History of Al Leake Jr. Monoposto spider

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I bought this race car for my 40th B day

Est. 140hp, 1,300 cc dual overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with dampers, rear trailing arm and live rear axle with dampers, four-wheel Girling hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 87″

Agile to drive with excellent road holding, a clean aerodynamic body and an engine with superior qualities, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider typified Italian sports cars of the mid-fifties. In 1956, an upgraded Giulietta Spider Veloce, more commonly known simply as the “Spider Veloce”, was introduced, primarily for drivers who intended to go racing. This version was equipped with a dual-cam 1,300 cc, dual Weber-carbureted alloy engine capable of producing 90 horsepower. The gas tank was enlarged to better prepare the car for endurance racing, while the larger front brakes provided excellent stopping power. Weight was reduced by using aluminum for the doors, hood and trunk lid, ultimately improving performance.

The most desirable variant, however, was certainly the “Veloce Monoposto”, of which only 24 were built by Alfa Romeo for direct factory-backed racing efforts. These cars were fitted with race-tuned Veloce engines, modified suspension, alloy body panels, and an aluminum tonneau cover, which accounted for the Monoposto designation. Just five examples were to stay in Europe while the remaining 19 were shipped to America. Two were distributed to SCCA Amateur racers: one went to the legendary Carroll Shelby and another to West Coast driver Bill Pollack of southern California. With Pollack, that chassis went on to win numerous events at Riverside, Pomona, Palm Springs and Monterey.

It has been suggested that Al Leake’s car, before its accident damage, was the original Monoposto of Bill Pollack. However, as there is no record of the original serial number, nor corroborative documentation or ownership trail to support this claim, any connection to Pollack is speculative at best. Furthermore, the motor number of this particular car does not match any of the numbers listed for the Monoposto cars and is actually a 101 series 1300 cc engine built around 1961/62. Nevertheless, if Al Leake’s Alfa was in fact the ex-Pollack Monoposto, it is plausible that the alloy doors, hood and trunk fitted to unibody AR 1495-02646 are from a damaged factory Monoposto.

Well-suited for a wide variety of vintage events, including the famed Mille Miglia and California Mille, this Alfa is also accompanied by FIA documentation and multiple historical documents, including first hand accounts of the races, repairs and restoration that occurred during Al Leake’s ownership – truly a fascinating account of a remarkable Alfa Romeo.

1957 Alfa Romeo Spider `Veloce Monoposto` s/n AR 1495-02646, eng no. AR000106*00512* Red with Red Interior

Agile to drive, with excellent road holding and an engine with superior qualities, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider was immediately successful and typified Italian sports cars of the mid-fifties. Its clean, aerodynamic body gave this car a sober elegance. In 1956, the factory constructed a very rare (24 total) magnesium/aluminum alloy version of these cars, built specifically for racing, complete with an all-alloy 1300 cc dual-cam engine. The gas tank was enlarged to better prepare it for endurance racing, while the larger front brakes and modified suspension provided excellent stopping power. By using magnesium/aluminum alloy doors, hood, and trunk lid, the Monoposto`s were true factory lightweight racers. In addition, an aluminum tonneau cover was fitted to each, which accounts for its `Monoposto` designation. At least two Alfa Romeo factory-backed cars were distributed to SCCA Amateur racers: one going to and East Coast racer, the legendary Carroll Shelby, while the other went to the legendary West Coast driver Bill Pollack from Southern California. Bill Pollack went on to win numerous events at Riverside raceway, Pomona, Palm Springs, and Monterey during that era. It is believed that car later went to well-known West Coast Vintage Racer Al Leake, Jr., who campaigned the car in the mid-70`s to numerous SCCA National victories. In 1976 Al was named the Alfa Romeo driver of the year because of his and the Veloce Monoposto achievements. During a race at Laguna Seca, the car crashed heavily, requiring a replacement tub be fitted prior to returning the car to the track. This unibody bears the number AR 1495-02646, and it is this number to which the car is now referred. According to records and testimony of Al Leake, the alloy doors, hood, trunk and tonneau which gives the car it�

s `Monoposto` designation are in fact the original parts which were luckily not on the car when it crashed. However, there are no factory serial numbers on these parts, so this cannot be absolutely verified.

