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The Alfa Romeo 1900 Series, engineered by Orazio Satta Puliga, made its debut at the 1950 Paris Motor Show. It would become a commercial success and was the company's first model built on a standardized production line with unitized construction and available left-hand drive. The 1900 evolved into the short-wheelbase 1900C, with the 'C' representing 'corto' or short,' and the more-powerful 1900TI of 1951. The 1900TI was followed by the 1900 Super in 1953 and the 1900 TI Super, also known as the '1900SS' or Super Sprint, with enlarged 1975cc engines.
The Alfa Romeo 1900 C SS was an ultra-rare, short chassis that was powered by a racing-specification engine, gearbox, and revised final-drive ratios. They also were fitted with air-cooled 'Alfin' self-adjusting brakes. The five-speed manual gearbox had synchronized second, third, and fourth gears with ratios that matched the power curve of the twin-cam Tipo 1308 engine.
Production of the 1900 continued until July 1959, with over 21,000 examples built. Of those, just 854 examples were the 1900C SS.
The 1900 was clothed by many of Italy's finest custom coachbuilders, including Touring, Ghia, Vignale, and Zagato.
This particular example, finished in gray, is a Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo 1900C SS. It was delivered on May 13th of 1955 and was sold through the Alfa Romeo dealership at Lucca in Tuscany to Luigi De Paoli. The vehicle returned to Alfa Romeo soon thereafter and it was next acquired by Charlie Daniels, a member of the US military in Italy, and Colonel William Kelly. The men campaigned the car jointly until 1957, when Colonel Kelly took sole ownership of the car. While traveling through Europe, Colonel Kelly entered club tours and rallies with the car, with the majority likely organized by the 'Scuderia Aurelia' club at Camp Darby.
Following Brigadier General Kelly's return to the US and a new posting in North Carolina, the SSZ was stored unused until 1977. The Alfa Romeo was retained by Brigadier General Kelly for nearly 60 years in all, until its recent discovery and acquisition by the current caretaker.
Currently, the front bumper and left-front brake cooling duct, along with various other items, are no longer with the car. It has a partially assembled 1900 engine that has been with the car since 1956.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014
The Alfa Romeo 1900 C SS was an ultra-rare, short chassis that was powered by a racing-specification engine, gearbox, and revised final-drive ratios. They also were fitted with air-cooled 'Alfin' self-adjusting brakes. The five-speed manual gearbox had synchronized second, third, and fourth gears with ratios that matched the power curve of the twin-cam Tipo 1308 engine.
Production of the 1900 continued until July 1959, with over 21,000 examples built. Of those, just 854 examples were the 1900C SS.
The 1900 was clothed by many of Italy's finest custom coachbuilders, including Touring, Ghia, Vignale, and Zagato.
This particular example, finished in gray, is a Zagato-bodied Alfa Romeo 1900C SS. It was delivered on May 13th of 1955 and was sold through the Alfa Romeo dealership at Lucca in Tuscany to Luigi De Paoli. The vehicle returned to Alfa Romeo soon thereafter and it was next acquired by Charlie Daniels, a member of the US military in Italy, and Colonel William Kelly. The men campaigned the car jointly until 1957, when Colonel Kelly took sole ownership of the car. While traveling through Europe, Colonel Kelly entered club tours and rallies with the car, with the majority likely organized by the 'Scuderia Aurelia' club at Camp Darby.
Following Brigadier General Kelly's return to the US and a new posting in North Carolina, the SSZ was stored unused until 1977. The Alfa Romeo was retained by Brigadier General Kelly for nearly 60 years in all, until its recent discovery and acquisition by the current caretaker.
Currently, the front bumper and left-front brake cooling duct, along with various other items, are no longer with the car. It has a partially assembled 1900 engine that has been with the car since 1956.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014
2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $700,000-USD $850,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,012,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
(Data based on Model Year 1955 sales)
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupe Chassis#: 02096 Sold for USD$159,600 2023 Bonhams : The Greenwich Auction | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 C SS Berlinetta by Zagato Chassis#: AR1900C 01955 Sold for USD$775,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1955 ALFA ROMEO 1900C SSZ Chassis#: AR1900C.01915 Sold for USD$1,545,000 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1955 ALFA ROMEO 1900C SUPER SPRINT COUPÉ Chassis#: AR1900C02183 Sold for USD$227,130 2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SZ Coupé Chassis#: AR 1900C.02062 Sold for USD$794,704 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C*02163* Sold for USD$351,500 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupe by Touring Chassis#: AR1900C 02072 Sold for USD$224,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C*01879* Sold for USD$210,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale by Boano Chassis#: AR 1900C 01846 Sold for USD$1,270,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe Zagato Chassis#: AR 1900C 01915 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe Speciale Chassis#: AR1900C*01846* Sold for USD$990,000 2016 Gooding & Company : The Scottsdale Auction | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C*01947 Sold for USD$1,012,000 2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Berlinetta Chassis#: AR1900C02056 Sold for USD$557,000 2009 Bonhams - Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C10160 Sold for USD$66,537 2007 Bonhams - Ferrari et les Prestigieuses Italiennes | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C02042 Sold for USD$67,437 2006 Bonhams - A Sale of Sports, Competition and Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint Coupe Chassis#: AR1900C 10186 Sold for USD$48,187 2004 Bonhams - The Goodwood Festival of Speed |
Alfa Romeo 1900 CSSs That Failed To Sell At Auction
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Berlinetta by Zagato | AR1900C 01955 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $700,000 | $900,000 | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupé by Touring | AR 1900C 02074 | 2020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection | $220,000 | $300,000 | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Three-window Coupé | AR1900C 10481 | 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $180,000 | $200,000 | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe | AR1900C*02056 | 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS | N4467 | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction | |||
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C 3rd Series Super Sprint Coupé | AR1900C 10140 | 2013 Bonhams The Spa Classic Sale | $110,000 | $150,000 | |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint | AR1900C 10160 | 2009 RM Auctions Automobiles of London | $55,000 | $78,000 | $95,000 |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Competition Berlinetta | AR1900C02056 | 2005 Bonhams Important Collectors' Motor Cars | $180,000 | $200,000 |
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1908 DAIMLER 48 HP MANCHESTER PHAETON Chassis#:4766 Sold for $582,500 2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction |
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
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