s ▁first ▁production ▁model . ▁The ▁car ▁used ▁a ▁variety ▁of ▁engines ▁including ▁Cov entry ▁Cl im ax ▁Ford ▁Ang lia ▁ 1 0 0 E ▁and ▁ 1 0 5 E ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁ 4 ▁fitted ▁with ▁Al fa ▁Rome o ▁ 1 3 0 0 cc ▁units ▁nest led ▁into ▁a ▁lad der ▁type ▁ch ass is ▁with ▁trans verse ▁spr ings ▁at ▁the ▁front ▁and ▁co il ▁spr ings ▁at ▁the ▁rear . ▁ ▁C ars ▁had ▁a ▁glass ▁fib re ▁open ▁two ▁seat ▁body ▁fitted , ▁but ▁a ▁hard top ▁was ▁later ▁available ▁which ▁had ▁a ▁reverse ▁sl anted ▁rear ▁window ▁which ▁later ▁F ords ▁also ▁exhib ited . ▁Yet ▁other ▁versions ▁included ▁Al fa ▁Rome o ▁S . V . ▁engines . ▁Ernest ▁Pi eter se ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁to ▁try ▁this ▁form ▁of ▁mot ive ▁power . ▁Re qu iring ▁a ▁machine ▁for ▁the ▁N ine ▁H ours ▁Race ▁( S . A .' s ▁classic ▁sports - car ▁race ), ▁and ▁having ▁to ▁beat ▁such ▁machines ▁as ▁Por sche ▁Car rer as , ▁Ernest ▁bought ▁a ▁D art ▁and ▁fitted ▁disc ▁bra kes , ▁Al fa ▁S . V . + ▁engine , ▁etc . ▁In ▁the ▁said ▁N ine ▁H ours ▁Race , ▁the ▁car ▁led ▁for ▁a ▁while ▁but ▁retired ▁with ▁bo iling ▁bra ke ▁fluid . ▁This ▁let ▁John ▁Love ' s ▁Car rera ▁into ▁the ▁lead ▁but ▁it ▁too ▁retired , ▁or ▁was ▁delayed , ▁and ▁another ▁D art ▁with ▁