[iicarJohn]

Regarding The Italian Car Registry ... Sorry! It is not online except for some of it that was scanned (stolen) and placed on a certain would-be dealer's website to use as a magnet for their less-than-wholesome operation. The signature line "Ask us" or "We know the story" may indicate allusions to information that might actually be learned from them but it is likely that the rest is taken from other sources, including my work ... and ... Yes, the informal registry I began around 1980 in order to learn a bit more about the cars (mostly projects) in my father's collection has gotten more than a bit out of hand ...

SVA *02028, a red car with engine N. 30074 was sold April 1956 to Giorgio Becucci and was registered in Bologna. The plate has been shared earlier in this thread. I did not do the plate research myself and do not have the estratto cronologico (or "visura") that gives additional particulars, but Lorenzo Boscarelli did share back in the 1980's the information that the car went to Roma294xxx which I have determined was probably issued August of 1957. That plate can be seen in posting #300. I have already stated that I prefer not to share specific plate information for cars that are not well described and, because of potential abuse of this kind of information, I will always try to continue to err on the conservative side in this. Because of the Roma plate and the subsequent use by Bettoja (a.k.a. "Pegaso) we might also assume that Bettoja might have been the purchaser. One way to find out would be to go to the Roma PRA (Pubblico Registro Automobilistico), pay the fee and, either the same day or the next, get a visura that should tell us the name of the Roma owner(s). It may also allude to subsequent travels and research that could be done. The same research can be done at other PRA offices as well, but a higher fee has to be paid and then you have to wait a number of days for a response. It has been reported that the PRA offices may be closed sometime soon but I've not heard yet what agency or system would replace them.

In any case, Becucci raced *02028 on the Mille Miglia (race #120) in 1956 and placed 12th overall and 2nd in the GT1300 category. Two photos appears in the Anselmi/Boscarelli's book "Alfa Romeo Giulietta" on pages 154 and 155. Becucci also presumably entered the same car in the 1956 Coppa Inter-Europa (race #21) in September but was not listed among the finishers. Approximately 35 Giulietta were entered but only 23 cars of all types actually started in the GT1300 category and I do not know if Becucci was among the actual starters.

Then, in about August of 1957, the Roma plate was issued to *02028, as mentioned above. It might be pertinent to remind one and all that, after the Mille Miglia tragedy in May of 1957, open road racing in Italy was essentially banned for a time, so the folks who wished to race had to participate in hill climbs, circuit racing and regularity trials for a time. Even the Targa Florio, moved to November, became a regularity rallye, as did the "Mille Miglia" events of 1958 to 1961 although some of these did incorporate speed events. And, although some of the regularity trials were contrived to require racing skills in order to make a checkpoint in time, the wheel-to-wheel thrill was no longer a part of many events.

Bettoja had *01461 that he raced 1956. Don't know how long he had it. Bettoja raced one or more Giulietta cars during 1957 as well but I don't know the identity(ies). Likely possibilities would seem to include *01461, perhaps *02028 and also perhaps *02308? Bettoja acquired *02308 at some point as a used car already registered Roma259xxx. Bettoja had a Zagato body fitted early in 1958 and used it to win his class in a few races during March, April and May. I'd have to check farther to see if it did more. *02308 was sold in 1959 and went to Ancona and then to Napoli, still during 1959.

Evidently, the Roma294xxx plate was used by Bettoja on a Giulietta SV in the 1959 Targa Florio, as shown by the photo published by Giugno and shared in posting #300. Giugno says it had a different chassis number but that may have been an assumption? The Roma plate certainly did not belong on the stated chassis but belonged to *02028. Since *02308 was a Zagato by this time, it is out of contention. To reiterate, if the inference of the Roma plate and its later use by Bettoja ("Pegaso") is to be taken at face value, then there are several events beginning September of 1957 that may have featured participations by "Pegaso" in *02028?

Fast forward to 1987 and I have it noted, from what source I do not recall ... but maybe I can find it one day if it should turn out to be important, that the chassis number *02028 was owned by Tore Stenberg in Sweden. Right now, I do not recall if it was described as "Zagato" at the time. Stenberg's ownership supposedly dated back to 1976 or thereabouts. Then we have reports that the car was supposedly "restored by Zagato" in about 1988 or 1989. I visited with Zagato a couple of times during that time period and my very strong recollection is that Zagato was doing no restorations themselves but referred clients to Galbiati for any "authorized restoration". I also visited with Galbiati during this time and recorded a number of chassis numbers that I saw. I certainly did not get them all, however! I recall seeing a lot of very interesting projects but did not record this chassis number. I should probably check my photos to see what might be in the background of one or more of them.

As of 1993, *02028 was certainly a "Zagato" by this time and the car was with Rinus Belt in NL. Then, in 1994, it was reportedly with "Alberts" but this evidently was a mistaken reference to Jaques Albers?

If the chassis number *02028 is genuinely under a Zagato body today, it remains to be determined when, why and for whom it was done. And I am not assuming that either the "Zagato" moniker or the chassis number are/were apllied historically to the car in question.

John de Boer
The Italian Car Registry