2022 Tipo 184 Monoposto

• Built from a Dowsetts Classic Cars chassis kit
• The first Tipo 184 chassis No.1 sold to a private customer
• Based on Mazda MX-5 mechanicals
• Numerous bespoke features

The stunning car we offer was inspired by one of the most successful Formula 1 cars of all time: the Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/159, which between 1938 and 1947 secured 47 victories from 59 Grands Prix entered. The Alfa's '158' nomenclature stood for '1.5 litres, 8 cylinders', while this car's 'Tipo 184' title is a reference to the Mazda MX-5 donor car's engine, which is a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder. One of the advantages of basing the Tipo 184 on the Mazda MX-5 is that this model sold in substantial numbers, and parts are both relatively cheap and plentiful.

This amazing vehicle has been built from a chassis kit manufactured by Dowsetts Classic Car Co Ltd of Colliers End, Hertfordshire and is the first example sold to and completed by a private customer. Dowsetts is a British automotive engineering company specialising in the creation of bespoke cars that are unique pieces of art in their own right. The car was built by our vendor, a professional boatbuilder and classic car restorer with decades of experience in bespoke fabrication.

An MoT failure, the donor MX-5 had covered only some 40,000 miles and seemed sound; all of the belts have been replaced and the engine fully serviced, and an upgraded fuel rail from MX-5 parts specialists BOFI Racing installed. Interviewed for an article about the Tipo 184 in Complete Kit Car magazine (February 2023 edition, copy available), the owner observed: "It was a bolt-it-together mission to get a rolling chassis fitted with the engine and gearbox. It was very quick. It was easy to build because a lot of the hard work was done."

The suspension comes from the MX-5 also and was completely disassembled, sand-blasted and powder-coated with new bushes throughout. The brake callipers were rebuilt with new pistons and seals, the discs renewed and fitted with uprated pads.

With the car beginning to come together, the owner was able to draw on his vast experience of composites fabrication to make some bespoke cycle wings and pods for the tail lights. Other bespoke details include the exhaust heat shield, stainless steel roll-over bar, and reproduction period Alfa Romeo headlights, which also incorporate the flashing indicators. Applied by the owner, the paintwork is from the Alfa Romeo 8C and required no fewer than ten coats in total. The tan-coloured leather upholstery for the seat and cockpit trim panels are the owner's work also.

The completed Tipo had its first outing at Keevil airfield in August 2022, being driven enthusiastically all day without any problems. The only glitch concerned the cycle wings, which were moving around in the airflow and have since been replaced with a new design.

It should be noted that the car is not registered and will have to go through the IVA process before that can be done, should the next owner so desire the donor MX5 V5C comes with the car.