Alfa-Romeo 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet - 1948

Coachwork by Pininfarina

Chassis n° 915.696

 

Zoute Sale - Bonhams

Estimated : € 600.000 - 800.000

Sold

 

Zoute Grand Prix 2022

Knokke - Zoute

België - Belgium

October 2022

 

A development of the pre-war 6C 2300 and 2500, the 6C 2500 Super Sport is the ultimate variant of the elegant, glamorous, and luxurious Alfa Romeos that were developed under the guidance of engineers Vittorio Jano and Wilfredo Ricart (before the latter left to establish Pegaso). Pinin Farina's cabriolet was presented in Lausanne on 4th and 5th October 1946 at the Premières Journées d'Elégance event, which aimed to revive Italian coachbuilding after WW2.

 

This car boasts arguably the most iconic body style for this model: a design that exhibits Pinin Farina's typical stylistic features such as integrated headlights, flowing and continuous lines, and recessed door handles (also typical of the Ferrari and Cisitalia cars designed by Pinin Farina in this period). It is finished in the beautiful original colour combination of Petrol Green with tan leather interior and beige soft-top.

 

The specification is state-of-the-art for the time, including a twin-overhead-camshaft engine and independent suspension all round. Alfa Romeo ambitiously raced the 6C 2300 and 2500, amassing an impressive string of victories and podium finishes including 1st and 2nd in the 1937 Mille Miglia; 1, 2, 3 in the 1937 6-hour Targa Abruzzo at Pescara; and another Pescara win in 1938. These successes continued after the end of WW2, including an overall win in the 1950 Targa Florio.

 

The most technically potent of several 6C 2500 models was the Super Sport. With three Weber carburettors it produced 110bhp even on the low-octane fuel available in Europe at the time. The 6C 2500's relatively stiff frame and four-wheel independent suspension delivered this power to the road much better than the typically cart-sprung live-axle cars of the day. Easier on drivers and passengers, the suspension's supple ride ensued that a competitor would remain alert at the end of the Mille Miglia, as well as enabling the owner of this Gran Turismo Alfa to emerge fresh at the end of a road trip to Cannes.

 

Their combination of sophisticated engineering, durability, and attractive bodywork has ensured that the 6C 2500 is, and has always been, highly sought after by collectors and performance-minded enthusiasts. Three variants were built post-war, including the two closed versions: one by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan, and one in house by Alfa Romeo.

 

Most exclusive of the post-war 6C 2500 line was the 6C 2500 Super Sport, built on a short (2.7 metres) chassis and intended exclusively for coachbuilt bodywork. Total production of the 6C 2500 Super Sport was 458 units, of which 75 were built between 1939-1943 and 383 between 1947-1951. According to the Fabio Morlacchi and Stefano Salvetti books, around 63 Super Sport Pinin Farina cabriolets were manufactured after the war. With such an exalted pedigree it is not surprising that the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport should attract the attention of filmmakers, director/producer Joseph L Mankiewicz casting one ('915.834') in his 1954 movie, The Barefoot Contessa, in which it was driven by Humphrey Bogart alongside his co-star, Ava Gardner (photographs and a film extract may be found in the car's history file).

 

A '2nd series' example, chassis number '915.696 has an exceptionally well-documented history. This particular car boasts matching numbers and colours, the latter an elegant and rare combination, and a body by one of the most prestigious Italian coachbuilders: Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. It is likely the only one to have been ordered with such a colour combination.

The car has a known and documented history from 1948 until today, including more than 50 original document pages; letters to Alfa Romeo in Italy; bills; photographs, etc, all of which contributes to making this car unique. It represents the best of both worlds: a sure protagonist at the most prestigious Concours d'Élégance venues such as Villa d'Este, Chantilly, Pebble Beach, etc while at the same time being an unusual and unexpectedly capable sports car for long-distance competitions (it is eligible for the Mille Miglia and other high profile international rallies).

