2024 Additions for Alfaholic

Superflows are fantastic. Kess models can sometimes be a little off but these 2 are spot on.

The other T33 to arrive recently is also from 1971 and is part of the older M4 – Alfa Romero series. A couple of models from this driver were offered in this series and I am pleased to have now been able to add one to my collection.

As I have become more Alfa focused over the past few years, I often find that the same (obscure) drivers turn up behind the wheel of the cars I collect, and this is one on those. Carlo Benelli was born in December 1942 in the city of Prato in Tuscany, not far from Florence. His family owned the Ruggero Benelli Super-Iride company, which manufactured an insecticide named Super-Faust. In 1960 the business hired a designer to create a new advertising campaign for the product and he came up with a character called “Riccardone Superfusto” (fusto meaning muscleman). The campaign became successful in Italy and involved the hero, Riccardone Superfusto, a friendly, tough-guy character, having adventures with his fiancée, Svanitella. Off the back of the popularity of the character, Benelli used the pseudonym “Riccardone” throughout his racing career.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCqmkap2yUI

His racing began in 1963, with a Fiat-Abarth 1000TC on the Coppa della Consuma hillclimb and resulted in a 6th place in class. In 1965 he raced his family car, a Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, in the GP of Mugello – 3rd in class and 18th overall was the outcome. He then stepped up to an Alfa Romeo GTA and finished 8th outright with Giuseppe Virgilio in the 1967 GP of Mugello. In the latter part of the 1960s, “Riccardone” was seen as a semi-professional driver and joined the ranks of those racing GTAs, and 1300 GTA Juniors, across Europe. At times he was included as part of the factory Autodelta team on these events, with his best result being 3rd place overall and a class win in the 1969 4 Hours of Monza, sharing with Autodelta pilot Spartaco Dini.

A change of tack in 1970 saw “Riccardone” using an Abarth 2000SP on the circuits and hillclimbs in Italy. Several podiums and a win were forthcoming, and he was declared the winner of the Sports-Protype class of the 1970 Italian Hillclimb Championship.

In 1971 he continued to race but had moved up to an Alfa Romeo T33/3. His brother Robert had also been racing for several years and at that time their father demanded that one of the brothers concentrate on the family business. Robert decided to take that path, leaving Carlo to continue his racing exploits, albeit at a reduced rate due to his obligations in the family company.

At the end of May in 1971, “Riccardone” scored his best result with the T33/3, 2nd place behind a Ferrari 212E in the Coppa della Collina hillclimb held just outside Pistoia north of Florence. Tragically, around a year later he would lose his life in the car while competing on another hillclimb event – some reports note that he had decided to retire after this event. After his death, his family retired the “Riccardone Superfusto” character from their advertising.

M4 – Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo T33/3 3.0
“Riccardone” (Carlo Benelli)
1971 Coppa della Collina – 2nd Overall / 1st 3 Litre Class

That looks great, I really like the colour scheme too. Interesting back story.

A shame that he lost his life as was sadly common back then. Nice model and strange to see a T33/3 in colours other than red, it does look good.

Very nice! When I was buying a bunch of M4's this is one I wanted and actually bought it but the seller found his last copy was damages and refunded the difference.

This model was added to the package with the two previous T33s as a box filler. I’ve long admired some of the older Starline models, especially as Italian vehicles made up a decent chunk of their output. This is the first Starline to make its way to me and another Alfa Romeo road car ticked off my wishlist.

Back in 1967 the new Alfetta was on the horizon for Alfa Romeo, however this car would not end up seeing the light of day until 1972. Alfa therefore needed another car to fill the void, something slightly larger and more powerful than the successful 105-series Giulia Berlina – enter the “1750”.

The 105 Giulia Berlina had been introduced in 1962 and was the work of Giuseppe Scarnati, then head of Alfa Romeo Centro Stile. For that car’s bigger brother Alfa turned to Bertone where the work was carried out by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The new car was visually similar to the Giulia, with this impression assisted by the new car carrying over the Giulia’s windscreen and rear window. The wheelbase was extended by 60mm, however the overall length of the car increased by 260mm due to the larger front and rear overhangs. The 1750 was also a whole 10mm wider than the Giulia. Weight was up by 70kg, although the aerodynamic efficiency was the same.

Under the bonnet, the capacity of the sparkling Alfa-Romeo 4-cylinder twincam engine was increased from 1570cc to 1779cc. This enabled Alfa to call the car the “1750” echoing the name of the splendid 6C 1750 cars from the 1920s and 30s. Engine power was up from 90 hp to 118 hp, giving the 1750 a top speed of 180 kph.

The 1750 Berlina was unveiled in 1968 and was sold until 1971, at which time the car was superseded by the similar but larger-engined “2000 Berlina”. The 2000 stayed in production until 1977 even though the 116-series Alfetta had been released in 1972. In total 100,120 1750 Berlinas were sold between 1968 and 1971.

The Starline model is a little gem in my eyes, with lovely interior detail, including the fake wood trim on the dashboard. - and all for a modest outlay. I may need to look out for some others to fill some gaps in my collection.

Starline
1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina 1.8
Azure Le Mans

Lovely model, great colour!

I also have that Alfa, but mine is in a less adventurous darker blue!