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Alfa Romeo 1900 C Sprint 1.9L inline 4-cylinder 1955

General description : 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Zagato
Chassis No. - AR1900C01955
Engine No. - AR1308*00891*
Silver with Black Interior

Highlights of this Alfa Romeo

- One of 39 Zagato alloy examples built
- 1955 Mille Miglia participant finishing 11th in class
- Original engine per Alfa Romeo Classiche
- $129k recently spent for comprehensive mechanical rebuilds
- Highly eligible for premier world-wide concours and driving events including Mille Miglia

General History of the 1900 Series Alfa Romeo

As Italy emerged from the ravages of war, government support for industrial growth was in full swing. In 1950 when Alfa Romeo launched their all-new unit bodied 1900 series, unprecedented demand for the innovative and stylish car immediately propelled Alfa Romeo into larger more profitable markets. By 1953 technical and performance improvements resulted in the 1900 becoming a force to be reckoned with at the racetrack, successfully challenging more powerful and vastly more expensive cars. The newly developed dual overhead cam alloy-head four cylinder offered hemispherical combustion chambers, dual carburetors, and a floor shift five speed gearbox. Alfa Romeo boasted success in the Targa Florio, the Stella Alpina and the Coupe des Alpes to name a few. Many of the finest Italian coachbuilders designed and built bodies for the 1900 in a wide range of configurations. Ultimately the rarest and most desirable of this series would become the Zagato Berlinetta.

Originally conceived as a singular example, in 1954 Elio Zagato rebodied the short wheelbase 1900C hand forming a lightweight aluminum body over the steel structure. This unique design resulted in a lower profile upper, fastback roof line, and low-profile stance. In addition to the light alloy body, plexiglass was used for the side and rear windows, no front or rear bumpers were mounted, and minimal trim decorated only the necessary air intakes. The low-profile hood and dramatically dipped nose created a smaller frontal cross section for better air flow and a menacing face when closing in on competitors. The offset hood scoop allowed faster air flow to the twin Weber carburetors and the distinctive double bubble roof offered more space for taller drivers and added to the muscular presence of this capable car.

Zagato’s Sant Ambroeus competition division, one of the most successful Italian racing concerns during the golden age of motorsports, campaigned the prototype earning the attention of Alfa Romeo. Recognizing both the visual and performance value, Alfa Romeo quickly sanctioned limited production by supplying the chassis to Zagato who completed approximately 39 hand-crafted examples by 1956. Once sold to privateer racers, these cars competed in European Sports Car racing events in the over 2-liter class including six examples with entrance at the 1955 Mille Miglia and a Sverige Grand Prix win with Joakim Bonnier at the wheel of his SSZ beating both Porsche and Fiat 8Vs.

History of AR1900C01955

According to research supplied by Alfa Romeo model expert Peter Marshall and Italian car expert John de Boer, this Alfa 1900 Zagato is the 23rd of 39 examples built by Zagato and the second car delivered in 1955. Completed in September 1954, the chassis number 01955 coincidentally corresponds to the year of manufacture. Built in mid-series production, the car was crafted with a smooth roof and single intake hood scoop. In March 1955, the first owner, Dr. Vincenzo Fornasari, a preferred client of Zagato, took delivery of this car. Fornasari also owned a Maserati A6G/54 Zagato. In May 1955, Luigi Fornasari, the doctor’s son, entered this car as #415 in the Mille Miglia. The young yet capable Fornasari finished 11th in class and 38th overall, later improving with a 3rd in class (11th overall) at the Bolzano-Mendola, 1st in class (11th overall) at the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo, and 2nd in class (5th overall) at the Stella Alpina. These results were even more impressive considering these victories were largely privately backed against more formidably funded entrants.
By early 1959 this 1900C Alfa Romeo was fitted with a double-bubble roof, likely to accommodate a taller driver, and imported to the United States where it came under the ownership of Ernie Mendicki, a well-known performance car dealer, racer, and collector based in Oakland, California. By the 1970s, after passing through the care of Jim Keown, Monterey, CA, the car was acquired by Jim Cesari, a Palo Alto, CA resident and collector active in vintage racing. Mr. Cesari campaigned the car at the Monterey Historics and Sears Point through the late 1970s selling it to Ugo Piccagli, a Texas-based racing enthusiast who participated in European vintage racing events including the 1986 Targa Florio and 1987 Mille Miglia Storica. After Piccaldi’s ownership, the car was acquired by a long-term owner, who displayed it at the Blackhawk Museum, Danville, CA for several years through the early 2000s.
By 2016, experts Phil Reilly & Co. Corte Madera, CA tended to the car primarily for mechanical freshening including brakes, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, and flywheel, followed by further work in 2022. The current consigning owner purchased the car in 2023 through RM Auctions and has since spent $129,000 in comprehensive mechanical refurbishment including rebuilding the original engine and Weber carburetors as well as rebuilding the gearbox. Further mechanical restoration includes the installation of new front Koni shock absorbers, radiator rebuild and recore, starter rebuild, new water pump, numerous specialty engine components and specialized machining for the head and cylinder liners, differential work, five new Michelin tires, detailed painting and finishing for the engine compartment while the engine and transmission were removed, and further sorting after reinstallation of the rebuilt engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and rear end. Upon completion, the owner participated in various vintage motoring events, including the 2023 Colorado Grand.

