1975 Alfa Romeo 33TT12 (AutoArt 1/18)

[1959scudetto]

After 3  years of mostly disappointing results with their 12-cylinder against Ferrari and Matra, Alfa Romeo retracted from the sports car world championship at the end of 1974 – as a company in state property, they could not justify their expenses anymore facing economic problems due to labor strikes in Italy and the world-wide oil crisis.

Willy Kauhsen, just retired  ex-Porsche race and test driver, persuaded them to hand him over a few cars, engines, gearboxes, some mechanics and a budget and he would campaign the 1975 championship, seeing a good chance for winning.

So WKRT (Willy Kauhsen Racing Team) was born, after the first win Campari came on board as a sponsor for the team  and it actually won the 1975 world championship, albeit against weak opposition: Ferrari had left the scene after the 1973 season, Matra retired at the end of 1974.

Alfa Romeo did not attend Le Mans, so this was won by the Gulf Mirage team (Jack Ickx/Derek Bell).

AutoArt made an excellent, highly detailed  1/18 model of this car in its signature series (3 versions): the best-looking version is the white-nosed 1000 km  Spa-Francorchamps  winning car of Derek Bell/Henri Pescarolo.

It is one of their very best models - enjoy the pictures (the rear view mirror sits  2 - 3 mm too high - but if I had pressed it into the body as I should, it would not have been possible to put it back in its protecting box again):

Edited August 27, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[Gramps46]

Very impressive Alfa.  The photos really capture the detail.  Thanks for sharing.

[keyser]

Evil sounding little thing. Tiny. One was at auction last weekend, I don’t think it hit reserve. 007 was NS. 
Last year 010 sold. 
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/26887/lot/62/1974-alfa-romeo-tipo-33-tt-12-chassis-no-ar11512010-engine-no-11512-071/
Nice hit. Hey Gary. 

Edited August 27, 2022 by keyser

[mrm]

This is Autoart at their best. Great model. 
Somehow I don’t have a single Alfa Romeo in my entire collection. 

[1959scudetto]

Thanks, guys, for your comments.