 

• Major component identification numbers are as follows:

• Chassis: 915.696 ('2nd series')

• Engine: 928.001

• Pinin Farina body: 153

• Body structure: 10044

• Gearbox: 945.808 (22 x 39)

• Drive shaft: 963.840

• Rear axle: 985.688, 15 x 59

• Weber Carburettors Tipo 36 DO2: 362, 1108, 1112

• Suspension legs: 963.840

 

Chassis number '915.696' was produced on 25th October 1948 and sold on 11th April 1949 to Mr Edmondo Cornudet of Milan, Italy, who drove the car for the first years of its life. In 1958 Mr Cornudet put his Alfa up for sale and the car was sold to Mr Fred Puhn, an American from San Diego, California. Fred Puhn, who worked part time in a grocery store, had seen a classified advertisement in the San Diego newspaper for several exotic Italian cars. He called immediately and talked to the seller, Mr Bill Brehaut, who was importing and selling used Italian cars from his home. It turned out that Bill Brehaut was one of the two men who started Road & Track magazine!

The car on offer, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Pinin Farina convertible, was too expensive ($2,000) for Fred Puhn. He then decided to ask Bill Brehaut to find a less expensive car and paid for it by cheque ($550) on 27th May 1958. Later in 1958, Bill Brehaut's business partner in Italy, Mr Michele Vernola from Milan, notified him of a car that was right for Fred Puhn. It was a 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Pinin Farina convertible just like the one he first rode in. The price was only $585 in Italy because the car had covered 100,000 kilometres and needed a repaint. The Alfa was not of the quality Messrs Brehaut and Vernola liked to deal in, but nevertheless they decided to import it as a special favour for Fred Puhn, who had spent all his savings purchasing the car. Other costs were shipping up to $330; duties up to $45; Bill Brehaut's fees up to $20; and Michele Vernola's fees up to $100.

 

When Fred Puhn received the shipping papers he went to the port of Long Beach to see the car for the first time: "It was beautiful, faded grey paint and threadbare top aside; it was the car of my youthful dreams". Of course, he had to come back on another day to get it through customs; the customs declaration was dated 20th November 1959.

 

With his friend, Jerry, Fred travelled again to Long Beach to collect the car. They put a little gas in it, and it fired up straight away. The exhaust was a little smoky, but otherwise it ran well: "I was on a cloud as we drove down Highway 101 back to San Diego. We stopped at San Juan Capistrano for lunch and a photo (see attached picture). It was the only photo I would have of car in its original state, for disaster loomed ahead.

 

"We were only a few minutes from home in San Diego and passed under a freeway. I marvelled at the echo of the exhaust in the tunnel and pushed on the throttle to amplify it. In the next instant, an old Ford coming the other way suddenly turned left in front of us. I crashed into the Ford with the brakes locked. The Ford driver took off trying to escape the consequences. Jerry leaped out my Alfa, flagged down a passing car and took after the escaping culprit. He caught him a few blocks away and brought him to the back scene. The cops then arrived and promptly gave me a ticket for no registration or plates (contrary to what the DMV told me over the phone). The guy who caused the accident had no insurance but promised in writing to pay for my repairs. He never did. The Alfa would drive if you did not turn the steering wheel much, so we limped home. I was more than demoralised. It was hard not to cry in front of my friends.

"The next few months were spent going into debt and watching a craftsman slowly repair the Alfa. Finally, it was done, so I painted it red. After that, there were good both times and had times with the car. I drove it to college and parked it next to my friend Jerry's newly acquired FIAT 8V. Going to school with the top down was a blast on a winding canyon road, and I raced every car I saw. The Alfa even made a trip to the Colton drag strip and won a trophy by beating a VW Beetle. I took out a girl on a date in the Alfa, but she complained at being stared at because the car had right-hand drive. I impressed my hot-rodder friend by taking him for a ride at night and showing him 150 (kph) on the speedometer. He thought it was miles per hour."

