1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet (Touring coachwork)
- Engine
- 2.4L DOHC inline-six with three Weber 36 DO2 carburettors, 125 bhp
- Colour
- Very dark chestnut brown
Chassis 915.019 is a 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport, believed to be one of only two surviving open cabriolets bodied by Carrozzeria Touring from that year. Distinguished by a flat scudo radiator and a triple-carburettor engine to Tipo 256 competition specification, it is considered by its restorer to be the earliest extant 6C 2500 Sport with open Touring coachwork, and may have served as a 1939 motor-show exhibit. Following discovery in Hungary and comprehensive restoration involving Italian, Dutch, and Czech craftsmen, the car has been accepted into both the Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo and the Registro Internazionale Touring Superleggera, and has won its class at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold £952,000 (≈ $1.19M)
- 1994 →Private saleDieter Dambacherpartial documentation
Purchased the car from the current vendor's earlier ownership and undertook a full restoration: mechanical work done in the Netherlands, bodywork in Czech Republic by former Tatra craftsmen and in Italy. Discovered prior paint colors of grey and dark red during disassembly.
- Date unknownHungarian ownerpartial documentation
Car was located in Hungary and reportedly still roadworthy in Budapest as recently as the 1960s; had been converted from right- to left-hand drive at some point during this period.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Acquired the fully restored car from Dambacher; commissioned a repaint in deep chestnut brown with a green leather interior, and had the mechanical elements further addressed by Italian specialists including former Lancia racing mechanics.
Competition
- —Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este1st in Class
Shown at the Lake Como concours following completion of restoration; awarded top honors in its class.
- —Concorso d'Eleganza Villa La Malpenga
Also exhibited at this Italian concours event as part of the car's post-restoration showing program in Europe.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Modification
The car was converted from right-hand to left-hand drive at some point prior to its discovery in Hungary, and the engine was upgraded to triple-carburettor Tipo 256 competition specification, as denoted by the firewall plate marked SS17.
The date and location of these modifications are unknown; they had already been carried out when the car was found in Hungary in 1993.
- —RestorationVarious Italian specialists; Dutch mechanical workshop; Czech coachwork craftsmen
Comprehensive restoration commissioned by Dieter Dambacher after 1994 acquisition. Mechanical work was performed in the Netherlands, coachwork was rebuilt in Czechoslovakia by craftsmen with Tatra experience and also in Italy. Because corrosion and electrolysis had degraded the aluminium body panels, re-skinning in the original style was required. The engine was rebuilt by former Lancia racing mechanics Aldo Zanone and Fausto.
Disassembly revealed earlier finish colours of grey and dark red beneath later paint. The original chassis, engine, gearbox, firewall tag, and Touring body number were all confirmed as intact during this process.
- —BodyworkSelleria (interior and hood)
Following acquisition from Dambacher, the current owner judged the Czech bodywork to be improvable and had the car fully repainted in a very dark chestnut brown. A correctly fitted green leather interior and matching hood were supplied by Selleria.
This work was carried out after the main restoration was complete and reflects the current owner's preference for a higher cosmetic standard.
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