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1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet
s/n 915788, Engine no. 928081
Coachwork by Pinin Farina
Black with Green Leather Interior
Among the most beautifully constructed automobiles ever conceived, the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 occupies a cherished position in the history of coachbuilding and automotive excellence. Alfa Romeo, renowned for engaging the finest artisans and craftsmen to build their cars, also benefited from the genius of engineer Vittorio Jano. His remarkable twin-cam six and eight-cylinder engines would become legendary to the Alfa Romeo name powering victory after victory at venues all over the world. In 1925, just one year after constructing their first straight eight engine for Alfa Romeo, they won the very first World Championship. Though praise and acclaim were in order, Alfa Romeo was operating at fiscally unsustainable levels of perfection. In 1933, state recovery orders were put in place to save the company, giving the powerful Italian government control over Alfa Romeo.
Fueled by national vigor and bolstered by the largess associated with government funds, Alfa Romeos of this era became opulent, highly refined, and emblems of Italian pride and technology. In 1946 the 6C 2500 Freccio d’0ro launched. These vehicles were of bespoke construction outfitted with the finest in coachbuilt bodies, stunning interior treatments, and luxuriant appointments befitting royalty. The Super Sport, the premier offering of the 6C configuration, utilized a short wheelbase chassis fitted with the overhead cam engine and triple Weber carburetors. These features, coupled with four-wheel independent suspension, were light years ahead of the typical sold rear axle chassis platforms of other manufacturers. The combination of sophisticated engineering, reliability, and stunning handmade coachwork offered customers the very best in performance motoring. The triple Weber carburetors and broad powerband delivered a robust 110hp with top speeds well beyond the capability of most skilled drivers. In the hands of top drivers competing in motorsport events, Alfa Romeo campaigned both the 2300 and 2500 to high acclaim achieving an impressive string of top finishes including 1st and 2nd in the 1937 Mille Miglia, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the 1937 6-Hour Targa Abruzzo, Pescara, and pressing on after the war with an overall win at the prestigious 1950 Targa Florio. In addition to the many competition victories achieved, wealthy clientele of these cars included Rita Hayworth, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and King Farouk of Egypt.
Among the most desirable of the 6C models, the 2500 “Super Sport” 2,700 mm short wheelbase contains elements of opulent pre-war design and coachbuilding excellence, transitioning hand crafting and emergent post war technology into the beautiful example reflected here. Though the majority of these cars were fitted with Touring bodies, this example is draped with Pinin Farina alloy coachwork further distinguished by its cabriolet configuration.
Completed at the Alfa Romeo factory in August 1950, the car was dispatched to the Swiss Alfa Romeo agency based in Lugano, Switzerland. According to research compiled under prior ownership, it is believed to be the singular example finished at the factory in the striking black over green color combination. The next owner, believed to be the second, was Parisian Monsieur Michel Pfau, who arranged the purchase in Geneva, Switzerland, 1957. An avid jazz enthusiast, Pfau and two of his closest friends were frequent travelers in this Alfa Romeo touring throughout Europe attending jazz events in Berlin, Nice, and Cannes. A photo of the group taken near Cote d’Azur is part of the impressive documentation included with the car.
Spanning 56 years of singular ownership, Pfau would keep the car until 2013, completing a six-year restoration culminating in 2012. During the restoration, the paint was redone in Novara, Italy and mechanical systems refurbished in Torino Italy. The next owner, Franco Meiners of Bergamo, Italy purchased the car in 2013 shortly after the restoration was completed. Under his ownership., Mr. Meiners attended several concours events including the 2014 Retromobile show in Paris, where Mr. Meiners made the acquaintance of a member of the original trio of jazz enthusiasts and close friend of Mr. Pfau. Sadly, while he reported that Mr. Pfau had passed only a week ago, proceeds from the sale of the car were shared amongst the two friends on the wishes of Mr. Pfau to spend accordingly on future jazz concerts.
The car found its way to America in 2014 under new ownership where the owner fitted the car with period-correct Michelin tires, serviced the car including general fluids, master cylinder rebuild, and tuning/adjustments for the triple Weber carburetors. The exterior body finish was also treated to protective ceramic coating.
