1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Berlinetta Aerodinamica

Carrozzeria Touring created the aerodynamic design for the 1939 LeMans 24 Hour race. It was an aesthetically and aerodynamically refined successor to the radical 1938 8C 2900 LeMans Berlinetta. It is considered to be the foundation of the Gran Turisimo 'fastback' design that has endured ever since. The Tipo 256 Alfas were bodied by Touring and competition-prepared by Scuderia Ferrari.

This is one of ten surviving examples and was discovered in 1993 with incorrect cabriolet coachwork. The reconstruction of this complex Superleggera body was realized through a collaboration between the former head of Carrozzeria Touring, Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, and master coachbuilder Dino Cognolato. The main aspects of the body were completed prior to Anderloni's death in 2003. It was his last project. The 2008 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance was the first time that an Alfa bearing this magnificent design has been seen in public since 1940.

The chassis of this particular Alfa Romeo was discovered during the late 1980s or early 1990s in Eastern Europe with incorrect cabriolet coachwork but with an original 6C 2500 engine. It was dealt to Heinz Jasper of Wuppertal, Germany, and into new Italian ownership in 1994. The reconstruction of this complex Superleggera body was realized through a collaboration between the former head of Carrozzeria Touring, Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni, and master coachbuilder Dino Cognolato of Carrozzeria Nova Rinascente of Vigoza. The main aspects of the body were completed prior to Anderloni's death in 2003. It was his last project.

The coachwork was built to the original style, with an inner Superleggera frame of small-diameter steel tubing, clothed with lightweight aluminum panels. Unlike the original construction, the new body was built without the stress and material limitations of those months before the full onset of World War II in Europe.

Before the restoration was completed, the car was sold to Mark Gessler, then of Potomac, Maryland, in 2003. Cognolato finished the details of the coachwork and applied the interior finishes and trim. Nino Epifani of Epifani Restorations completed the project and rebuilt the mechanical components.

The 2008 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance was the first time that an Alfa bearing this magnificent design was seen in public since 1940. It was then driven by Mr. Gessler on that year's Colorado Grand. It was shown at St. Michaels and driven on demonstration laps at the 2009 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. In 2010, it was acquired by the Academy of Art University.