UK-raced Alfa Romeo GTA info

Hi,

My name is Anthony Rimicci. I'm an Alfa Romeo collector/racer in Los Angeles, California. I've owned a rhd Alfa Romeo GTA race car since 2005 and am trying to get more information on my GTA that was raced in the UK from 1965-1969.

I do know that my car was owned by Derek Morley and Edward Thorpe. Under Morley's ownership the car was red (it's original color) with a painted green right front corner. At this time it had been driven by Rhoddy Harvey Bailey. Later on it was sold to Edward Thorpe. I have a note from Thrope saying "Back in 1969 I bought it straight off the track from a Derbyshire dealership". At some point Thorpe repainted the car silver.

Does anyone here on this board remember my car, Morley, or Thorpe? I am searching for pictures, results, magazine clippings, etc. on this car. Attached in a picture of the car in action back in England with Bailey behind the wheel.

Best Regards,

Anthony Rimicci

.

*EDIT: I forgot to mention that the cars license plate number in the UK MWJ80D*

Edited by italcarguy, 08 November 2013 - 16:23.

Hi There,

               I have some information which may be of use to you.

D.K.Morley was an Alfa dealer in Derbyshire for many years until the dreaded Fiat dynasty took ove the marque and sacked nearly all of the original old dealers because of the strength of the network as Fiat wanted to break it down so the yes men could get in place and make their takeover able to ease their own Fiat parts into the cars .The rest is history.

 The driver you mentioned was quite well known for his saloon car exploits and  you would do well to put a question up on the TNF forum about him .

 I was with Alfa from '75-84 and to my knowlege there never was a GTA in right hand drive and indeed the car looks to me to be  GT Junior although the description may have changed once the car arrived in the USA.

I can well believe the car would have been in good shape as Deryck Morley ran a very good bodyshop up in Derbyshire  and was relied on to keep many corroded Alfa Sud models safe enough to pass our annual roadworthiness test.

Pretty little car and even in standard form they were lovely to drive with that lusty little 1600 twincam and a nice transmission -apart from the regular loss of second gear synchomesh due to the Porsche design baulk rings.

Good luck with your car .

Regards ,Maurice Levy

Hi There,

               I have some information which may be of use to you.

D.K.Morley was an Alfa dealer in Derbyshire for many years until the dreaded Fiat dynasty took ove the marque and sacked nearly all of the original old dealers because of the strength of the network as Fiat wanted to break it down so the yes men could get in place and make their takeover able to ease their own Fiat parts into the cars .The rest is history.

 The driver you mentioned was quite well known for his saloon car exploits and  you would do well to put a question up on the TNF forum about him .

 I was with Alfa from '75-84 and to my knowlege there never was a GTA in right hand drive and indeed the car looks to me to be  GT Junior although the description may have changed once the car arrived in the USA.

I can well believe the car would have been in good shape as Deryck Morley ran a very good bodyshop up in Derbyshire  and was relied on to keep many corroded Alfa Sud models safe enough to pass our annual roadworthiness test.

Pretty little car and even in standard form they were lovely to drive with that lusty little 1600 twincam and a nice transmission -apart from the regular loss of second gear synchomesh due to the Porsche design baulk rings.

Good luck with your car .

Regards ,Maurice Levy

Hello Maurice,  there were indeed RHD GTAs built in 1965 and  maybe 1966.  Where the LHD GTA had a serial number such as 613001 to 613997 (range according to some sources); the RHD version serial numbers were 752501 - 752691 (again range according to some sources) with only 50 or so being built within that number range. The Riminci GTA falls within this number range for RHD GTA.  This is documented at the Alfa Romeo Document Centre and in various texts and ample pictures can be found.  The tell tale external features of GTA can be seen in the picture above, which are- the unique to GTA stainless steel grill centre,  the square carb air duct intake behind the right side grill mesh, the additional screened vents at the front bumper line and the finger loop door handles.

In 1966 about 14 RHD GTAs were sold to the USA Alfa Importer for use in the newly formed Trans Am race series for sedans, with two classes Over 2 litre and Under 2 litre.  The tracks are run clock wise and this (RHD) was thought an advantage.  Over the years at least 3 other RHD GTAs found there way to North America from England one of which is the one now in the hands of Mr Riminci.    

BTW if you look carefully at my avitar you will see the RHD GTA 752507.     

regards

Ken Geiger

Toronto       

Edited by kengta, 11 October 2013 - 14:46.

