1936 | Alta 2 Litre Sports

1936 Alta 2-Litre Sports

Ultra-rare British competition car

Matching chassis and engine

Regularly campaigned in historic races

Registered in Belgium

FIA/MSA papers (issued 2023)

Engine number: 64S

Chassis number: 64S

1960 cc, supercharged, 4 cylinder engine, 4-speed pre-selector

Renowned within the realm of historic racing, this exceedingly rare Alta sports-racer departed the manufacturing facility on October 10, 1937, and received the registration 'IA-1891' in Berlin, Germany, under the ownership of its first owner Franz Kitzerau. Identified as '64S', this vehicle is the fourth among a total of five of its kind ever produced, and it stands as the sole example featuring left-hand drive with the 2.0-liter supercharged engine. (One of these five 2 litre models has been lost, leaving just four in existence today).

In 1966, M.W. Wood of Alburtis, Pennsylvania bought the Alta from Ed Jurist of The Vintage Car Store, New York, USA. Correspondence on record includes letters from Karl Ludvigsen (August 1965) and Stanley Novak (September 1966), confirming their knowledge of the car. Duncan Rabagliatti also exchanged letters with Wood about purchasing the car. Additionally, there is a letter from Denis Jenkinson (November 1983) attesting to his familiarity with the Alta, having worked at Alta himself. Two letters from prospective buyers, David Baldock (1990) of the Alta Car and Engineering Co and D.G. Kaas (1994) of Pennsylvania, are also in the file. 

The Alta received a thorough restoration in 1974 and has been used what its made for ... rally's and races.

The royal blue paint on the car is a perfect fit and remains in good condition. The red rims add a striking accent, making the car stand out and complementing the interior.

The red leather seats, with their appealing patina, are in pristine condition. The brushed aluminum dashboard, adorned with numerous gauges, not only complements the Alta impeccably but also evokes the aesthetic of an airplane cockpit.

Behind the seats, above the fuel tank you’ll find plenty of space to fit luggage and other necessities.

Equipped with Alta's 1,960cc twin-cam engine and a Roots-type supercharger, this car delivers massive power and revs happily to 6,000rpm. With a total weight of 800kg, the power-to-weight ratio is super impressive. When this sort of power is coupled to a well setup four-speed Wilson pre-selector gearbox it is an almost unbeatable combination as wins at Classic Le mans etc have proved.

After undergoing a full mechanical rebuild the '64S' achieved a remarkable victory in the pre-War race at the Old-timer Grand Prix held at the Nurbürgring during the early 2000s. Subsequently, the car was acquired by John Ruston, who registered and occasionally raced it alongside friends. Between 2008 and 2017, they actively participated and won in numerous 'pre-War' races. The Alta also competed in the prestigious 'Fox and Nicholl Trophy' at Silverstone, driven by Sam Stretton, as well as at Spa Francorchamps. The accompanying documentation includes a current UK V5C Registration Certificate, VSCC document, the previously mentioned FIA/MSA papers, and various invoices issued since the vendor's acquisition of the Alta.

This car is being represented by Historic Competition Services in Antwerp, Belgium. We specialize in sourcing, selling, buying, maintaining and restoring some of the most important historic competition cars in Europe and the US. Join our newsletter list to view collector cars before they hit the open market.