UK-based specialist Thornley Kelham has begun a restoration to concours standard of a rare Mussolini-owned Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport (3rd Series). Chassis Number 6C0312898 was delivered on 13 January 1930 to Supremo Eccellenza Benito Mussolini, for a price of 60,000 lire.
Research by Thornley Kelham has uncovered period images of this car taken on 29 April 1931, showing Mussolini driving it. He famously piloted it on the Radio Auto-Raduno rally from Rome to Ostia. The car changed owners a number of times before being shipped to Asmara in Eritrea in 1937.
Following a period of intensive research, the Thornley Kelham team has now begun restoring this rare Alfa Romeo back to its original condition. It established that the Alfa was originally bodied by Stabilimenti Farina, but at some point in its life the body was modified with a more racing-focused body, which it wears today.
Over the all-original chassis, rear axle and gearbox, Thornley Kelham will now recreate the original 1930 bodywork, a task that will involve thousand of hours of work. Simon Thornley commented: “This Alfa Romeo presents us with perhaps our greatest test to date. Our challenge now is to restore it to the condition it first left Stabilimenti Farina’s carrozzeria. Automotive history like this has to be preserved.”
Photos: Ashley Border