 

The Alfa's registration plate was in 1960 was 'PSX 679'. Fred Puhn took good care of his car and eventually overhauled the complex hand-built engine. On 14th December 1960 he bought various parts from Michele Vernola including new bearings and a timing chain, as well as some valves and valve springs He also had the cylinder block bored at Westerlund & Lange on 5th August 1961 in order to fit a set of new pistons. Other machining work done at Westerlund and Lange on 30th September 1961 including grinding the crankshaft and line-boring the main bearings.

 

But despite all those works the oil pressure was falling again, leading Fred Puhn to conclude: "I am sure it was a mistake I made putting the pressure relief valve back together." "In a fit of depression", he traded the car for an MG TF to Mr John M Schoenfeld, 3353 Albatross, San Diego, California, who kept it for eight years. Despite its lubrication problem, the Alfa obviously left a deep impression on Fred Puhn, who some 50 years later wrote an article about it for the July 2012 edition of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club's magazine in the USA!

 

On 28th June 1963, John Schoenfeld had the seats reupholstered in blue at Hillcrest Auto Top Shop for $81.80 (see invoice naming both Hillcrest Auto Top Shop and Hydro Products Co).

In 1963, he changed the clutch, the brakes and the master cylinder, and repaired some of the instruments. He also ordered new rod bearings from Michele Vernola. A service bill from Morena Blvd., San Diego, California dated 15th July 1963 showed a total of 76,214 kilometres recorded at that time. Hence, we can deduce that the car, which had 100,000 kilometres recorded in 1959, in fact had covered 176,214 kilometres by June 1963 as the odometer has only five digits.

 

In 1965 John M. Schoenfeld sold the Alfa Romeo to Mr Lew Skaug, Chula Vista, San Diego, California, who registered it on 10th May '65. On 22nd September 1965, he was looking for new connecting bearing rods and main bearings. In 1965, the car was registered 'LLB 313'. It seems that this was the only occasion Lew Skaug paid the annual license fee, so it is likely that the car was not driven much at this time.

 

In June 1970, Lew Skaug sold the car to Mr Robert Craft Archibald, 4216 Morrell, San Diego, California, CA, who registered it on 31st July of that year. Unfortunately there is no information available for his period of ownership. In 1980 Robert Archibald sold the Alfa Romeo for $800 to Mr Howard Staniforth, the father of the last owner who kept the car until 2013; he got the car running and drove it a short distance. Subsequently, the car was dismantled and Howard Staniforth commenced some cosmetic refurbishment in his small workshop (Staniforth Electric), although without finishing the work (see photographs taken prior to 2013).

 

On 16th October 2013, with the odometer showing 80,255 kilometres (almost certainly 180,255 in actuality), the car was sold by Howard Staniforth's son to broker Fantasy Junction of Emeryville, California (US title under the name of Fantasy Junction in file), who in turn sold it to another broker, Mr Francisco Ramos García of Classic Road, Madrid, Spain. The car arrived in Europe through the port of Alicante, Spain, on 17th July 2014 and was customs cleared.

Before selling the car to Fantasy Junction, Ray Staniforth wrote a short history of his car (see pictures in file and online catalogue).

 

By the end of 2015 the Alfa had been sold to Mr Andrea Sivieri from Ferrara, Italy, who made the decision to start a complete restoration in the autumn of 2016. However, he was unable to proceed because of the task's complexity and insufficient funds. A full restoration commenced in France in March 2019, and after more than 5,000 hours of work was finally completed in the spring of 2022 (important restoration file with 2400 photos). Some 99% of the original parts were retained during the restoration, including the Borrani wheels.

 

The car comes with a French carte grise de collection, a 1947 Alfa Romeo reproduction brochure La nuova 6C 2500 2a serie tipo Sport e Super Sport. In addition, some original manuals from 1948 and 1949: Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Series II Owner's Manual for the Sport and & Super Sport, and Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Series II & III Workshop/Spare Parts Manual for the Sport & Super Sport, are available if required.

 

This exceptional 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pinin Farina must be one of the most handsome of post-war Alfa Romeos and would be a worthy addition to any connoisseur's collection. It is more than a wonderful car: it is a masterpiece.

Done