Features
First book on these important sports cars of 60s and 70s.
Complete history of all the events, never appeared in print
Details of all the drivers of Alfa T33History of each model including developmen
Chassis histories-list of all chassis where known
Interviews with key period personalities
Significant proportion of previously unseen photographs
Live track tests of original cars driven by and photographed by the authors
Participation and support given by Alfa Romeo, Italy
T-33-based Concept Car analysis
Description
These important Sports Racing cars of 1967-1977 won the 1975 and 1977 Manufacturers World Championships. The definitive record, this is also the first book to be written about the history and development of Alfa RomeoÍs fabulous Championship-winningTipo 33 prototypes. Containing many previously unseen photographs and interviews with key personalities, this is a vital addition to any Alfa enthusiasts collection.
Synopsis
At the time, little was recorded about the activities of Alfa Romeo's World Championship-winning Sports Racing car, the Tipo 33. The model had a long career, as a factory car as well as in private hands from 1967 until 1977. The great Italian motor sport engineer Carlo Chiti designed and ran a prolific number of different models of this Tipo. Unfortunately nothing of the history of these developments was documented at the time, but the authors have managed, after intense investigation and numerous personal interviews, to uncover much about this marvelous sports prototype. The fruits of their labors abound, manifesting as many previously unseen photographs and the personal recollections of the prime movers in the Tipo 33Ís career. If you like Alfas, you'll love this book.
Independent Reviews
From VeloceToday.com
A Brief History
The Alfa Romeo T33 was Alfa's most successful post-war sports race car, yet perhaps the most frustrating for both Autodelta and Alfa race fans. Its ten year life spanned a huge variety of changes in race car technology, safety, and race track venues, and perhaps most significantly, dozens of rule changes deemed by the FIA. It took eight years to win a World Championship for Makes, and by then no one cared.
The story, in fascinating detail and depth, has now been told by Peter Collins and Ed McDonough in their new book, ñAlfa Romeo Tipo 33, The Development and Racing History.
The authors have done a tremendous job tracking the long history of the cars and events, writing much in the fashion of Peter Hull and Roy Slater, who spent years putting together the landmark Alfa Romeo, A History (Cassell & Co, 1964), organizing the work by year and race.
What makes the Collins/McDonough effort stand out is the fact that unlike Hull/Slater, they went to great lengths to find and interview almost every living driver who ever drove a T33--and the list is both impressive and long. Included are relevant and revealing comments from John Surtees, Vic Elford, Teddy Pilette, Arturo Merzario, Derek Bell, Jochen Mass, Giovanni Galli, Nino Vaccarella---and dozens of others. The inclusion of their remembrances makes this a very special book, and brings what could be boring racing history into vivid, colorful life.
The problem of chassis numbers and which cars participated in which events remains somewhat inconclusive. As with Ferraris, this poses questions for owners and potential buyers--Alfa T33s are worth anywhere from 200K to 400K USD--yet is is often impossible to ascertain if a particular car raced or placed in any particular event. According to co-author Ed McDonough, We have some good sources but everything has to be cross-referenced with photos to give satisfactory answers. We believe there is a listing done by Chiti but we haven't got our hands on it yet. We used a system which required three separate pieces of evidence for us to accept that a car did a certain race. Some of that came from Galli who noted his chassis numbers, and knew when he drove the same car. It is however a minefield and while interesting, tends to muddle the achievements of the cars themselves.
Ed McDonough, that all around guy who drives as well as he writes, has taken on a huge task and done it well, ably assisted by Peter Collins No one else seemed up to the job, one which desperately needed doing, as information about the well known T33 is scarce and usually inaccurate. It is one of those absolutely essential books which will be referenced time and time again. In addition to the ten year racing history, McDonough gets into the cars themselves and offers a chapter on driving a variety of the T33s, plus additional chapters on the T33 Stradales and Concept cars. A lot of new, valuable, and interesting material is packed into this book.
Alfa Romeo Tipo 33, The Development and Racing History will be the main reference for the T33 for years to come, but the authors plan to follow it up with Volume 2, adding even more history to the Alfa race car, and more information on chassis numbers.