Earl Howe’s 1750 SS: Alfa’s first at Le Mans

• 
• 
• 

Anybody who knows 6C Alfas must have known, or known of, the late Angela Cherrett. Indefatigable as an historian and an organiser of Vintage Alfa events, she owned four of Vittorio Jano’s famous six-cylinders, all with tremendous provenance. Forced to choose just one of them to inspect more closely, our eyes lighted upon chassis 0312917, the 1929 1750 SS originally sold through F W Stiles, Alfa Romeo’s London importer, to none other than Earl Howe. Clothed by the Carlton Carriage Co, its open four-seater coachwork made it eligible for both the RAC TT and Le Mans.

That was no insignificant consideration. Howe promptly entered it in the TT in August, 1929, where two other Carlton-bodied 1750s were also competing, with Leslie Callingham its driver. He finished 17th, the handicapping having proved more favourable to the 6C 1500s. After an outing at Shelsley Walsh in September, Howe’s 1750 took a long rest before emerging in June, 1930, for the Vingt-Quatre Heures — he was taking it where no Alfa Romeo had gone before. Sharing the drive with Callingham, they finished a very respectable fifth. After one more TT attempt, the 1750 was sold and disappeared into obscurity, until the Cherretts rescued it in 1965 and restored it to its present condition.

Practically out of the public gaze for 95 years, the first Le Mans Alfa finally gets its turn in the spotlight as Simon Moore tells all in the January issue of The Automobile, on sale now.

Words by Zack Stiling
Photographs by Reverend Pixel

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.