The Alfa Romeo T33/3 that finished second at the 1971 Targa Florio is among a big group of road and competition cars up for grabs at Gooding Christie’s Amelia sale in March 2026.
Chassis AR75080*019* was built by Autodelta in the summer of 1970, and made its debut at the 1000km of Zeltweg in October that year. Although the 1970 season would prove to be one of outright domination for Porsche, and in particular the John Wyer Gulf-Porsche team, which took seven out of ten races, the Zeltweg round saw increased competition with revised cars from Ferrari and Alfa Romeo – the latter with T33/3-71 chassis AR75080*019*.
Porsche itself had brought upgraded 5.0-litre 917s, and this came back to bite the team – the Pedro Rodríguez/Leo Kinnunen 917K expired by lap four, and the Jo Siffert/Brian Redman car that won the race went down to 11 cylinders. Andrea De Adamich and Henri Pescarolo in chassis AR75080*019* were catching the leading Porsche by 15 seconds per lap, but the engine expired on 168 laps – yet it was enough to give the Alfa duo second place and first in class on distance covered.
Rebuilt in early 1971 with a fresh engine, the car was tested at Alfa Romeo’s Balocco test track the week before the 1971 Targa Florio by Teodoro Zeccoli, Autodelta’s chief tester. The race itself saw the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3s endure where many of their Porsche rivals faltered. Chassis AR75080*020*, driven by Nino Vaccarella and Toine Hezemans, claimed victory, while AR75080*019*, piloted by Andrea de Adamich and Gijs van Lennep, crossed the line in second place. Following the Targa, chassis no. 019 was retired from active competition and stored in a corner at the back of the Autodelta workshops, remaining untouched until December 1984. The closure of Autodelta led to the sale of its assets, including several Tipo 33s and crates of spares.
At that time, no. 019 was purchased directly from Autodelta by South African collector David Cohen, alongside two ‘Telaio Tubolare’ TT3s (chassis 11572.008 and 11572.009). Cohen engaged restorer Tony Merrick to inspect and authenticate the cars before arranging their import to the UK. Upon arrival, all three machines were sent to Michael Caine of GTC Restorations for a full rework, overseen by Bobby Bell of Bell & Colvill. Restoration of no. 019 was completed in 1990, after which it remained at GTC until being offered at auction in 1999 by Brooks at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
It was purchased by motor-racing entrant and collector John Coombs, who quickly sold the car to Jon Shipman. Shipman campaigned no. 019 in the inaugural Le Mans Classic in 2002, partnering with Mark Hales to win the Plate 5 race against a field of Porsche 917s, Lola T70s and Ferrari 512s.
Shipman retained the car until 2009, when it was sold to collector and Historic racer Gordon McCulloch. Under the care of Gelscoe Motorsport, no. 019 returned to the track with Andy Newall behind the wheel in the 2009 Masters Series at Brands Hatch, Silverstone and Donington, and again at the 2010 Phillip Island Classic in Australia. It changed hands it 2010, and now it is being offered at Amelia Island 2026 from the collection of Curtis Leaverton. No estimate has yet been revealed.
It’s not the only Alfa Romeo from the Leaverton Collection. Aside from a 1964 Giulia Ti Super Berlin and 1968 Giulia Sprint GTA 1300 Junior Stradale, there’s the above 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport. Featuring its original Zagato body, it has a known ownership history from new, including tenures with the likes of Ralph Stein and David Tunick.
Other cars from the Leaverton Collection include a 1991 Jaguar XJR-15, 2004 Carbir Sports 2000, 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, 1952 Vincent Series C Black Shadow motorcycle, 1955 Austin-Healey 100S, 1956 Austin-Healey 100M, 1967 Austin Mini Cooper 1275 S, 1977 MV Agusta 750 S America, 2017 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup and 1974 Lola T294.
However, it’s not the only Alfa Romeo-heavy collection up for grabs at Amelia Island 2026. The Tommy Trabue Collection includes several 1950s and 1960s Alfa Romeos, such as the above TZ, chassis 750067. It was built for Giovanni Lurani, who is believed to have kept the car until 1981-82, when it was sold to none other than legendary Lancia rally driver Sandro Munari. Munari kept it until 1984, selling it to Giuseppe Lucchini of BMS Scuderia Italia, who ran touring cars and had a brief dalliance in Formula 1. Lucchini kept the car until 1986, selling it to Peter Sachs, who later sold it to a Mr Leerdam. No estimate has been revealed.
This 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, chassis 0037, was first delivered to Greek shipping magnate and racer Harry Theodoracopulos of Athens. Chassis 0037 made its way to the United States in the early 1960s, reportedly competing at a Bridgehampton, New York meeting in 1961. The car then headed south to the 1962 Sebring 12 Hours, serving as a back-up machine to Theodoracopulos’ Coda Tronca. Later that year, it returned to Bridgehampton for the Double 400, where it is understood to have been co-driven by Theodoracopulos and Freddie Barrette, finishing ninth overall.
Throughout the 1960s, 0037 continued to compete in various SCCA events, before being sold by Harry – who had acquired an Alfa TZ – to a Mr Tuttle, who campaigned the car at Road America in 1967. The chassis eventually entered the collection of Jack Zalinger of South Holland, Illinois, before being acquired by Alfa Romeo enthusiast Richard Lesniewicz of Leawood, Kansas, in May 1986.
By that time, the Alfa bore clear evidence of an active racing history: it retained what is believed to be its original engine, while the body showed repairs from decades of track use. A comprehensive restoration was undertaken, stripping the car to bare metal, replacing previous bondo repairs with correct aluminium, and fitting a properly reconstructed nose. After restoration, 0037 enjoyed around a decade of private use before passing to a West Coast enthusiast in approximately 2002. The car was campaigned at a range of vintage events in California over the following decade, changing hands twice more in 2013, and it was offered for sale in Paris in 2016.
The auction also includes a 1962 Giulietta SZ Coda Tronca (chassis 00196), pictured above. First delivered to Lugano, Switzerland, it’s believed the car was originally painted Celeste Blue and paired with a white example. After years competing in Switzerland, it went to the US in 1977. It was later used in Historic racing by Jeff Hill, who fitted a roll cage, fuel cell and oil cooler.
Other Alfa Romeos in the Tommy Trabue collection include a 1960 Giulietta Spider Veloce, 1959 Giulietta Sprint Veloce and 1956 Giulietta Sprint Veloce Alleggerita. If that’s not enough, there’s also a 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal (pictured below), that’s separate from both collections. More details on that, and others from the sale, will appear in the coming weeks.
Further details
For more information on the Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island sale, which takes place on March 5-6, 2026, head here.
