19 Feb A BRERA JOINS THE COLLECTION

About a year ago Trevor Barnes made contact with FMM about donating his rare Alfa Romeo Brera to the museum, and in February Wayne Harley travelled to Trevor’s home in Witbank – coincidentally Wayne’s old home town – to collect the car. “He explained to me that the Brera had given him so much pleasure and he had taken really extra good care of it,” says Wayne, “Trevor didn’t want to sell the car to just anyone who would not appreciate it, and felt that donating it to the museum was the best way of sharing his joy with everyone else. He was also happy knowing the car will be looked after and that he can visit it whenever he pleases.”

After an emotional send off by Trevor and his two grandsons, who gave the Brera a loving hug before it left the driveway, Wayne went to Zwartkops to watch some classic racing before heading home with two passengers, Cape Town classic car enthusiasts Dave Alexander and Di Dugmore. A fuel feed ‘hiccup’ manifested itself when the tank was half empty but otherwise the 2007 Alfa “pulls like the steam train”, although the Brera’s 2+2 seating proved somewhat cramped for three adults.

The Pininfarina-designed Brera coupé was designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro at Italdesign. The concept car appeared in 2002 and the production version was introduced in 2005 and lasted for five years during which 21 786 units were built. Of several versions offered, this car is the top-spec model powered by Alfa’s lusty 3,2-litre JTS V6 coupled with a Q4 Torsen four-wheel drive system with six ratios. Performance-wise, top speed was given as 240 km/h with 0-100 km/h taking 7 seconds, and the combined fuel consumption listed as 11,5 litres/100 km.

The Franschhoek Motor Museum is indebted to Trevor for entrusting his Alfa Romeo Brera to the museum to be cared for and displayed for others to admire. WH