1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 C SS Zagato Berlinetta

AR1900C 01955roadItaly

Engine: Alloy-head dual-cam inline engine (1900cc class)

Chassis 01955 is the 23rd of 39 Alfa Romeo 1900C Super Sprint Zagato berlinettas produced, built in September 1954 and delivered new in March 1955. Bodied in hand-formed aluminium by Elio Zagato's carrozzeria, it features a single-vent racing hood and retains its matching-numbers engine. The car was campaigned in period Italian hillclimbs and the 1955 Mille Miglia by its first owner's son, later modified with a double-bubble roof, exported to California, and subsequently raced in American vintage events and European historic rallies before passing through long-term private ownership.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Estimate US$700,000 – US$900,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
—Auction sale
Sold US$775,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1955-03-01 →Factory delivery
Dr. Vincenzo Fornasari
partial documentation
Preferred Zagato client who also owned a Maserati A6G/54 Zagato; his son Luigi used the car in Italian mountain and road racing during 1955.
2023 →Auction
Current consignor
partial documentation
Purchased via RM Sotheby's in 2023; subsequently invested over $129,000 in a comprehensive mechanical rebuild and has used the car on select touring events.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Ernie Mendicki
partial documentation
Performance dealer, racer, and collector in Oakland, California; the car arrived in the US with a double-bubble roof modification by early 1959.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Jim Keown
partial documentation
Monterey-based custodian through whose hands the car passed between Mendicki and Cesari.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Jim Cesari
partial documentation
Palo Alto-based vintage racing enthusiast who campaigned the berlinetta at California historic events in the late 1970s before selling it.
Date unknownPrivate sale
Ugo Piccagli
partial documentation
Texas-based owner who participated in European historic events with the car in the mid-1980s.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Long-term owner who displayed car at Blackhawk Museum
partial documentation
Car was on display at the Blackhawk Museum in the mid-2000s during this ownership period.

Competition

1955
Aosta-Gran San Bernardo hillclimb
Driver: Luigi Fornasari1st in class, 11th overall
1955
Bolzano-Mendola hillclimb
Driver: Luigi Fornasari3rd in class, 11th overall
Part of Luigi Fornasari's improving results during the 1955 Italian competition season.
1955
Stella Alpina
Driver: Luigi Fornasari2nd in class, 5th overall
1955-05-01
1955 Mille Miglia
Driver: Luigi Fornasari11th in class, 38th overall
Car entered as race number 415 by the first owner's son.
1986
1986 Targa Florio
Driver: Ugo Piccagli
Entered as part of Piccagli's participation in European historic events.
1987
1987 Mille Miglia Storica
Driver: Ugo Piccagli
2023
2023 Colorado Grand
One of several touring events attended by the current owner after completing the mechanical restoration.
—
Monterey Historics
Driver: Jim Cesari
Campaigned by Cesari during the late 1970s as part of California vintage racing activity.
—
Sears Point vintage race
Driver: Jim Cesari
One of several California historic events entered by Cesari in the late 1970s.

Maintenance & restoration

2016Mechanical
Phil Reilly & Co.
A mechanical refresh addressing the braking system, including wheel cylinders, master cylinder, and flywheel reconditioning.
Carried out at the specialists' premises in Corte Madera, California.
2022
Mechanical
Further sympathetic mechanical work was undertaken, scope not fully detailed in available documentation.
Preceded the car's consignment to RM Sotheby's the following year.
2023
Engine rebuild
A comprehensive mechanical overhaul totalling over $129,000, encompassing a full engine rebuild, carburetor rebuild, gearbox rebuild, and radiator re-coring alongside additional unspecified work.
Commissioned by the current owner following acquisition at the 2023 RM Sotheby's sale.
—
Modification
The original standard roof was replaced with a double-bubble roof profile, and the car was prepared for export to the United States.
This modification was in place by early 1959 when the car arrived in California.

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