Before and after its restoration, the car was campaigned in numerous SCCA and vintages race events including the historic Mille Miglia in 1991. The `Veloce` was also awarded `Race Car Best in Class` at the 1996 Alfa Romeo National Concourse.

During the mid-1990s the Alfa Romeo Spider `Veloce Monoposto` underwent a complete nut and bolt restoration. Its features include a welded � in roll hoop and safety structure, on-board fire extinguisher, safety harness and race seat. The Veloce has also been updated with a modern fuel cell in place of its original fuel tank and is fully plumbed with modern stainless steel braided lines from front to back. The engine is a full-race prepped series 101 1300cc twin cam which was constructed for this car on a no-expense-spared basis. According to the previous owner, the bill for this engine work exceeded $16,000. There is available, at nominal cost, an original 750 series engine which was fitted to this car prior to having the race motor built up. It is in excellence condition, complete with DCO3 Webers. This car`s extensive race history makes it eligible for virtually every vintage racing sanctioning body around the globe.

For the collector who is looking for a vintage European racecar with an interesting and important history, this Spider `Veloce Monoposto` is a phenomenal value. As and added bonus, this car has the very rare distinction of being eligible to compete in such world-renowned Vintage racing events as the famed Mille Miglia and the California Mille.

Agile to drive with excellent road holding, a clean aerodynamic body and an engine with superior qualities, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider typified Italian sports cars of the mid-fifties. In 1956, an upgraded Giulietta Spider Veloce, more commonly known simply as the ‘Spider Veloce’, was introduced, primarily for drivers who intended to go racing. This version was equipped with a dual-cam 1,300 cc, dual Weber-carbureted alloy engine capable of producing 90 horsepower. The gas tank was enlarged to better prepare the car for endurance racing, while the larger front brakes provided excellent stopping power. Weight was reduced by using aluminum for the doors, hood and trunk lid, ultimately improving performance.

The most desirable variant, however, was certainly the ‘Veloce Monoposto’, of which only 24 were built by Alfa Romeo for direct factory-backed racing efforts. These cars were fitted with race-tuned Veloce engines, modified suspension, alloy body panels, and an aluminum tonneau cover, which accounted for the Monoposto designation. Just five examples were to stay in Europe while the remaining 19 were shipped to America. Two were distributed to SCCA Amateur racers: one went to the legendary Carroll Shelby and another to West Coast driver Bill Pollack of southern California. With Pollack, that chassis went on to win numerous events at Riverside, Pomona, Palm Springs and Monterey.

The Alfa Romeo offered here was formerly owned by racing driver Al Leake, Jr. and is equipped with various sporting modifications faithful to the original factory Veloce Monopostos. It was campaigned by Leake from 1974 to 1976 and won numerous SCCA national events. While racing at Laguna Seca in 1978, however, the car was involved in an accident and had to be fully rebuilt with unibody number AR 1495-02646. It has been suggested that Al Leake’s car, before its accident damage, was the original Monoposto of Bill Pollack. However, as there is no record of the original serial number, nor corroborative documentation or ownership trail to support this claim, therefore any connection to Pollack is speculative at best. Furthermore, the motor number of this particular car does not match any of the numbers listed for the Monoposto cars and is actually a 101 series 1300 cc engine built around 1961/62. Nevertheless, if Al Leake’s Alfa was in fact the ex-Pollack Monoposto, it is plausible that the alloy doors, hood and trunk fitted to unibody AR 1495-02646 are from a damaged factory Monoposto.

Following its restoration, Leake continued campaigning this car successfully in numerous SCCA and vintage racing events, including the historic Mille Miglia in 1991. During the mid-1990s it was treated to a complete nut and bolt restoration and was awarded ‘Race Car Best in Class’ at the 1996 Alfa Romeo National Concours. It features a welded-in roll bar and safety structure, on-board fire extinguisher, safety harness and race seat. The car has also been updated with a modern fuel cell in place of its original fuel tank and is fully plumbed with modern stainless steel braided lines from front to back. Well-suited for a wide variety of vintage events, including the famed Mille Miglia and California Mille, this Alfa is also accompanied by FIA documentation and multiple historical documents, including first hand accounts of the races, repairs and restoration that occurred during Al Leake’s ownership ‘ truly a fascinating account of a remarkable Alfa Romeo.