This is an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 from 1930. This car is one of the three racecars that swept the podium at the 1930 Tourist Trophy in Belfast, Ireland. The Alfa Romeo company was founded in 1910 in Milan, Italy, by an anonymous investor as the Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobil or Alfa. In August 1915, the company came under the direction of entrepreneur Nicola Romeo and became Alfa Romeo. While the company had limited success building passenger cars, it was their racing victories in the 1920s that gave them prominence. One of Alfa Romeo’s early, and successful racecars was the P2. Prior to the P2, Alfa Romeo’s earlier racing car models were modified passenger cars, while the P2 was the first car designed by the company to be a racecar. After its racing success, the company modified the P2s design to be sold as road vehicles for customers. These vehicles were immediately successful, and the company decided to focus on modifying racecars into road sports cars.

In 1927, Alfa Romeo developed a new racecar known as the 6C 1500 which referred to the 1500 cc engine. Alfa Romeo quickly increased power to 250 cc, which gave way to the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750. By 1929, Alfa Romeo felt confident in entering three 6C 1750’s into the prestigious Tourist Trophy race and finished in the top three spots. This car placed third in the race and was driven by Achille Varzi. The 6C 1750 continued to grow in popularity and became one of the most famous European racing and road vehicles during the 1930s. After the race, this vehicle was sold by Alfa Romeo to Lord Earl Howe of England who owned the vehicle until after World War II. The vehicle was then purchased by the American racing enthusiast David Uihlein of Wisconsin who donated the vehicle to the Museum in 1961.