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1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS background image

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Coupe

  • Coachwork by Zagato
  • Chassis Number: AR1900C 01955
  • Engine Number: AR1308 00891
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Navigation
Around thirty-nine examples of the 1900 C SS Berlinetta were built by Zagato. This example was originally delivered to Dr. Vincenzo Fornasari and driven by his son, Luigi Fornasari, in several Italian races, including completing the 1955 Mille Miglia, 11th in class and 38th overall. It finished 3rd in class and 11th overall in Bolzano-Mendola, 1st in class and 11th overall in Aosta-Gran San Bernardo, and 2nd in class and 5th overall in the Stella Alpina all in that same year.

This Alfa was in the United States by 1959 and was advertised (that year) in a West Coast sports car magazine by Ernie Mendicki of Oakland, California. Subsequent owners included Jim Keown of Monterey. During the 1970s, it was extensively vintage-raced by then-owner Jim Cesari of Palo Alto. In the 1980s, it was sold, moving through owners in Texas and Switzerland, and competing in the Targa Florio in 1986 and the Mille Miglia Storica in 1987 with owner Ugo Piccagli.

This Alfa Romeo was in long-term ownership by its current caretaker when it arrived in Amelia Island, Fl. in 2023, to be sold at RM Sotheby's auction. It wears an older restoration and at some point in the early 1970s, it received the iconic Zagato 'double bubble' roof, not originally used on first-series models such as this one.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023

2024 RM Sothebys : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $700,000-USD $900,000 
Lot was not sold

2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $800,000-USD $950,000 
Sale Price :
USD $775,000

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 1900 C SS Worblaufen Cabriolet
Chassis#: AR1900C01910
Sold for USD$235,200
  2025 Broad Arrow Auction : Amelia Island
 
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 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
1955 ALFA ROMEO 1900C SSZ
Chassis#: AR1900C.01915
Sold for USD$1,545,000
  2023 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
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 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
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 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
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 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
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 1900 CSS image  1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS image  
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.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Berlinetta by ZagatoAR1900C 019552024 RM Sothebys : Monterey $700,000$900,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Coupé by TouringAR 1900C 020742020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection $220,000$300,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Three-window CoupéAR1900C 104812020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $180,000$200,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS CoupeAR1900C*020562019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $1,000,000$1,300,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SSN44672019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction   
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C 3rd Series Super Sprint CoupéAR1900C 101402013 Bonhams The Spa Classic Sale $110,000$150,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super SprintAR1900C 101602009 RM Auctions Automobiles of London$55,000$78,000$95,000
1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Competition BerlinettaAR1900C020562005 Bonhams Important Collectors' Motor Cars $180,000$200,000

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1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS

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