Thanks for that Ken .I stand corrected.

Rhoddy Harvey-Bailey is still very active as an automotive suspension consultant, but moved from Derbyshire, a few years ago, to the South West. As well as the Morley GTA, Rhoddy also had drives in the works Autodelta GTA Junior. Incidentally, there was another road GTA in Derby at that time (I'm sure supplied by Morley) owned by Derby record store owner and club racer, Peter Felix. 

I am sure others will correct me,but I thought that the only RHD GTA racing in period in Britain in 66/67 was the one owned by Tommy Clapham, (and latterly owned by Nick Smith of Essex). I recall the car being found in a derelict state on Canvey Island with a roll-cage made out of scaffolding tube some time in the 1990s. I tracked down Tommy who had only just hung up his helmet after 40 years racing. I think I wrote it up for a brief item in the AROC (UK) magazine at the time. Nick Smith restored the car pretty well and he and I raced our GTAs at Spa and other circuits in the 2001 to 2005 era. The other GTAs racing in the Sixties were, of course, the brief appearance of the Alfa works team in LHD cars in the ETCC at Snetterton with Rindt and others.

Rhoddy Harvey Bailey  -  a more helpful man you could not meet  -  did race GTAs for the Works but I am not sure at which circuits. I got the impression when I was listening to him that it was mainly in mainland Europe.

Nick

I am sure others will correct me,but I thought that the only RHD GTA racing in period in Britain in 66/67 was the one owned by Tommy Clapham, (and latterly owned by Nick Smith of Essex). I recall the car being found in a derelict state on Canvey Island with a roll-cage made out of scaffolding tube some time in the 1990s. I tracked down Tommy who had only just hung up his helmet after 40 years racing. I think I wrote it up for a brief item in the AROC (UK) magazine at the time. Nick Smith restored the car pretty well and he and I raced our GTAs at Spa and other circuits in the 2001 to 2005 era. The other GTAs racing in the Sixties were, of course, the brief appearance of the Alfa works team in LHD cars in the ETCC at Snetterton with Rindt and others.

 

Rhoddy Harvey Bailey  -  a more helpful man you could not meet  -  did race GTAs for the Works but I am not sure at which circuits. I got the impression when I was listening to him that it was mainly in mainland Europe.

Nick

Hi Nick,

There was more than one rhd GTA being raced in period in Britain at the time. I have written, photographical, and verbal confirmation my car was owned by Morley and raced by Bailey and later on Thorpe. Later on Bailey switched to a lhd GTA supplied directly from Autodelta.

I have a few Alfa friends in the UK who are working on putting me in contact with Bailey.

Anthony

Hi, Anthony,

I am sure you are right,and I have seen your postings about your car on AlfaBB  -  a beautiful restoration.

I learnt today that the ex-Tommy Clapham RHD GTA was sold to Italy a couple of years ago. My RHD GTA, 752661, went to a new owner in West Coast USA about 3 months ago.

Nick

Anthony,

In John Tipler's "Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe, GT and GTA" (Veloce, 1992) Bailey is said to have raced the RHD GTA in 1966. His Autodelta story is slightly puzzling, can't find Bailey in continental races on Frank de Jong's site.

Only in the 1968 Snetterton 500, winner of Div.2. Entered by Autodelta indeed, although the site also states Autodelta missed the event due to a crashed transporter (Bjorn??).

The commendable book shows more RHD Bertone's in glorious action, but those are 2000 GTV's or various Juniors.

Anyway, Google from this side of the pond does give a link to Bailey's still ongoing involvement with Alfa's that seems recent, so good luck at  http://harveybaileye...ce.com/about-us .

Jan.

PS: the Clapham car indeed did Zandvoort in '67, his adventures are documented here: http://www.giuliasup...amici/ukgta.pdf

Hi, Anthony,

I am sure you are right,and I have seen your postings about your car on AlfaBB  -  a beautiful restoration.

I learnt today that the ex-Tommy Clapham RHD GTA was sold to Italy a couple of years ago. My RHD GTA, 752661, went to a new owner in West Coast USA about 3 months ago.

Nick

The ex-Tommy Clapham RHD GTA is serial number 752638 for those interested. 

Anthony,

In John Tipler's "Alfa Romeo Giulia Coupe, GT and GTA" (Veloce, 1992) Bailey is said to have raced the RHD GTA in 1966. His Autodelta story is slightly puzzling, can't find Bailey in continental races on Frank de Jong's site.

