Recreating a classic

The Tipo 158 is a legendary race car that was manufactured by Alfa Romeo in the 1930s specifically for Grand Prix racing. It made its first appearance in 1938 and had a supercharged 1.5-litre straight-eight engine that could generate approximately 200 horsepower and attain speeds of up to 200 km/h. The car was immensely successful during its racing career, winning an impressive 47 out of the 54 races it participated in. The Tipo 158 was one of the most successful racing cars ever made and remains an iconic piece of motorsport history.

In 2019, a TV mechanic named Ant Anstead created a replica of the Alfa Romeo 158 racing car on his show, Master Mechanic. This sparked interest in building a car from scratch using a set of parts and a donor vehicle. Now, Dowsetts Classic Cars has created a self-build, UK-compliant version of the Tipo 158 that anyone can build at home in their own time. They provide all the necessary parts, while the owner provides the donor vehicle, an NB Mazda MX-5, and gets to work building the car.

They have taken inspiration from the evocative design style and sensuous curves of these great Italian race cars and blended them with modern engineering and drivetrain technology in a quest to create a car that is truly unique and accessible to enthusiasts around the world.