Fantasy Junction

Description

1956 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS 3-Window Coupe by Touring
s/n AR1900C 10140, engine no 1308.10159
Red with Two Tone Blue Interior

The 1900 was Alfa Romeo’s first all new postwar model, and incorporated a number of innovative features including unit chassis, and dual overhead cam inline-4 with hemispherical combustion chambers and aluminum alloy cylinder head. While most examples were sedans, some special bodied 1900 C Sprint and Super Sport (CS and CSS) coupes were built, weighing several hundred pounds less and featuring stylish bodies by coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina, Ghia, Bertone, Castagna, Touring, Vignale, and Zagato. The CSS was differentiated by its twin Solex carburetors and floor-shifted 5-speed manual transmission.

This particular car wears desirable 3-Window Superleggera coachwork by Touring of Milan, and is eligible for prestigious pre-1957 rally events. This example has the floor-shifted 5-speed transmission and twin Solex carburetors. It is a matching numbers example that spent most of its life in Europe. It was previously in Italy, owned by a Roberto Ravetta, who kept the car for over twenty five years, and was in France until being imported to the US in early 2015. Fantasy Junction had the opportunity to sell this lovely 1900 to its first California owner shortly after it was imported in early 2015. It retains its original 3-window Touring of Milan body, number 4695, and has a recently serviced gearbox. It has FIA papers and a thick binder of documentation dating back to the mid 1980s.

Cosmetically, the car is an attractive and honest driver level car. The body is straight and displays very good to excellent panel fit. The paintwork is very nice with some superficial swirls and minor blemishes. The chrome is in similar condition, with minor surface blemishes but no major pitting or scratches. There is a small area of peeling on the right door handle. The lights and glass are all excellent, with new-old-stock Carello headlamps and taillights (including fixtures and chrome trim) having just been installed.

The interior is in very nice as well. The seats are vintage Recaro items likely dating from the early 1970s trimmed in two tone blue. These seats, while not original, supply a great deal more lateral side support desired from aggressive tour driving. The upholstery is very nice, including the door panels and rear upholstery. The dashboard is in very good condition, with nice instruments showing minor yellowing, and some aging to some of the switches in evidence. The steering wheel is a period dished Nardi item in excellent shape. Like the exterior, the interior suggest an honest car that was well-restored, albeit some years ago, and remains attractive and presentable today with an even patina.

The engine compartment is consistent with this impression, and is a tidy place that is suitable for a driver level car. It is not freshly restored but is generally clean and in good cosmetic condition. The factory airbox and twin Solex carburetors are still in place. Inspection of the nose cavity reveals evidence of an accident at some point, as evidenced by a bent body support member in front of the radiator. A new custom exhaust has been made and installed from the collectors back by Quicksilver in the UK. The trunk received a cosmetic restoration, and the spare wire wheel is also in place, along with the rubber mat.

The car runs and drives well. The engine makes good power, and while not down-right fast by today’s standards, it carries momentum well, a trait Alfa Romeo 1900s are known for. A very recent and comprehensive brake service has just been performed by Vintage Sports Car Restoration, and they are effective in stopping the car straight. The transmission shifts well, with good synchros, both warm and cold. There is a slight bit of play in the steering box at top dead center, but the suspension has a resolved feel, as does the unibody chassis.

This is a great opportunity to acquire an event-eligible coachbuilt Alfa Romeo with matching numbers. The combination of robustness and modern mechanical specification (by 1950s standards) makes the 1900 a great event car and this example is an attractive example that will make its new owner proud to show but is not so nice as to prevent using it regularly in events. It is accompanied by a think documentation file including previously held FIVA paperwork. Indeed, seasoned connoisseurs of motoring consistently demonstrated the extent to which they favor the 1900, particularly for long distance driving events.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608