Bonniers 6c3000cm

[biz5300]

Thread moved from Other italian makes " Motto and Stab. Farina " thread..

Answer to Carlo post 12:

A very good help for us swedes is the book he wrote in 1962 or so called fast, faster, fastest which gives a great insight to what racing in the fifties was like. It is written for non enthusiasts so is very simply written and doesnt go so much into detail but still is a great help

He says in the book that he had been very impressed by the performances of the 6C 3000 CM in Italy during 1953 and would very much like to bring one to Sweden as a PR excercise. No, doubt he hoped for more. Initially Alfa blanked him and said sternly no. Then, he claims, he implied that wouldnt it be sad if the very successful Alfa representative he was, was to quit selling Alfa and move on to something else. Under this pressure Alfa agreed to send a car to Sweden as a PR excercise. uNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE RACED.

The 6C was to be collected after the Mille Miglia ( which he did with factory Giulietta sprint with Bo Boessen) and be sent to Sweden by train, but in order to save time he asked his friend Erik "Ockelbo" Lindgren to drive it home for him.
Evidently he managed to enter it in the Finnish "Djurgårdsloppet" the week after.
( How he did that when Alfa had said no to racing, the story doesnt tell)

Before the race "Ockelbo" said take it easy and think of that there are lots of horsepower that you are'nt used to.
(Bonnier up till now had only raced Standard or near standard cars except Rosselinis Ferrari the previous year).
It was fast.. So fast that on the 5th lap of practice he clocked a new lap record and on the 6th he wrapped it around a tree.. Without damaging himself.. He still raced in the 2 litre class and won that in a 1900 TI (I think..)

Alfa rebodied it a Zagato and he got it back somehow...

Bergsåker trotting race was next and he raced a borrowed Ferrari there.

Swedish Grand Prix on the 14th of August, followed and he took delivery of 3 1900 SSZ and raced one of them in the 2 litre class so the 6C (He himself called it wrongly, the Disco volante) was available to his friend Quarnström to drive. Not very succelfully as the brakes failed early in the race.
He did win the 2 litre class though beating Leto di Priolo in the 8V Spider Zagato.

Oulton park followed and he raced the Disco in the sportscar race and a 1900 TI in the Standard car race. He won the standard race but doesnt mention his results with 6CM.

Stockholm Grand prix he won with the 6CM

Dundrod and the TT after that won the 2 litre class in André Loens Maserati 150S(?)

He realized that the 6CM was getting old and ordered a 150 S maserati on advice from stirling Moss for the 56 season..

During the winter and spring he entered several Ice races in the 6CM and says it is a perfect ice car , "what you need in an ice car is lots of power at low revs, and the Alfa had that. On ice wheels dont spin so much (studs) so a car with a peaky power curve cant keep up with the Alfas acceleration. It also never broke down"

He did one in Västerås and the last one was Lake Flaten spring 1956.

He entered Oulton park in the Maserati 150S, doesnt mention the 6CM and is second last.

He must have had the 6CM with him though, but at Aintree he wins the Standard class in his 1900 TI. Doesnt mention the 6CM or 150s so, limited success.

Mille miglia in Giulietta sprint (factory entry) 15th overall

Silverstone 4rth with the 150S and 1st with the 1900 TI.

SPA only entered the 1900 TI and 1st.

His tranporter broke down after this in Chaisso on the way to Sardinia. So Bonnier drove the 6CM, MacKay Fraser his Ferrari, and the lorry driver the 1900 TI, they must have left the 150S in the transporter all the way to Cagliari. Could only enter the 1900 TI. 1st.

Nurburgring 1000kms after this in the 1900 TI..1st

Monza DNF in 150S

Bari result?

Nurburgring off track with 150S

Swedish GP. Factory Maserati DNF

Pescara 2 nd in his 150S

Monza 2nd in standard class in Giulietta Veloce, Villoresi fell ill and he drove his 250F in the formula 1 race. DNF

AVUS 1st in a Giulietta sprint

Imola. crashes in a factory 150S painted as to look like his private car..

Rome 1 st in factory Maserati

1956 in Venezuela was his last race in the 6CM, 5th i the race with it and he sold it after the race..

