The boys from Barcelona

We don’t think these good-looking men are scrap merchants. They just seem too sharply suited and too expensively equipped for that. But what on earth have they packed their car with then? We see a motorbike and bits and pieces of at least one more strapped to that big car’s body and interior. The tank at the back is placed on a mattress, surely to prevent it from too much bumping. Another one, with a long filler neck, is placed on top of the open roof and we reckon it could do with another rope!

The only information that came with the picture is that the car is probably (possibly?) an Alfa-Romeo RL. Maybe it is. The 'E' for España and the Barcelona number plate are both visible, so we are easily guided towards the collection of Salvador Claret, which includes one of these impressive six-cylinder cars. The whole Claret collection is in fact a museum and is open to visitors. It would be the perfect place to go if you happen to be in Catalonia.

The Claret car is actually a rare RL SS – for Super Sports – and is a 1925 example whose body is attributed to Carrocería Lucas of… Barcelona. Surely a one-off? Well, it seems to be registered B-16795, while the car in our picture is B-12386. So is it the same? Or is it another Barcelona RL after all? Oh, and any information on these biker boys would also be much appreciated.

Words by Jeroen Booij. Picture from the archive.

Publiziert:

Montag September 20th, 2021

Jacobus Honhoff

29 September 2021, 22:25

The AR carrying a Rudge and three ladies

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Jacobus Honhoff

26 September 2021, 17:54

Since I'm less into prewar cars than wines my focus is on the container on top of the cushion. If this Damajuana or Garafa (out of glass) is not used for the emergency fuel supply, there must have been wine or sherry in it to celebrate the expected victory. The "pleita" (A rush basket, a protection and cooling system once wet and stored at a windy location, is missing. The remains of a wrap are visible.) is missing. However the small pieces of rope inside give the impression there is no liquid inside at all. All speculation, but surely a wonderful period picture that tells a story.

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Salvador Claret

21 September 2021, 19:26

This photo is one of several that there are of the trip of the pilots Fernando Aranda, at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo RL and Joaquin Vidal, together with their son who, when named after his father, Joaquin, was known in the motor world as Vidal " Petit " (small).
The photos are taken in Barcelona just before leaving to participate in the "International team speed race" at the Lictorio circuit in 1934. The Alfa was their transport vehicle and they used to carry a minimum of three motorcycles, in addition to their fuel. and spare parts. The bike is a Norton International.

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Jeroen Booij

23 September 2021, 21:45

Now that is just the kind of answer we were hoping to receive! Thank you for sharing this knowledge here with us Salvador, it is much appreciated.

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fred veenschoten

20 September 2021, 13:55

Could the gas can on top actually be a funnel? Those were used by race teams. That could explain a lot as to the rest of your comments.

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Nick Simpson

20 September 2021, 11:57

The bike on the side looks like a racer - perhaps these guys were off to a bike race when the cars fuel tank was damaged. There's a big wet patch in the road under the fuel tank - perhaps the tank was damaged and the guys rigged up an emergency fuel supply - the upper drum has a long tube leading to the interior , perhaps to supply the engine after the tank was damaged with a secondary drum on the luggage rack.

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David Scott

20 September 2021, 07:40

The motorcycle on the running board (quite a common method of carrying them "in period" I believe.?) looks very much like a Velocette KSS racing machine, the two rear frames look a bit "Velocette" although it's many years since I dabbled in them. The fuel container and the second one with a long spout suggests ling distance racing and refuelling equipment, so I should guess it's a racing team returning from an event, possibly their normal vehicle broke down and this Alfa Romeo was pressed into service? Hence the rather haphazard loading?

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The boys from Barcelona

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