1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet, Coachwork by Pinin Farina

1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet
Coachwork by Pinin Farina
Chassis no. 915749
Engine no. SS928062
2,443cc DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
3 Weber Carburetors
110bhp at 4,800rpm
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Exceptional concours level restoration to factory specifications
*Desirable Super Sport model with elegant original Pinin Farina Cabriolet Coachwork
*Eligible for renowned concours and driving events including the Mille Miglia
*Genuine example retaining matching numbers engine and original coachwork

THE ALFA ROMEO 6C

In the early 1920s, Vittorio Jano, Alfa Romeo's premier engineer, was charged with the task of designing an ultra-light, high performance car to reposition the automaker at the head of the automotive field. The result was the 6C – a road, race and sports car whose successfulness solidified its production, in one form or another, from 1925 through 1954.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was launched to great fanfare at the Salone dell'automobile di Milano in April, 1925. It featured a single overhead cam motor with a displacement of 1,487cc, six inline cylinders and 44 horsepower. The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was an instantaneous hit and went into production in 1927 with bodies coached by Young and Touring. The super sporty 6C was revamped over subsequent years to feature twin cams and a higher performance 1750cc motor. From this, it went on to win every event it entered in 1929, including several European Grand Prix, as well as the Mille Miglia. Displacement was increased to 1900cc in 1933, and then to 2300cc the following year. In 1934, Jano also added a new chassis and hydraulic brakes with individual front suspension and rear swing axle, for superlative handling.

In 1938, Alfa released the 6C 2500, the last model produced before the onslaught of WWII. During WWII all racing activities were sidelined, and with the bombing of the Portello factory in Italy, production of all automobiles was discontinued. When the company reopened its doors, much of the Alfa offering resembled its prewar production, both technically and aesthetically. The Art Deco influence of the Twenties and Thirties faded as most postwar cars phased out excessive brightwork, exposing fluid lines of contour. In 1946, Alfa Romeo launched its 6C 2500 Freccio d'Oro (Golden Arrow), an aerodynamic five-seater, bodied by the Alfa design studio, but heavily influenced by Touring of Milan. Jano's newly configured, race-developed 2500 motor, with double overhead cam, was available with either one or three Weber Carburetors. The 2,443cc engine was mounted onto a steel ladder frame chassis with various wheelbase lengths according to the different models – the most desirable being the SS or Super Sport which was mounted on the shortest wheelbase in the series. The following year The Autocar magazine stated, "The current Alfa Romeo conceals as beautiful a chassis as ever with four-wheel independent suspension and a six-cylinder twin overhead camshaft unsupercharged engine."

As one of the most expensive cars of its era, the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was owned by celebrated luminaries (e.g. Rita Hayworth, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and King Farouk of Egypt) and went on to make a cameo appearance in Coppola's The Godfather (1972). The compilation of the all-independent suspension, robust brake system, fast-geared steering and avant-garde column-mounted gear change assured the 2500 model of its place at the head of the lauded Alfa stable. The slight weight increase over its prewar predecessor was abundantly compensated by the enlarged engine capacity and superior aerodynamics, with a top speed of 97mph and an increased 110hp. With one wheel firmly entrenched in the nostalgia of Alfa's prewar race glory, the 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was the forerunner of the all new, and thoroughly modern, 1900 launched in 1950, and the harbinger of the end of an era for the Alfa Romeo marque.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 is a top-of-the-line Super Sport (SS); therefore, is rare and highly desirable. The Super Sport was designed to be the sleekest and most agile of its sisters, based on the shortest and lightest wheelbase that Alfa offered. While the majority of the 2500 models were coached by Touring, this gorgeous example, with its iconic sweetheart front grille, bears the superlative Pinin Farina Cabriolet body. It was dispatched from the factory on December 13, 1949, and first purchased by Soc. An. Italiana Chlorodant of Milan, an Italian toothpaste conglomerate. Within the first decade of ownership, the car was shipped to the USA, where, in 1959, it was acquired by Steve Kramer of Flushing, New York. Kramer's registration certificate describes the car as black. The car is believed to have remained in the US for decades. By the 2000s, a Mr. Daniel J. Rapley of Bethel, Connecticut owned the Alfa Romeo, from whom the consignor – a respected European collector – acquired the car. He immediately shipped it to Tomáš Hrehovčík's renowned restoration shop Retromotive of Košice, Slovakia, for a 100-point restoration.

Prior to its restoration, photos reveal a largely complete, genuine, and solid car; one perfect for restoration. Current close inspection bears testament to the standards observed during restoration of this rare 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet. Retromotive, the expert classic car restoration studio renowned throughout Europe, disassembled the car and stripped the body back to the bare metal; all other metal parts were sandblasted and zinc-plated. An overhaul of the chassis included new brake lines, shoes and lubrication pipes and bushings. Furthermore, all the wheel bearings were replaced. The engine was refurbished using new pistons and the cooling chambers of the engine block were thoroughly cleaned. The crankshaft and gearbox received new bearings and a new clutch was installed. In addition, the wiring, generator and starter were fully reworked. Chrome trims were aligned before the final paint was applied to ensure the best possible fit. Once finished in appreciate and period correct red paint, the 6C received three layers of lacquer, each independently polished prior to the application of the next coat. The interior is an object d'art, with its cream leather upholstery, superb red dash with dual dial instrument panel, chromed and orange enameled accessories, completed with a coordinating cream steering wheel.

Retromotive, driven by the key values of time-honored craftsmanship, is particularly fastidious about preserving the integrity of the classic automobile. Therefore, original connecting material is used wherever possible, and, if necessary, period correct components are sourced for final assembly (e.g. the leather, roof linings, upholstery, seals and weather stripping).

The result is irrefutably breathtaking. This tremendously sharp Super Sport has the appearance and the performance of a champion. The Super Sport retains its original matching numbers engine, Pinin Farina bodywork, and is offered with a history file containing photos before and during the restoration, as well as its FIVA documentation passport. Additionally, it includes copies of the old registration documents. Perfectly positioned for concours or competitive rallies such as the Mille Miglia, this 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet is sure to satisfy even the most stringent and discerning Alfa aficionado.