Saluti Niklas

No entry

Silverstone

[biz5300]

By the way,Bo Boesson, who I interviewed a couple of weeks ago, still owns his archive, though he HAS sold out quite a bit of it. Tony Adrianssen did buy phtographs from it but not the entire archive .. Still has Fantastic shots from within the car from the MM for instance..

Nik

[carlo]

Nik,

I agree that is was a good idea to create a new thread on this subject!
Thanks for sharing your data! Of course, I would be interested in a copy of the book you mentioned, but I'm afraid my Swedish isnt good enough

Quote:

The 6C was to be collected after the Mille Miglia ( which he did with factory Giulietta sprint with Bo Boessen) and be sent to Sweden by train, but in order to save time he asked his friend Erik "Ockelbo" Lindgren to drive it home for him.

[biz5300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlo Nik, I agree that is was a good idea to create a new thread on this subject! Thanks for sharing your data! Of course, I would be interested in a copy of the book you mentioned, but I'm afraid my Swedish isnt good enough In these lines I see a certain contradiction, as Bonnier/Boesen started in the 1956 Mille Miglia with their Giulietta and the 6C appeared in Sweden already in 1954. They also took part in the MM 1955 in the 1900 TI, DNF after THIS they got the 6CM Delivered.. And the 6C3000CM wasn't handed to Bonnier after the MM. When the car raced in 1953, it was used by Karl Kling at the MM and then in the 24h of LM. Btw, as works-driver Karl Kling drove the same car on both events it may be very possible that Kling also used it for the test on the Nurburgring in August 1953 where the car crashed into a concrete wall. And thanks also to the huge list of race events! Some data were unknown to me! Concering these races I have different dates. To my knowledge, the Bonnier race team raced the first season in 1955 in Sweden and the 1956 season they raced in GB and in further countries. That's why I have problems to understand that they raced in Sweden in August and the next race was in England then. * crashed Helsinki... * Midnightsun rally in 1900 TI * Swedish GP at Kristianstad, Bonnier 1900 SSZ, Qvarnström 6CM with new zagato body. * After success at the Swedish GP (1st) Invited to Oulton park with 6 CM and 1900 TI. * Skarpnäck and the Stockholm GP: QUOTE:" The first time I really raced in it apart from the terrible mishap in Helsinki" And what is still confusing me is that the Alfa 6C must have been crashed when it belonged to Bonnier. Please take a look at the photos below. This is how the car looked like at Silverstone 1956: Please note the two cars in the background, the 1900SSZ and the Ferrari (or Maserati?). And here is a later photo: Great to hear that! I guess Boesen should be a great source for stories about Bonnier and his team. To learn that his archive still exists makes me very curious indeed! Is there any possiblity to buy a copy of some photographs? Btw, did you already see these pictures?http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa...tml#post159702 And here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa...tml#post171434 Last but not least, this may also be interesting for you Source is Road 'n Track: Best regards Ciao Carlo

[biz5300]

ill clarify that..

clearly states this in book

* Mille miglia 1955 in 1900 TI with Boessen.. DNF
* Delivery of 6 CM AFTER MM.. 1955

* crashed Helsinki...
* Midnightsun rally in 1900 TI
* Swedish GP at Kristianstad, Bonnier 1900 SSZ, Qvarnström 6CM with new zagato body.
* After success at the Swedish GP (1st) Invited to Oulton park with 6 CM and 1900 TI.
* Skarpnäck and the Stockholm GP: QUOTE:" The first time I really raced in it apart from the terrible mishap in Helsinki"r... Qvarnström?

Red driver in pic 2 NOT Bonnier... who drove the 6 CM at kristianstad 1956? However, Bonniers girlfriend sits on the wall..

