1952 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was introduced near the end of the 1930's and came equipped with a Vittorio Jano-designed six-cylinder engine. The '6C' was in reference to the number of cylinders while the '2500' represented the engine's cubic-centimeter displacement size.

The 6C was available in a plethora of body styles and wheelbase sizes and was produced during two different times in history. Most of the coachwork was handled by Touring of Italy or by Pinin Farina. The body styles ranged from coupes and convertibles to four-seater saloons. In 1939 Alfa Romeo introduced the SS version, a short-wheelbase model, dubbed 'SS' for Super Sport, that had a high-compression 6C engine rated at 105 horsepower. It was the top-of-the-line 6C model that married style and performance together to create the perfect road-going vehicle.

World War II interrupted production for automobile manufacturers as they focused their attention on supporting the war effort, many building engines for marine and aircraft or producing vehicles that were suitable for wartime. When Alfa Romeo resumed production, their vehicles were similar to those they had offered in 1939. The main difference was that Alfa Romeo now bodied the cars themselves rather than providing the rolling chassis for custom coachbuilders to body. The designs had become standard but they were still based on sketches and designs produced by coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina and Touring. Pinin Farina built exclusive bodies such as the Cabriolet. These vehicles were elegant and stylish and had a price tag that matched. Touring built the Coupes which became known as the Villa d'Este in 1949 after winning the famous Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este. When outfitted with the Superleggera, meaning lightweight, bodies they were capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The engines were similar to the Jano-designed six-cylinder power plant, capable of producing 110 horsepower. Independent suspension was installed to soften the ride while improving performance and handling characteristics. A four-speed manual transmission was similar to the one used prior to the onset of the war.

by Dan Vaughan

Villa d'Este LWB Cabriolet by Touring
Chassis number: 918100
Engine number: 928314

There were 36 examples of the 6C2500 Villa d'Este produced, and four cabriolets were built on the long, 118-inch wheelbase. This example is one of those rare examples and is a second-series model. Jakes Radford of Abilene, Texas purchased the car in Europe in 1952 and had it brought back to the US. The car would pass through a series of owners in California, including William Kesling, Lesley VonNordheim and David Skora. By this point in history, it had been painted several times during the 1960s and 1970s. When it was purchased in 1997, it was treated to a professional restoration. The car was finished in silver, with blue leather interior and navy blue canvas soft top.

In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, CA. It had an estimated value of $650,000-$850,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had failed to find a buyer willing to satisfy its reserve. The car would leave the auction unsold.

SS Touring by Touring
Chassis number: 918088

Between 1951 and 1953 only 20 of these exclusive convertibles were built; today we know of 10 remaining cars. These were the last automobiles constructed on the 6C 2500 platform, with the highly stylized coachwork by Carlo Anderloni, the chief designer at Carrozzeria Touring. The 6C 2500 SS was named for its 6-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine, mated with a Super Sport open body, pinned to a 106-inch wheelbase - the smallest of the series. One of the most expensive cars of its era, the 6C was the chariot of choice for celebrities such as Rita Hayworth, King Farouk of Egypt, and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

This 6C 2500 was acquired by its current owner in 2017, and dressed in dark blue and silver, it is an elegant and rare example of the last of its bloodline.

The engine in the 1927 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was the basis for a series of engines that would eventually define the marque as one of the great manufacturers of the pre-war era. The Vittorio Jano-designed engine was expanded to 1752cc and became the 6C 1750, which, in various body styles and tunes, would become the backbone of Alfa Romeo production from 1929 to 1933. Two additional cylinders were later added, becoming the 8C 2300 and, ultimately, the 8C 2900.

In 1934, Jano introduced a new generation of Alfa Romeo engines, the dual overhead camshaft 6C 2300. The unit had a bore that measured 70mm and a stroke of 100mm. The long stroke gave the engine high torque for drivability. It was given hollow camshafts for superior lubrication resulting in better reliability. There was an improved light alloy cylinder head with chain-driven camshafts. Also adding to the reliability were the seven main bearings, single-piece block, and head castings, plus a dual-level sump that acted as an oil cooler.

In 1939, the bore was increased to 72mm, resulting in the 6C 2500 with 2,443cc displacement. This engine was mounted in brilliant chassis that reflected the company's history in Grand Prix competition. At both the front and rear were an independent suspension with parallel trailing arms at the front and swing axles at the rear. Coil springs could be found in the front, and torsion bars in the back.

Most of the 6C models were given custom coachwork.

by Dan Vaughan

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was introduced near the end of the 1930's. The 6C name was derived from the engine size, an inline-six while the 2500 represented the engine's cubic-centimeter displacement size.

The engine was a version of Vittorio Jano designed a six-cylinder engine. The 6C was available in a plethora of body styles and wheelbases and was produced during two different times in history. Most of the coachwork was handled by Touring of Italy or by Pinin Farina. The body styles ranged from coupes and convertible to a four-seater salon. In 1939 Alfa Romeo introduced the SS version, a short-wheelbase model, dubbed 'SS' for Super Sport, that had a high-compression 6C engine rated at 105 horsepower. It was the top-of-the-line 6C model that married style and performance together to create the perfect road-going vehicle.

World War II had interrupted production for many automobile manufacturers. During this time many switched their efforts to support the war, such as building engines for marine and aircraft or by producing vehicles that were suitable for wartime. When Alfa Romeo resumed production, their vehicles were similar to those they had offered in 1939. The main difference was that Alfa Romeo now bodied the cars themselves rather than providing the rolling chassis for custom coachbuilders to body. The designs had become standard but they were still based on sketches and designs produced by coachbuilders such as Pinin Farina and Touring. Pinin Farina built exclusive bodies such as the Cabriolet. These vehicles were elegant and stylish and had a price tag that matched. Touring built the Coupes which became known as the Villa d'Este in 1949 after winning the famous Concours d'Elegance Villa d'Este. When outfitted with the Superleggera, meaning lightweight, bodies were capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The engines were similar to the Jano designed six-cylinder power plant, capable of producing 110 horsepower. Independent suspension was installed to soften the ride while improving performance and handling characteristics. A four-speed manual transmission was similar to the one used prior to the onset of the war.

The history of the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 automobiles are extensive. The various designs and body-styles matched with their mechanical capabilities make this one of the finest Alfa Romeos ever produced.

by Dan Vaughan