Dr. Gerald Alexander has amassed an impressive array of motorcars that have won many awards at the most prestigious events. In Part 2 of this 2-part feature, Royce Rumsey shows us three more of the good Doctor’s favourite cures for those with the automotive bug.
Story & photos by Royce Rumsey, Moto/ology Contributor.
As previously stated, once addicted to automobiles, the best-known treatment is a form of vehicle variolation…i.e. introducing even more and/or better cars into the patient’s life. Dr. Gerald Alexander, MD is a renowned practitioner of this very procedure—here we present the second trio of six of his favourite personal prescriptions.
Dr. Alexander’s ministrations tend toward the rare and exotic automotive variants with a noted emphasis on Italian and British strains. His specimens are of such quality and note that they have graced the award ceremonies at Pebble Beach, Quail, Villa d’Este, the Hamptons, and also the pages of the Wall Street Journal.
Dr. Alexander’s personal “clinic” is similar to other elite boutique collections that focus upon the very select of historical significance and aesthetically beauty. The hexad presented here features prime examples of such: 1958 3-Louvre Ferrari 250 GT Tour d’France, 1927 Bugatti Type 38A Touring by Figoni, 1963Ferrari 250 GT “Lusso”, 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Superleggera by Touring, 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB “short nose”, and a 1950 Alfa 6C 2500 “superjewel”. Let us present the final three…
1950 Alfa 6C 2600 Ghia Supergioiello Coupé (RHD)
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- Pebble Beach Concourse First in Class and Most Elegant Closed Car.
- Chairman’s Award at Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court Palace
- Best in Class at The Quail, Best of Show at the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel, CA
- Certificato d’Oro at the AROC National Convention
- Best in Class at Concorso Eleganza, Villa d’ Este
1965 Ferrari 275GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) “Shortnose”
Many Ferrari enthusiasts (including the very likes of Ferrari expert Eric Clapton) consider the 275 Gran Turismo Berlinetta to be among–if not the–most desirable of Ferraris. And with good reason—from its handsome, aerodynamic body to its powerful, sophisticated and balanced drivetrain it rightfully is placed at the apogee of the Ferrari GT’s famed arc.
The Pininfarina-penned 275 “naso corto” was introduced in 1964 as a successor to the lovely 250GT. Owing to the substantially increased performance of the revised drivetrain, the new body was deliberately made more “muscular” than its aesthetically more lithe ‘Lusso’ predecessor.
The 275 drivetrain included a 10% larger Columbo 60º V12 with its 3.3ltr displacement. The new Tipo 213 SOHC aluminum mill with 3 40DCZ6 carbs would deliver 280HP to the live axled rear wheels via the now famed gated 5-speed manual transaxle and limited slip differential.
Dunlop discs were at all four corners with independent double wishbones coil overs and semi-ellipticals springing at front and rear, respectfully. Weighing in at 2980lbs the 275 was an honest 160MPH coupe. The 275 GTB quickly lived up to its athletic aesthetic and structure winning the 1965 3500-mile Tour de France and also setting a new 168 mph land speed record for production cars.
There were an estimated 248 275 GTBs created by Scaglietti in its 1964-65 run and this beautiful ‘Giallo’ yellow example of the Alexander Collection is #06751 of that production run—acquired by Dr. Alexander in 2011. As can be seen here, its 13 year stay in the Alexander rotunda is one of concours quality care and attention.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Superleggera by Touring
Due to its starring role in the iconic Goldfinger film, the DB5 is the most famous of Aston Martin models and the one that is most identified with the famed Warwickshire marque.
Penned by Federico Formenti of Carrozzeria Touring, the DB5 Superleggera succeeded the DB4 in 1963 and was produced though 1965. The upgrade from the DB4 was significant, including a larger (4.0 liter vs.3.7 liter) all-alloy engine mated to a new, more robust ZF 5-Speed transmission. This arrangement still used the DB4’s live rear axle however. The twin-tank fed, triple SU-carbureted DOHC four-liter six’s 282 ponies would easily propel this proper 3,311lb GT to speeds of 145mph.
The fortunate DB5 driver and 3 passengers (all DB5s were 2+2s) were ensconced in luxurious reclining seats covered in sumptuous Connolly hides, over deep wool pile carpets, with conveniences like electric window lifts and other fine accoutrements. The surrounding, handsome hand-formed Superleggera bodywork was a sophisticated aluminum-magnesium construction by Touring.
Dr. Alexander’s stunning RHD example featured here is a 100pt concours-winning restoration by Aston Works in England and is arguably the best of the 886 DBs ever built. It was added to the Alexander Collection in 2012 and remains in its carefully restored “Best of Show” condition.