1950 Alfa Romeo Romeo-6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet

Description 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolets/n 915788, Engine no. 928081Coachwork by Pinin FarinaBlack 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 re