Highly eligible for the coveted Mille Miglia Retrospective on account of its period participation in the 1955 event, today this rare and desirable Alfa Romeo offers refined mechanical preparation coupled with cosmetic presentation ideal for vintage events without the responsibilities associated with jeweled displays. The paint is smooth and glossy, perfectly suited for driving event participation. The silver finish is accented by Italian flag stripes on the roof and body side sections. The minimal chrome and polished trim, lenses, and exterior details fit properly to the body while the plexiglass windows show signs of use typical in cars that are enjoyed rather than simply displayed. The gloss black painted wire wheels are shod with a new set of Michelin 165 R 400 tires and accented with chrome plated dual ear knock offs embossed with the Alfa Romeo script. The Zagato emblems and pivot-lever door handles are modest elements to the smoothly contoured hand-formed alloy body lines.

The interior has been pared down to the essentials but in true Italian style, even competition cars are artfully finished. The dashboard includes an array of five instruments with excellent detail and numbering. A rare, polished aluminum and wood rim flat Nardi steering wheel fronts the instrument binnacle. The black bucket seats are comfortable and well positioned offering ease of entrance and exit and comfort for drivers up to six feet tall with headroom improved due to the double bubble design. A rollbar is fitted along with other more recent safety provisions for modern event use. Overall, the interior exhibits refined craftsmanship and design in keeping with the exterior presentation.

Under the hood, the original engine has been verified by the Alfa Romeo Classiche “Certificato Di Origine” confirming the corresponding engine number AR 1308 00891. The engine and engine compartment has benefited from recent restoration and extensive mechanical preparation including various components, hardware, and details all of which have been brought together with mechanical harmony and aesthetic refinement consistent with original features. The textured black castings are uniformly finished, and the Weber carburetors breathe through four polished trumpet stacks topping the intake manifold. The underside of the car exhibits correct mechanical details, proper castings, correct suspension components and various newly fitted brakes and suspension components ensuring ongoing mechanical integrity. The floor is structurally sound and representative of a car that has been cared for by documented owners who have appreciated the rarity of this car while actively sharing it in vintage motoring events.

On the road, this 1900 delivers enjoyable spirited Italian performance coupled with the dynamic and rare Zagato coachbuilt body design. Alfa Romeo 1900s are known to be resilient and responsive, but this example will find drivers especially delighted by the performance and ease of use when behind the wheel. The gearbox is smooth and easy to shift, the brakes are consistent for this era, and the handling is surprisingly balanced even at higher speeds. This Berlinetta is accompanied by copies of recent mechanical restoration receipts totaling $129k, a copy of the Alfa Romeo Classiche Certificate verifying the chassis and engine number, a jack, a pair of headlights, a spare rubber shifter boot, and a spare clutch.

The 23rd of just 39 examples built, each one uniquely handmade, this Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Zagato represents a rare opportunity to acquire a highly event-eligible Alfa Romeo ready to continue the traditions of motoring excellence it began more than half a century ago. Certainly, comparable to other powerhouse Zagato centerpieces found in major collections, the combination of design excellence, historic racing history, original Mille Miglia participation, original engine, and documented provenance presents an ideal vintage sports car for those who admire the very best in Alfa Romeo history.

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Sprint 1.9L inline 4-cylinder is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in California by Fantasy Junction for $739500.

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