Lot 246: 1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Berlina

In 1910, a group of Milanese businessmen took over a factory in Portello, an industrial suburb of Milan, to produce Darracq four cylinder taxis. This group was called Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, or ALFA. The company entered production at a time when the sporting world was re-focusing its attention on regular production vehicles such as sporting passenger cars with small, high-efficiency engines. In 1916 the mining industrialist Nicola Romeo joined ALFA and the Alfa Romeo marque was born. Alfa Romeo won almost every major motor competition in Europe. From hill climbs to Grand Prix, Le Mans and Mille Miglia, Alfa Romeo's cars set standards by which others were judged. The early Alfas were considered to be among the world's ultimate road cars, even surpassing Mercedes-Benz, Maserati and Bugatti. Alfa Romeo worked frequently with the major coachbuilders like Zagato, Touring, and Pininfarina to produce luxury vehicles for wealthy people. The new 1900 was the company's first entirely new post-war design, and it was advanced in chassis concept as it represented Alfa's first production car without a separate chassis and its 1,900cc, four cylinder, twin camshaft engine remained largely unchanged until very recently. The 1900 was offered in a range of body styles by different coachbuilders, among them the crme de la crme of Italian designers such as Zagato, Touring and Ghia, whereas the no less attractive standard in-house saloon was designed by Orazio Satta. This most attractive and desirable 1900 Super Berlina, unusually finished in pastel red over black with a red and grey cloth interior, and with its sporting appearance further underlined by period wire wheels, was initially used by the Grande Albergo Chianciano Bagni in Tuscany to ferry around its VIP customers. A very rare car indeed, and the owner informs us that this fine Alfa Romeo is in good condition throughout. Questa seducente Super 1900, insolitamente di colore rosso pastello e nero con gli interni rossi e grigi, veniva originariamente utilizzata dal Grande Albergo Chianciano Bagni in Toscana per accompagnare i clienti pi importanti. Una macchina molto rara e in buone condizioni, come assicura il proprietario. L'apparenza sportiva sottolineata dalle ruote raggi dell'epoca.