The glamour of this design is clear to see. We especially love the shallow cowl and low-roof glasshouse.  With the top down, this low roofline and chopped windshield create and mean and modern style.  One that looks much younger than its seven-decade tenure on Earth.

The detailing is particularly enchanting. The hidden door handles, the clear gauge dials and the red Alfa badges are all favorites.

 

1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pinin Farina

Lot 268

1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pinin Farina

• Chassis no. 915.766
• Engine no. 928.072

€550.000 – €800.000

To be auctioned on Saturday, May 14, 2016

110 bhp, 2,443 cc DOHC inline six-cylinder engine with three Weber carburettors, four-speed manual synchromesh transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, independent rear suspension with swing axles and torsion bars, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 2,700 mm

• One of the most famous and well-known examples of the 6C 2500 SS
• Purchased new by Prince Aly Khan
• Fully restored; matching-numbers engine
• An iconic and legendary glamour symbol of its era

Alfa Romeo’s long-lived 6C model made its debut in 1925. It was designed by the brilliant engineer Vittorio Jano and first appeared with 1,487 cubic centimetres of displacement and a single overhead camshaft. Twin cams were introduced in 1928, and they were joined by a 1,750-cubic centimetre sibling a year later. That year, the 6C 1750 won every racing event it entered. A 1,900-cubic centimetre version came in 1933, followed by the 6C 2300 the next year. The final variant, the 2500, of which this car is an excellent example, was introduced in 1938, and it remained in production until 1952.

As Alfa’s post-war cars followed pre-war practices, so did the coachwork of Turin’s Pinin Farina, although the Art Deco obsession somewhat faded. Thus, post-war bodies omitted much of the brightwork, which allowed for their handsome lines to make their own statement. Such is the nature of this beautiful 6C 2500, which is the most desirable short-wheelbase model with the most powerful engine, known as the SS, or Super Sport. One of the most expensive cars of its time, it was a model whose clientele included numerous celebrity luminaries—and this car was certainly no exception to that rule.

THE PRINCE ALY KHAN 6C 2500 SS

While a “who’s who” of world society enjoyed the 6C 2500 in its many variants, undoubtedly the most famous buyer was Prince Ali Salman Aga Khan, better known in the world tabloid press as Aly Khan. Son of the leader of the Ismaili Muslims—a man who received his literal weight in gold and gems from followers once a year—Aly Khan spent his life spending his family’s vast wealth, enjoying a jet-setting lifestyle, and dating the world’s most beautiful women. In fact, he was one of the most famous international celebrities and playboys of his time.