Alfa Romeo Tipo 6C 1500, 1750, 1900.

Alfa Romeo Tipo 6C 1500,1750, 1900. by Angela Cherrett. 299 pp. 10″ x 8″. G T Foulis & Co lid, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 73j. £24.95.

Angela Cherrett and her husband have been Alfa Romeo owners and advocates for a considerable time and have a detailed knowledge of these much respected cars. So it is no surprise, but certainly a source of delight, that Angela has written this detailed account of the 6C model in its various forms. The book opens with a history, somewhat repetitive to those well acquainted with the marque, of Alfa Romeo itself. It is what follows that is the meat in this new book, which goes into all aspects of the 6C, made doubly attractive by the great many very clearly reproduced photographs of contemporary and present day 6C scenes.

Indeed, in my view the book loses nothing by all these 231 pictures being in black and white instead of in colour — it is their good quality that matters. Angela has put in not only a complete 6C history but she includes tables of that model’s many competition achievements between 1927 and 1935 — naturally, much of the text is concerned with racing — but the 6C is also described from the technical aspect and the various coachbuilders who graced Jano’s masterpiece with their products have a 42 page chapter to themselves. Sales figures, chassis numbers statistics, specification tables that go as far as valve dimensions and carburettor jet sizes, engineering drawings, odd reproduction of old publicity material and even the aviation side of the celebrated 6C, combine to make this an essential book for enthusiasts for this particular Alfa Romeo. Prominent men behind the car get penportraits and the fine pictures might be said to range from the 6C in classic races — the author confirms the fixed cylinder heads in the 1930 IT — to English trials and sprints. Well done, Angela! WB