Part Two of Six – Alfa Romeo Racing Icons Series

Here is a fun walk back in time — exploring and celebrating the evolution of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 open-air racecars.

We’re huge fans of the swoopy and wild designs of the hardtop T33’s from the mid-196os. These advanced prototype racers went head-to-head with legends like the Ford GT40 and the Porsche 908 and 917, among many others.

But the legend of the T33 continued well into the 1970s. This open-topped TT3 from 1972 shows a really battle-hardened racing hero. Still wearing its striking Autodelta racing livery and lights, the TT3 is perhaps best known for its giant vertical wings in back. These horizontal stabilizers ensure that the car would track arrow-straight in high-speed racing, yet the lack of a cross-wing is curious.

Regardless of the rulebook or aero strategy, the TT3 has a massive amount of Batmobile coolness in its overall design.

1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT3

Lot 280

1972 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/TT/3

To be auctioned on Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Sold for £588,000

RM Auctions

London

8-9 September 2013

Lot 254

1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12

To be auctioned on Monday, September 9, 2013

Sold for £336,000

• Chassis no. AR 11512 011

 440 hp, 2,998 cc DOHC V-8 four-valve engine, Lucas indirect fuel injection, five-speed manual transmission, independent front and rear suspension with double wishbones, coil springs and anti-roll bars, four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,240 mm

• 4th overall at Le Mans with Nino Vaccarella and Andrea de Adamich
• Confirmed as 1972 Alfa Romeo Autodelta team car
• Driven by Andrea de Adamich in the 1972 season
• Beautiful patina with original paint and interior