Techno Classica Essen 2011

Featured Car: 1923 RLTF Alfa Romeo.

Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Merosi's Finest Hour was achieved with the Alfa Romeo RLTF of 1923.

In 1923 Alfa modified the RL to compete in the Targa Florio road race around Sicily. These machines became know as the RLTFs and although the model’s competition career was relatively short, they built on the success of the earlier Merosi designs that had gained a fine reputation in Italian events both before and just after the war. Enzo Ferrari, Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari and Guilio Masetti drove the RLTFs with great success including victory in the 1923 Targa Florio.
(Read the history of the Alfa RLs and the RLTF)

The RLTF chassis of 1924. The chassis was a foot shorter than that of the RLSS, it was much lighter, produced around 125 hp. One finished second in the 1924 Targa Florio. Photo courtesy Alfa Romeo Museum.

Ok, how about a Nardi

Enrico Nardi not only built steering wheels but also cars like this 1958 Nardi/Abarth 750 Vignale coupe.

1938 Peugeot 402 Special Roadster by Pourtout, not Darl’Mat though it looks very similar.

Fiat Shelette ‘beach car’ is credited to Giovanni Michelotti, was based on the Fiat 850 coupe.

1949 Delahaye 135MS with Ghia-Aigle body.

1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza is an ex Works car.

The Citroën Ami 6, built between 1961 and 1969, was very distinctive with its ‘line in Z’. This project, under the supervision of chief designer Flaminio Bertoni, was intended to be a mid class car which would be the link between the 2CV and the DS.

Bugatti Type 13 Brescia was equipped with this small 4 cylinders inline engine.

Fiat 1100 TV Aerodynamica built by a Mr Padovan from Pordenone in the north of Italy in 1949. Only one example built.

This Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF competizione is a unique prototype designed by Tom Tjaarda while at Ghia, for the 1969 Geneva and Turin Motor Shows.

Barn-find Siata Daina Bertone coupe.

1946 Paris Motor Show Delahaye 135 M with Saoutchik body.

Talbot-Lago T 150 C coupé Figoni & Falaschi, s/n 90112, will be one of the stars of the RM Auction Sale at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May.

Bugatti Type 57, s/n 57.300, won the 1935 Paris-Nice rally with the Marseille Bugatti dealer Gaston Descollas at the wheel.

A 1967 Iso Rivolta rebodied in the early 1970s in Italy and auctioned by Coys.

Maserati Sebring from the 2nd series, with the 3.7 liter engine.

A delightfully green Maserati 250F, s/n 2507, was delivered to the English Gilby Team and was driven by Roy Salvadori in 1956.

This Fiat, equipped with an aero engine, this Fiat set the world’s land speed record to 234.980 kph in 1923. It was nicknamed Mephistopheles.

This Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 06449, is the first 275 GTB to be unveiled. It was at the Paris Salon Car Show, in 1964.

Ferrari 250 GTO s/n 3809 GT and 250 GT SWB s/n 2269 GT.

the Alfa Romeo 164 Procar of 1988 was destined to take part to a new FIA championship, for street cars with technical solutions from F1. But the Procar series was still-born due to a lack of participants. The 164 Procar reached 329 km/h in Monza with Patrese driving.