New Zealand Alfa Romeo Takes A Top Prize At Pebble Beach
Jay Leno examines the New Zealand owned Alfa Romeo
The New Zealand owned Alfa Romeo G1 that is last surviving example of the very first Alfa Romeo ever made and which has
spent much of its life holding a up a barn roof and pumping water on an outback Australian farm before being restored in
Christchurch, has collected a top prize in the world's most glamorous classic car event, the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance.
Owned by New Zealand Alfa Romeo importer, Neville Crichton, the G1 took third in class award, beating off competition
from more than 60 classic Alfa Romeos from around the world, including seven cars from Alfa Romeo's own museum.
"This is a remarkable result because normally cars lose points for a lack of original body work," says Neville Crichton.
"Our G1 went to Australia as a chassis, so although it looks identical to a car of its period, the body is not original.
The judges gave it credit for the mechanical condition of the drivetrain, its historical significance, its performance
on the drive test and its presence. Everywhere the G1 has gone in the USA, it's been cheered by crowds of spectators!"
Members of the public were not the only people drawn to the G1, with legendary US talk show host and car fanatic, Jay
Leno, taking time to examine the G1 and Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, the worldwide head of Alfa Romeo describing it as
"awesome". The inclusion of the Alfa G1 in the display helped make this year's Pebble Beach event what the organizers
called the greatest and most complete collection of Alfa Romeo products ever seen anywhere in the world.
ENDS