1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Coupe

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