1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet

Alfa Romeo introduced its 6C 2500 in 1939, and as its name suggests, its six-cylinder ('6C') engine had a displacement size of nearly 2.5 liters ('2500'). The Super Sport variant rested on a shortened 2,700-milimeter wheelbase chassis and its engine was upgraded with a triple-carbureted intake. Touring constructed the standard closed bodywork, and a few were bodied by Pinin Farina in open and closed configurations.

This particular Pinin Farina-built cabriolet, built in October 1949 and equipped with engine number 928182, resides on the short-wheelbase Super Sport chassis and was originally owned by former Alfa Romeo team driver, Le Mans competitor, and Scuderia Inter manager Count Goffredo Zehender.

It is believed that Pinin Farina bodied as many as 23 different Super Sports from August 1942 onward with a variety of open coachwork designs, but only a few (perhaps 3) received the unusual front fascia as found on this car, featuring a lower enveloping treatment with larger inset grille sections, and a license plate cut-out in the trunk lid.

Count Goffredo Zehender of Milan took delivery of this 6C 2500 in April 1950. Three years later, it was imported to the United States by an armed forces serviceman who registered the car in California. Around 1957, it was sold to Robert Allinger of Saratoga, California, who kept it for 12 years. In August 1969, Mr. Allinger sold the Alfa Romeo to Alfred 'Wayne' Williams of Moreno Valley, California.

Mr. Williams drove the 6C for several years before placing it in storage in 1974. 41 years later, in 2010, Mr. Williams sold the cabriolet to Lawrence Zinkin of Northern California. The current caretaker purchased this car in January 2013 and treated it to a comprehensive refurbishment by European craftsmen that took seven years to complete. The engine and gearbox were sent to a specialist in Belgium who performed a complete rebuild. Italian specialists repaired/rebuilt the carburetors, instruments, and wiring loom, while the suspension elements, rear axle, steering components, and radiator were rebuilt by an expert in Germany. The Pinin Farina cabriolet coachwork was refinished by Motorima in Sweden, which included a bare-metal refinish in grigio metallizzato. They also re-chromed the brightwork, including the intricate 98-piece grille. A Norwegian upholstery expert re-trimmed the interior in forest green leather and fitted a new complementary green-grey soft top.

The restoration of this Alfa Romeo was completed for the 2020 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was expected to compete in the special Pininfarina class, celebrating the storied carrozzeria's 90th anniversary. Due to COVID, the concours was canceled. Lingering travel restrictions prevented the car from being shown a year later. Currently, the car has accumulated just 387 kilometers (around 240 miles) on its odometer since the refurbishment.