing over USD 45,000. Work encompassed a complete overhaul of running gear and drivetrain (excluding the engine), with careful attention to retaining the original Zagato coachwork and interior. More than 80 pages of invoices and worksheets document the work.
Carried out under the previous owner's tenure in Pennsylvania. The matching-numbers engine was not rebuilt as part of this scope.
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