PARIS.- Gooding Christie's, the official auction house of Rétromobile, has announced the consignment of The Cherrett Collection, consisting of four Alfa Romeo 6Cs lovingly cherished and maintained by the late Alfa Romeo historian Angela Cherrett and her husband Allan since the 1960s. Well regarded among the automotive community in the UK and Europe, the Cherretts were active participants in many events, tours, and rallies throughout the years. While Allan put his expertise to use in restoring and maintaining the 6Cs, Angela became quite known as emblematic and representative of the prewar Alfa Romeo spirit, frequently putting her cars to great use on dedicated occasions. This quartet of 6Cs from The Cherrett Collection will be offered entirely without reserve at Gooding Christie's inaugural Parisian auction on Thursday, 29 January, at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The auction house is still welcoming consignments, subject to availability, for those interested in selling opportunities at the forthcoming event.

“Angela Cherrett's name is legendary within the Alfa Romeo and vintage sports car community. For more than half a century, she was among the marque's foremost historians, publishing prominent books on the 6C and 8C models. Her passion and interest, shared with her husband Allan, truly encompassed their lives,” said Gooding Christie's Specialist, Ben Willis. “Together they curated a wonderful collection of 6Cs; cars they rebuilt, raced, rallied, and shared with the community. It started with Angela's first Alfa, the 1500 Sport Zagato that she acquired in 1962. The collection grew within just a few years to the four motor cars we are honoured to present today. We are incredibly privileged to have been entrusted with the sale of Angela and Allan's personal collection.”

Acquired by Angela and Allan Cherrett in the mid-1960s, the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Le Mans (Estimate: €600,000 – €700,000, Without Reserve) leads the quartet. Delivered new in 1929 to Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe, this 6C was the first Alfa Romeo to appear at the circuit of Le Mans in 1930, and with great success. Driven by Earl Howe and Leslie Callingham, this 1750 SS placed 5th Overall and 1st in Class. It also competed in period at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in Worcestershire. Having undergone a full restoration by Allan Cherrett in 1965, this rare and historically significant 1750 SS Le Mans retains its matching-numbers chassis and supercharged, twin-cam engine, wearing sporting fabric-covered four-seater coachwork as when new.

The collection also includes a 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Mille Miglia Speciale (Estimate: €300,000 – €400,000, Without Reserve), deemed to be Angela's “favourite pre-war Alfa.” The 6C most frequently driven by Angela in recent years, this 6C 1500 Mille Miglia Speciale was first owned by Le Mans winner Dr. Joseph Dudley Benjafield, also known as “Benjy” of Bentley Boys fame. Acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Cherrett in 1965, this 6C has participated in many VSCC rallies, as well as the Rievocazione Della Mille Miglia in 1968. The latter is documented in wonderful photographs on file, including Angela and Allan's stop at the historic Villa d'Este in Lake Como.

Angela Cherrett's very first Alfa Romeo, the 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport Zagato (Estimate: €250,000 – €350,000, Without Reserve), is also on offer after 64 years of ownership in the collection. Owned by British racing driver Ken Evans from 1930-1934, this 6C 1500 Sport Zagato participated in many period events, including at Brooklands. It would go on to be raced and toured extensively across the UK and Europe by the Cherretts, including the Alfa Romeo-focused Mille Miglia Storico. Rounding out the quartet is the 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Saloon (Estimate: €100,000 – €150,000, Without Reserve), acquired by Allan and Angela in 1967. Having undergone a mechanical rebuild by Allan Cherrett soon after purchase, alongside other remedial work, this 6C 1750 Saloon retains its seldom-seen original coachwork by Martin Walter of Folkestone.