1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was introduced in 1938 with its '6C' name derived from its six-cylinder engine size, while the '2500' represented the engine's cubic-centimeter displacement size (2,443cc).

The engine was a version of Vittorio Jano's designed six-cylinder engine and was available in a plethora of body styles and wheelbases sizes. Most of the coachwork was handled by Touring of Italy or by Pinin Farina. The body styles ranged from coupes and convertibles to a four-seater salon. In 1939 Alfa Romeo introduced the SS version, a short-wheelbase model, dubbed 'SS' for Super Sport, that had a high-compression 6C engine rated at 105 horsepower. It was the top-of-the-line 6C model that married style and performance together to create the perfect road-going vehicle.

World War II interrupted production for many automobile manufacturers. During this time, many switched their efforts to support the war, building military, supplies, vehicles, aircraft, and armaments. When Alfa Romeo resumed civilian automobile production, their vehicles were similar to those they had offered in 1939. The main difference was that Alfa Romeo now bodied the cars themselves rather than providing the rolling chassis for custom coachwork. The designs had become standard but they were still based on sketches and designs produced by coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina and Touring. Pinin Farina built exclusive bodies including the Cabriolet. These vehicles were elegant and stylish and had a price tag that matched. Touring built the Coupes which became known as the Villa d'Este in 1949 after winning the famous Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este. When outfitted with the Superleggera, meaning lightweight, bodies they were capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The engines were similar to the Jano-designed six-cylinder powerplant and its durability and capability had been proven through rigorous competition. Alfa's 6C 2300 was redesigned by Bruno Treviso, increasing the cylinder bore by 2 millimeters for a 2.5-liter displacement, improving the cylinder head for improved aspiration and increased compression. Along with better fuel feed, dual overhead camshafts, and Hemispherical combustion chambers, the 6C 2500 was the first Alfa Romeo to achieve 100 mph. The Sport models received a single-barrel carburetor, a 7:1 compression ratio, and developed 90 horsepower. The Super Sport model used triple Weber carburetors and gave the 6C 2500 SS 110 hp.

The independent suspension was installed to soften the ride while improving performance and handling characteristics. A four-speed manual transmission was similar to the one used prior to the onset of the war. The various designs and body styles complemented its mechanical prowess, making these among the finest Alfa Romeos ever produced.

Most of the 383 examples of the 6C 2500 SS were clothed in closed coachwork either by the factory or various coachbuilders. Very few SS chassis examples were finished as open cars.

The first postwar Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was the Freccia d'Oro (Golden Arrow) of which 680 examples were built through 1951. They wore Berlina coachwork by Alfa with a wheelbase of 120 inches. The 90-horsepower engine was backed by a four-speed manual gearbox and had a top speed of around 96 mph.

Touring Superleggera of Milan clothed the 6C 2500 Villa d'Este, introduced in 1949. The Berlinetta coachwork clothed the 6C 2500 Super Sport chassis and came equipped with a 110 hp, 2,443cc engine. The name 'Villa d'Este' was in honor of the design that had won the Concorso d'Eleganza held on Lake Como in northern Italy. Just 36 examples were built, including five cabriolets.

The 6C 2500 Competizione
In the immediate post-World War II era, Alfa Romeo was busy rebuilding its Portello factory and adjusting to a dramatically different motorsport racing scene, devoid of German competition, and their team's operation left without Scuderia Ferrari, who would soon become an archrival.

Alfa Romeo captured the first post-war victory in Italy's most prestigious automotive event -the Mille Miglia - which attracted as many as 5 million spectators and over 1,000 miles of racing along coastal and mountain roads. One hundred fifty racers contested the race, which was won by Clemente Biondetti and Emilio Romani in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Berlinetta. Second place went to Tazio Nuvolari in a Cisitalia 202 SMM Spider.

For the 1948 edition, Alfa Romeo built the first of the 6C 2500 Competizione coupes (chassis 92001 and number 1047) for Consalvo Sanesi and Zanardi Sala. The aerodynamically styled closed Berlinettas were superseding open Spiders and the result was the Tipo 46 6C 2500 Competizione. The pre-war 8C 2900 frames were shortened and lightened by Alfa Corse and bodied by Alfa themselves. The 6C 2500 Berlinetta rested on a wheelbase of 100 inches and the old 8C 2900 frame was cut in front of the rear wheels. They retained the original suspension points, and cross members of the 2900B frame were drilled to save weight. In the back was the 2900's transverse spring, with trailing arms, while the independent front setup adapted the Tipo 308 monoposto.

At the 1948 Mille Miglia, #1047 was crashed by Works driver Sanesi, tearing off the roof.

Privateer Franco Rol had acquired the second 6C 2500 Competizione Coupe (chassis 920002) and was among the 167 entries to contest the Mille Miglia. Chassis 920002 wore race number 20 and was co-driven by Alessandro Gaboardi. This 6C's attempt at winning the prestigious event came to a close after it ran off the road and was damaged, although not as bad as 92001. Rol later entered the car in the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti and won his class, finishing 5th overall. Rol and co-driver Vincenzo Richiero raced it on March 19th, 1949, at the Targa Florio in Sicily, where it gained a commanding lead until slowed by a broken fuel line, eventually finishing 2nd overall. The car returned to the Mille Miglia (this time the entry list had grown to 303 racers) and managed a class win and 3rd place overall behind a pair of Ferraris.

A third Competizione model was constructed in 1950 and equipped with a three-liter engine similar to the one powering the 6C 3000 Saloon. This car raced only once, as the company's motorsport endeavors gave way to mass-produced vehicle production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2005