Today this Alfa Romeo 6C presents as a gorgeous work of automotive artistry, poised for enthusiastic ownership as it continues to delight even the most familiar collectors of desirable coachbuilt Italian cars. Offered with exemplary finishes consistent with the traditions of fine Italian craftsmanship as applied when first built, Italian artisans have once again proven their exquisite skills in the restoration performed on this rare Super Sport convertible. The Pinin Farina coachwork is a refined expression of the convertible configuration, enveloping passengers in hand shaped lightweight alloy construction with elegant drapery and refined details, accented by lustrous Borrani wire wheels.
Having benefited from a comprehensive restoration that addressed every feature of this remarkable car, the restoration preserved as many of the rare original parts and uniquely designed components that make up this stunning example. The lustrous, black paint is beautifully finished, applied with consistent coverage and excellent final polish, showing only minor evidence of use since completion. The deep black reveals the refined yet subtle body surfaces and contours so well managed in the bodywork. The minimal, yet refined brightwork surrounding the front fascia and grille are perfectly formed and polished, while the glass, accessory lights, delicate door handles, and rotating trunk handles are delightful bits of jewelry enhancing the body lines. The brilliantly polished Borrani wire wheels are shod with period correct Michelin tires and accented with chrome plated dual-ear knockoffs embossed with the Alfa Romeo script lettering. The Pinin Farina coachwork badges, Alfa Romeo emblems, and distinctive grille are gorgeous pieces of automotive jewelry, particularly brilliant against the deep black body color. Every aspect of the original design has been wonderfully captured in the restoration with beautiful finishes and exemplary details displayed throughout this splendid example.
Gently pulling the recessed door handle lever, the green leather interior offers full width seating, handsome trim, and a breathtaking dashboard finished in a captivating green color that only Italian designers can so boldly express. The seating and door panels are finished in the same color themes while the carpet is a softer green finished with contrasting perimeter binding. The supple leather and pleated inserts are beautifully stitched and trimmed with precision. The hinged bench seat creates a comforting but supportive feel, while the brilliantly colored dashboard and full instrumentation convey the sporting spirit of this model. The dashboard and accompanying instruments are stunning in presentation and wonderfully laid out. The central grill separates the two main instruments, both of which display unmistakable Italian flare in design, beautiful nomenclature, and elegant colors, surrounded by crisp polished trim and deep orange color accents decorating the various knobs, handles, and escutcheon plates. The interior is completed with an elegant finishing touch, the ivory finished steering wheel. Further details throughout the interior include tastefully sculpted door handles and window cranks, elegant, felted headliner, and an under dash mounted heater. Overall, the interior exhibits the familiarly stunning excellence and attention to craftsmanship consistent with exceptional Italian design.
The matching numbers engine, confirmed by the Alfa Romeo 6C 2300-2500 registry, and beautifully finished engine compartment have been comprehensively restored using correct factory finishes, correct hardware and fasteners, and proper wiring, all of which are brought together with mechanical refinement and aesthetic harmony befitting a car of this caliber. The impressive six-cylinder twin-cam engine castings are uniformly finished with attention to detail and authenticity in every respect, including the original type Weber DO2 Tipo 36 carburetors bearing #1234, 1260, and 1334 on their casting bodies. The original data plates on the firewall reflect the original engine number which is consistent with the engine in the car.
The trunk is finished with a painted Borrani spare wheel and Dunlop tire mounted above the carpeted trunk floor. The underside of the car has been restored with the same attention to detail and authenticity afforded to the exterior, displaying accurate details including correct exhaust, correct 4-speed manual gearbox, independent front and rear suspension, and finned hydraulic drum brakes. THE CAR IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN IMPRESSIVE FILE CONTAINING NUMEROUS RECORDS SPANNING DECADES OF OWNERSHIP AS WELL AS PHOTOS DOCUMENTING THE SIX-YEAR RESTORATION, THE ORIGINAL OWNER’S MANUAL, AND THE ORIGINAL FRENCH REGISTRATION LICENSE PLATES WHICH REMAIN ON THE CAR TODAY.
This Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Pinin Farina Cabriolet represents a rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored coachbuilt Pinin Farina Alfa Romeo with a captivating history, superb restoration and valuable documentation supporting the legacy of 56 years of passionate ownership. The elegant body lines, sporting 6C engine, and exquisitely finished interior makes this Super Sport a welcomed entrant to any major automotive concours throughout the world, including eligibility in the Mille Miglia. For those who cherish Italian artistry, hand-crafted alloy coachwork, and state of the art engineering, this Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport will forever deliver on the promise of excellence, transcending the passage of time.
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