Only in the 1968 Snetterton 500, winner of Div.2. Entered by Autodelta indeed, although the site also states Autodelta missed the event due to a crashed transporter (Bjorn??).

The commendable book shows more RHD Bertone's in glorious action, but those are 2000 GTV's or various Juniors.

Anyway, Google from this side of the pond does give a link to Bailey's still ongoing involvement with Alfa's that seems recent, so good luck at http://harveybaileye...ce.com/about-us .

Jan.

PS: the Clapham car indeed did Zandvoort in '67, his adventures are documented here: http://www.giuliasup...amici/ukgta.pdf

Hi, Anthony,

I am sure you are right,and I have seen your postings about your car on AlfaBB  -  a beautiful restoration.

I learnt today that the ex-Tommy Clapham RHD GTA was sold to Italy a couple of years ago. My RHD GTA, 752661, went to a new owner in West Coast USA about 3 months ago.

Nick

Hi Nick,

Where did your car sell to? Do you know if it will be raced out here in California. You can send me a private message if you don't want to publically post the info.

Anthony

Anthony, have sent you a PM,

Nick

Which English GTA had the plate # LMY 39D or possibly LWY 39D....it also happened to be right hand drive?  Did the left hand drive Bailey GTA run the plate # 111643 UD?....Oooppps, I found the answer to my question about LMY 39D....it's the Tommy Clapham GTA.

Erik

Edited by ERIKZ, 14 November 2013 - 00:33.

Anthony

I have had recent contact with both Rhoddy Harvey-Bailey and Geoff Breakell, who I think drove the Tommy Clapham GTA. Happy to furnish contacts if you want to PM me.

Michael

Thanks Michael, just sent you a message.

Just giving this thread a bump to the top. It's been a while since I've checked in here and hoping someone with photos and info sees this.

Best Regards.

Anthony

Mallory Park, BRSCC Les Leston Cup meeting, 24 September 1967

"In the marque sports car 15-lap race Standard-Triumph engineer Peter Cox with his Triumph Spitfire, fought a really determined battle against some much larger cars. For much of the race he sat only few yards behind leader Dickie Stoop (Porsche) and several times got alongside him, but just couldn't squeeze past, and he had to be content with a very well-earned second place ahead of Roddy Harvey Bailey in Deryck Morley's Alfa Romeo GTA."

Coventry Standard, Thursday 28 September 1967

See: http://www.progcover...r/mallory.html#

RGDS RLT

Roddy Harvey Bailey (Alfa Romeo GTA) was 6th overall and third in class in the Tourist Trophy held over 40 laps at Oulton Park, 29 May 1967.
PM me with email address.

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 05 November 2019 - 01:47.

Thanks for the info. Sent you a PM.

I received a stack of period photos of the car in action from Harvey Bailey with him at the wheel. He was kind enough to write the year and track on the back along with race result. Hopefully that bit of info along with car number would help me pin point more events and find race programs from races the car participated in.

Anthony

DEREK K. MORLEY LTD.

Coach Builders and Motor Engineers

RUTLAND STREET, ILKESTON

For more than 25 years we have set the highest standards

for service and workmanship. Due to an expansion pro-

gramme that we have planned for 1978, we wish to interview

personnel who believe they can match up to our requirements

in the following areas:-

SKILLED MOTOR TECHNICIANS, PANEL

BEATERS, PAINT REFINISHERS, STORE-

KEEPER-experienced in Motor Trade

The above situations are offered to male or female applicants who

will already be earning above the average remuneration.

Tel. Mr. D. K. Morley on ILKESTON 326666 now

D.K.M. Alfa Romeo dealers and officially appointed by the

factory. Specialist repairers for the Midlands 

RGDS RLT

Hi Anthony

Since your original post  Martin Ubelher and Patrick Dasse have extended and re-published Alleggerita.

I would suggest you contact them and see if any new info has emerged.

Richard

Hi Anthony

 

Since your original post  Martin Ubelher and Patrick Dasse have extended and re-published Alleggerita.

 

I would suggest you contact them and see if any new info has emerged.

 

Richard

I've spoken with them quite a bit over the years. They have a lot of stuff as do I but I'd like to fill in more blanks from the cars early days in the UK.

Anthony

Hi Anthony

pm sent

Richard