Alfa Romeo retired from Grand Prix racing after the 1951 season and then suddenly withdrew from sports car racing in 1953, putting an end to one of the most successful motorsport dynasties of all time. While customer GT, rally, and saloon racing kept Alfa Romeo’s name in the spotlight throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the nationalized Italian company did not return to a factory-supported racing program until 1964.

That year, Orazio Satta Puliga asked his experimental department to develop a special sports racing car. The project was identified by internal no. 105.33 – or Tipo 33. The project was later passed on to Autodelta, the Alfa Romeo competition subsidiary established by former Ferrari engineers Ludovico Chizzola and Carlo Chiti. Under their leadership, Autodelta designed, built, and raced several distinct versions of the Tipo 33 between 1967 and 1977.

The first Tipo 33s featured a two-liter, fuel-injected V-8 engine. After a challenging debut, they proved their potential in 1968, particularly at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where Autodelta entries finished 5-6-7 overall. At least 30 examples of the original two-liter 33/2s were built. There was also a separate run of approximately 20 Tipo 33 Stradales – road-going versions of the 33/2 with exotic bodywork designed by Franco Scaglione.

In 1969, Autodelta introduced the improved three-liter Tipo 33/3. Development of the 33/3 continued until 1971 and approximately 20 examples were built. The Tipo 33/3 was the final development of the monocoque Tipo 33 chassis prior to the introduction of the tubular chassis-equipped Tipo 33/TT/3, which quickly became the Tipo 33/TT/12. The 33/3’s monocoque chassis was constructed of steel reinforced with titanium.

As Autodelta kept no written records of which Tipo 33 chassis were entered in specific racing events, a considerable effort had to be undertaken to establish an accurate racing record for each chassis. The collective research of Peter Collins and Ed McDonough in their book on the model, Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, has resulted in a relatively complete racing record for the example presented here.

This 1971 Tipo 33/3, chassis AR75080019, was built by Autodelta in summer 1970 and made its competition debut in October 1970 at that year’s Österreichring 1000 Km, along with three other Tipo 33/3s entered by Autodelta. These represented the final development of the Tipo 33/3 for the 1971 season, with improvements including new 13” wheels, redesigned brakes and front suspension, a lower, squarer nose design, and a new, lightweight five-speed gearbox. Chassis 019 was piloted by longtime Tipo 33 driver Andrea de Adamich and his new Autodelta teammate Henri Pescarolo, formerly of Matra.

With Pescarolo at the wheel, the 33/3 gradually made its way closer to the leading Porsche 917K of Jo Siffert and Brian Redman with every passing lap. The 917 eventually suffered an engine failure and, with only two laps remaining, the 33/3 did as well, though Pescarolo managed to limp the car to the pits. The marshals ruled that the car had covered enough of the total 1000 km and it was awarded 2nd Overall and 1st in the Group 6 class.

Chassis 019 was returned to Autodelta, where it was rebuilt for the 1971 season with engine 080 and tested by Autodelta’s chief test driver, Teo Zeccoli, at the Balocco Proving Ground in Vercelli, Italy on May 9, 1971 – one week ahead of that year’s Targa Florio road race in Sicily. Earlier in the year, de Adamich and Pescarolo piloted another Tipo 33/3 to an overall win at Brands Hatch, which made the rest of the season look more promising.

The 1971 Targa Florio was a battle between Alfa Romeo and Porsche, as it was the first time in many years that Ferrari had no factory entries. Porsche showed full force with a total of four 908s between JW Automotive and Martini Racing entries, three of which were short wheelbase 908/03s. Luckily for Autodelta, all four Porsche entries either wrecked or suffered total engine failure. The race was so brutal that many drivers considered their cars 70% destroyed upon finishing. Nevertheless, the Tipo 33/3 of Nino Vaccarella and Toine Hezemans (chassis 020) placed 1st Overall, with chassis 019, piloted by Andrea de Adamich and Gijs van Lennep, coming in 2nd.

The final outing of chassis 019 was the Interserie Zolder in June, where it was piloted by Rolf Stommelen. Despite a minor collision on the opening lap, due to a McLaren braking too early while entering turn one, it continued the race and finished 6th Overall.

This Tipo 33 was then placed in storage at Autodelta’s workshop for the next 13 years, until December 1984, when it was inspected by Tony Merrick and purchased, along with two Tipo 33/TT/3s, by noted collector David Cohen. When Merrick reported his findings of the inspection to Cohen, he described chassis 019 as “an authentic, untouched car.” Cohen sold the other two cars and sent chassis 019 to England, where it was restored over a six-year period by Michael Caine of GTC Restorations and Bobby Bell of Bell & Colvill.

Cohen retained the 33/3 for 15 years before it was bought by John Coombs of Guildford, England in 1999. Coombs sold the car to vintage racing enthusiast Jon Shipman of Dursley within the same year. Shipman entered the car in the inaugural Le Mans Classic race in 2002, where it placed 1st in Class. Subsequent UK-based owners included Gordon McCulloch and Steve Tandy.

Curtis Leaverton acquired this Tipo 33/3 in 2014. During Mr. Leaverton’s ownership, the car was maintained and prepared for racing events by vintage racing specialist Wolf Motorsports of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This work included commissioning the casting of a new engine block, currently installed in place of engine no. 300069, which accompanies the car.

With its World Championship podium status, iconic 1971 Targa Florio livery, exceptional competition record, and unblemished history, this Tipo 33 is among the most significant Alfa Romeo racing cars of the postwar era.

*Please note that this vehicle is sold on a Bill of Sale.