Exploiting the Alfa: the corporate potential of Varzi's Mille Miglia victory

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A while ago we showed you this great picture of the FN at the 1929 Amsterdam Motor Show, which for a change, was not your typical high-gloss polished show car but quite the opposite.

This is another display vehicle on the same theme in 1934. We do not know at which show, but the car is the Alfa Romeo 8C Monza Spider which had won the eighth Mille Miglia earlier that year with Achille Varzi behind the wheel. And it hadn’t been given a wash after its victory, so it appeared in all its rugged splendour.

The previous Mille Miglia, as well as another three earlier runnings of the race, had been won by Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeos. This one, however, was on show at the stand of Carrozzeria Brianza, as it was bodied by that coachbuilding house. As a matter of fact, all four works-entered Monzas were equipped with Brianza bodies that year, and you will have to know not to confuse them with the Zagato Monzas. There was a particular reason for the change. The financial crisis had reached Zagato with some delay but it struck the company hard. In fact, it seemed unable to recover and that’s when the company’s three major shareholders decided to liquidate it. However, they took it over only to found Carrozzeria Brianza the next day, named after the address of 10, Corso Brianza in Milan where Ugo Zagato had started his carrozzeria some 10 years earlier.

Signor Zagato wouldn’t give up as easily as that, though, and he managed to make another start—more then one, as a matter of fact, as there was more trouble to follow. Carrozzeria Brianza lasted only for a few years while Zagato is still a household name.

Note that Carozzeria Brianza wasn’t the only company pleased to associate itself with Varzi’s victory here. You can also see a sign of Pyroil, the American lubricants manufacturer, as well as signs of Pirelli on both wheels. Interestingly, we did find another (sketchy) picture of the same car on the same display, now showing Ancorizzate as the supplier of the tyres!

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: source unknown

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