[biz5300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlo Nik, I agree that is was a good idea to create a new thread on this subject! Thanks for sharing your data! Of course, I would be interested in a copy of the book you mentioned, but I'm afraid my Swedish isnt good enough In these lines I see a certain contradiction, as Bonnier/Boesen started in the 1956 Mille Miglia with their Giulietta and the 6C appeared in Sweden already in 1954. And the 6C3000CM wasn't handed to Bonnier after the MM. When the car raced in 1953, it was used by Karl Kling at the MM and then in the 24h of LM. Btw, as works-driver Karl Kling drove the same car on both events it may be very possible that Kling also used it for the test on the Nurburgring in August 1953 where the car crashed into a concrete wall. And thanks also to the huge list of race events! Some data were unknown to me! Concering these races I have different dates. To my knowledge, the Bonnier race team raced the first season in 1955 in Sweden and the 1956 season they raced in GB and in further countries. That's why I have problems to understand that they raced in Sweden in August and the next race was in England then. And what is still confusing me is that the Alfa 6C must have been crashed when it belonged to Bonnier. Please take a look at the photos below. This is how the car looked like at Silverstone 1956: Please note the two cars in the background, the 1900SSZ and the Ferrari (or Maserati?). And here is a later photo: Great to hear that! I guess Boesen should be a great source for stories about Bonnier and his team. To learn that his archive still exists makes me very curious indeed! Is there any possiblity to buy a copy of some photographs? Btw, did you already see these pictures?http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa...tml#post159702 And here: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfa...tml#post171434 Last but not least, this may also be interesting for you Source is Road 'n Track: Best regards Ciao Carlo

[biz5300]

Bari which is your second last last pic was in 1955... maybe the picture caption lies?? had a closer look now and the car racing at Bari is NOT the same car as Bonnier has driven up till then.. Did he race at Bari in 1956?? 1955 for sure ...

[biz5300]

Grille is different and the air intakes are thinner and longer, also clearly visible are 2 other smaller inlets below the bigger ones... Is that Jo?


the colour photo from Boessen has to be 1955 in Kristianstad when Kvarnstrom drove it.. not 56 like it says after boessens name...

[biz5300]

Also the indicators are in another position the Bonniers car... crash repair??

Just finished the 6cm thread and see we have been through all this already!! :-)

[carlo]

Quote:

Just finished the 6cm thread and see we have been through all this already!! :-)

[iicarJohn]

I have been working on a car-by-car and race-by-race compilation for Joakim Bonnier as time allows. It is not completed yet to a state fit for sharing but thought I could share at least the information compiled thus far for this Alfa Romeo. Information in red needs attention or is offered only as a bit of background that does not apply directly to this car's history.

I have not seen word elsewhere here on the AlfaBB yet, so I regret to be the first to acknowledge here (sadly) that Henry Wessells, purchaser of the car from Jo Bonnier in 1957, died Tuesday, 12 August 2008. I will miss him!

John de Boer

[carlo]

Quote:

I have not seen word elsewhere here on the AlfaBB yet, so I regret to be the first to acknowledge here (sadly) that Henry Wessells, purchaser of the car from Jo Bonnier in 1957, died Tuesday, 12 August 2008. I will miss him!

[biz5300]

No evidence anwhere that Bonnier had the 6C 3000 in 1954;

Racing Sports Cars - Eläintarhanajo - Racing Cars 1954 (Photo Archive)


He entred with 6CM 1955 though.. :car number 10, alfa 6C 3000 CM..
Also reading Bonniers book.. There can be NO doubt that the car arrived in sweden in 1955 .. not 1954..

Racing Sports Cars - Eläintarhanajo 1955 (Photo Archive)



Mille miglia 1955 Bonnier: Race number 346: Jo Bonnier/B. Boessen Alfa 1900 TI, retired 7:01:44,000 DNF..

[biz5300]

I felt there is some confusion here so I called Bo Boessen 10 minutes ago and his memory is as clear as a bell! He confirms that that 6C3000 was delivered after the 1955 Mille miglia in Italy, he also said that it looked a sorry state too. Straight after this they went to the Maserati factory where they test drove the 150 S, Boessen also drove it there.
Bonnier took off and Boessen had to wait a week on borrowed money to take delivery of his own personal Giulietta sprint.

Bonnier never took part in Helsinki race 1954 only 1955 and that it when he wrapped the Colli Berlinetta round the tree.. Carlo, your confirmed dates are wrong.. I cant get closer the the source than Boessen.. :-)

Nik

[biz5300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iicarJohn I have been working on a car-by-car and race-by-race compilation for Joakim Bonnier as time allows. It is not completed yet to a state fit for sharing but thought I could share at least the information compiled thus far for this Alfa Romeo. Information in red needs attention or is offered only as a bit of background that does not apply directly to this car's history. I have not seen word elsewhere here on the AlfaBB yet, so I regret to be the first to acknowledge here (sadly) that Henry Wessells, purchaser of the car from Jo Bonnier in 1957, died Tuesday, 12 August 2008. I will miss him! John de Boer