Vehicle Description
When Alfa Romeo's 1900 debuted in 1950, the car's arrival marked a
significant change of purpose for the Milanese automaker. Not only
was this the first all-new post-war car to come from Alfa, but it
represented a rebirth of sorts for the company. After suffering
massive losses in World War II, Alfa was determined to become an
Italian industrial powerhouse. During the rebuilding phase of the
early post-war era, Alfa scraped by with a series of updated
pre-war 6C designs. While these were indeed beautiful and exclusive
automobiles, they were expensive to produce, slow to sell, and
based on out of date technology. What Alfa needed was a car they
could build in sufficient quantity to keep the workforce occupied,
recuperate costs, and satisfy the rapidly growing demand for new
cars in Italy. The formula was simple yet ingenious: unitary
construction, independent front suspension, and a stout, iron-block
four-cylinder topped with Alfa's signature aluminum twin-overhead
camshaft cylinder head. Engineers designed a platform that could
easily be adapted to accept a body from outside coachbuilders,
while also delivering performance that punched well above its
weight. The 1900 was a resounding success, with period adverts
calling it "The family car that wins races." As the company's first
real mass-produced car, it paved the way for not only Alfa's
renaissance but also the Italian coachbuilding resurgence of the
1950s and 1960s. A variety of derivatives followed suit, with the
arrival of the 1900 C (for Corto, Italian for short) opening the
door for sportier coachwork. Shorter by 130mm, the platform was
ideally suited for the likes of Touring, Zagato, Pininfarina, and
Bertone to practice their craft. The 1900 formed the basis for the
majority of the famous coachbuilt show cars of the fifties -
including the "Disco Volante" and the "B.A.T. Series." In 1954,
Alfa Romeo introduced the 1900 Super, with a revised and more
powerful 1975 c.c. engine, which, when mated with the Corto
chassis, became the 1900 C Super Sprint. Carrozzeria Touring was
entrusted with creating a production coupe to suit the sporty
platform. Early versions featured styling that still reflected the
aesthetic of the 6C 2500, particularly in the curved haunches.
However, by 1956, Touring broke with tradition with a new coupe
design for the 1900C SS chassis. The so-called 3-window coupe's
styling introduced a new aesthetic - with clean, simple lines that
were thoroughly modern. From humble sedan to exotic one-off show
car, the 1900 proved to be one of Alfa's most successful models,
testing its mettle in the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio, and
remaining in high demand today thanks to their versatility,
performance, and style. Extensively prepared and updated for
historic rallying, this 1957 1900C SS Touring 3-Window Coupe is a
fabulous example of Alfa's brilliant GT car. Beautifully turned out
in Alfa red with a silver roof, this car was restored in the 1990s
in Switzerland; completed in time to take part in the 1992 Mille
Miglia Retrospective. Since finishing the Mille, the car came to
America where it continued to be enjoyed on the road and in
historic events. In recent years, Continental AutoSports of
Hinsdale, Illinois handled the care and maintenance. The car
remains in excellent condition, with the high-quality restoration
pleasingly mellowed with time and use. Carefully judged mechanical
and cosmetic upgrades maintain a period-correct appearance while
allowing for improved performance and safety for rallies or
fast-road use. The bodywork remains crisp and straight, with
consistent panel gaps and period-appropriate detailing. De-bumpered
and dressed with Marchal Fantastic 660 fog lamps, Carello
headlamps, and leather bonnet/boot lid straps, the Alfa takes on a
subtly aggressive and purposeful appeal. The two-tone red and
silver paintwork is excellent, showing a few minor touch-ups and
some well-earned stone chips in the nose. The overall presentation
is quite beautiful, particularly for a proven rally car. The
purposeful, rally-oriented theme continues in the two-seat cockpit.
A sturdy roll bar occupies the space where the rear seats once
were, and pyramid-pattern rubber mats line the floors. Zagato-style
front seats in black leather provide significantly more lateral
support as well as a degree of weight savings over the
Touring-style seats. Original Veglia instruments sit in an
engine-turned alloy panel ahead of the fabulous wood-rimmed Nardi
steering wheel. Rally-ready fittings include driver and co-driver
footrests, battery cut-off, extinguisher bracket and provisions for
multi-point harnesses and door bars for the roll cage. The engine's
basic specification remains true to original, with a cast iron
block and aluminum twin-cam cylinder head. However, this car
features an improved 2.0-liter Tipo 102 block from the later 2000
model. Competition-style intake trumpets feed the correct
twin-choke Solex carburetors. Further enhancements include an
alternator and a lovely tubular stainless-steel exhaust header that
flows into a full stainless sports exhaust. The engine is backed by
a five-speed gearbox that returns effortless high-speed cruising
ability and is an utter delight to operate. This Alfa Romeo 1900
represents a marvelous opportunity to get into a purpose-built car
for rallies, fast road use, and informal touring events. It is
ready to enjoy as-is or can be further prepared for more rigorous
competition use. With its 2-liter engine, finely balanced chassis
and powerful brakes, it is an absolute delight to drive. After
years of specialized care and enthusiastic enjoyment, it continues
to show extremely well and will no doubt serve as an excellent
steed for events such as the Copperstate 1000, California Mille, or
Colorado Grand.
