Alfa Romeo 6C 2500S Sport Cabriolet by Touring 1939
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Car producer : |
Alfa Romeo |
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Model: |
6C 2500S Sport Cabriolet by Touring 1939 |
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Year: |
1939-1952 |
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Type: |
Cabriolet |
Introduced in 1938, the 2500 (2443 cc) was the last 6C road car. The passage from the 6C 2300B to the 6C 2500 involves negligible differences: the mechanical solutions remains practically unchanged, the 2mm increase in the engine stroke is the only major change, while the new design reflects a rare conservatism. Due to slight changes in the design of the grille and now even greater momentum, due to the choice of the “Long” 2300B, 3250mm, first used to build limousines. It was produced until then end WWII when it replaced by the “Freccia d`Oro”.
World War II was coming and car development was stopped, but a few hundred 6C 2500s were built from 1940 to 1945. Post-war, the first new Alfa model was the 1946 6C 2500 Freccia d'Oro (Golden Arrow), of which 680 were built through 1951, with bodies by Alfa. The 2500 had enlarged engine compared to the predecessor model, this Vittorio Jano designed double overhead cam engine was available either one or three Weber carburettors. The triple carburettor version was used in the top of line SS (Super Sport) version. The 2443 cc engine was mounted to a steel ladder frame chassis, which was offered with three wheelbase lengths: 3,250 mm (128.0 in) on the Turismo, 3,000 mm (118.1 in) on the Sport and 2,700 mm (106.3 in) on the Super Sport. In relations to the bodies of the official range, it was decided to continue producing sedans in Alfa, the coupe versions were to be th prerogative of Touring, while convertibles and roadsters will be produced by Pininfarina. But in reality this was not always so. Various coachbuilders made their own versions of the 2500, like Ghia, Graber, Bertone, Boneschi.
The 2500 was one of the most expensive cars available at its own time. The last 6C was produced in 1952, and was replaced by the 1900.
Berlin Motor Show, 1939, Touring exhibited two cars that will become true milestones: the berlinetta and convertible built on Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport. Official sold by Alfa Romeo as “standard” cars, soon-to-follow Super Sport version was only originally for racing. The main new feature can be said to reside in the modern butterfly bonnet replacing the bi-fold bonnet doors. The headlights masterfully incorporated into sheet metal that give a unique touch of the modernity. In parallel with official version of the berlinetta and convertible, Touring came short of combining two exercises in style in their own rights designed more to the needs of the body shop for its tests rather than dictated by brand identity. At the end 1939 two convertibles on Turismo bases were build and the aerodynamic sedan called “Fast Type”. The design does not differ that much from body shop`s contemporary models. The front, on the other hand, is totally out of the classic style of the Alfa-Touring combo.
An impressive convertible built on a long Turismo chassis a “grand luxury 4-5-seater convertible on the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Normal chassis”. The main differences lie in the greater proportions due to the long wheelbase, the front reflects standard sedan, the one peace windshield, the bottom door hinge in full view and not flush to the body. There was an extreme stylistic innovation in the lights positioned at the top of the fenders. At front the fender loses the sharp edge that marked the detachment between the front and side in the 1939 model.
The short wheelbase versions reaps its early success with lines similar to the 1940 convertible version.
In 1940 the Touring creates another line, even more extreme, with treatment volume that reflects the style of the “torpedino Bresca”. The front end rear fender can almost be considered notes two different entities but one only. The body shops characteristic mark at the end of the bonnet war replaced here the equally famous arrow symbol of the Mille Miglia.
1941 is a pivotal year for the Alfa-Touring partnership: the first sketches of a special berlinetta sprang to life boasting, for the first time, on its front, the Alfa shield, that long and narrow, still with us today. Convertibles on Sport bases were made between the end of 1942 and the beginning of 1943. The side still has the independent fenders, the strips on the front. The Sport version does not have the bolts to the bumper and bears the second light side, allowed, almost forced, by having a longer wheelbase compare with Super Sport.
All the 1947 version styles shared by Touring`s creations are included: unified shield, four tail lights, double bumpers lined with polyvinyl and front mudguard that tapers into the door. The Alfa shield is updated and enlarged, it tends to expand. The door can reach the bottom, also changing curvature and occupying as much space as possible.
In 1948 was redesign dash, different hubcaps, and slightly higher fog lights. Everything is new at the back: extended and swollen, it no longer matches the finally connected tails typical of the Touring berlinettas. There is also a science fiction rear hood that extends to where it meets the plate touch the rear window. The designer Frederico Formenti reinvents the style: it reverts to showing off the fenders with independent volumes, with additional of two grooves in the wheel housing. The give rise to the “third series”, as defined by Alfa Rome.
Traditionally, convertibles were produced by Pininfarina and, as seen, Touring only build few and those that came to life were created by simply “cutting” their coupes. Touring could not help adopting the “Villa d`Este” styles on its convertibles, at the end of 1949 built just a few.
In 1950 spacious sedan with folding seats and dividers was built on the Long bases. With ten models made, it was not a negligent production. The front wave is extended to mid-door to optically adjust the proportion. Touring extend its style formula to all 6C 2500 range version, from Super Sport coupe to the Sport and Super Sport convertibles.
The lack of proportions seen on the Sport convertible has disappeared, there are larger windows. The tail is even more elusive, with hold at the end of the wheel housing, more accentuated at the bottom.
The 6C 2500 Villa d'Este was introduced in 1949 and was produced until 1952, named for the Concorso d'Eleganza held in Villa d'Este; a Touring Superleggera-bodied version won the prize. Villa d'Este was Alfa's last hand built model, only 36 examples made (including 5 cabriolets). Two years after “Villa d`Este” coupe and convertible hit the market, the long wheelbase version is also built on the same design: 5-seater built on a 3000mm wheelbase with three carburettor engine.
A small number of “short” chassis with 2700mm wheelbase was prepared in collaboration between the Scruderia Ferrari in Modena and Portollo, reducing weight and increasing power by about 20Hp, thanks to the three carburettors instead of the original single double-choke. The Ferrari “signature” is found in the acronym “256”, number in which, the first two digits indicate the displacement and the third the number of cylinders.
The Tipo 256 was a racing version of 2500 made eight copies between 1939 and 1940 for Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was made as Spider, two-seater roadster (the so-called type “torpedo”) and Berlinetta (coupe) Touring body styles. With power of 125 bhp (93 kW) it could achieve top speed of 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph). After the “torpedo” in 1939 came new version making its history as “thicj wing”, that reflects those fenders integrated into the side, getting rid of the concept of their independent volume.
After the debut of the “torpedo” and “thick wing”, the Alfa-Touring combo in 1939 offered new bodyworks for the Alfa Corse “256” (“torpedino Brescia”): the design loses the integral side. He radiator grille returns to what it once was, the strictly elliptic shape was finally abandoned and the lights was on the top of the fenders and the connection between them with a pronounced bulge that attempted to evoke a small running board.
