Lot 18

2024   |  

London Auction 2024

1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Freccia d’Oro

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Asking Price

£255,000

Chassis

916447

Engine

926797

Car Highlights

A Groundbreaking 6C 2500 with Factory Coupe Coachwork

Extensively Restored to Original Specifications

Finished in Original Verde Esmeralda over English Cloth Interior

Accompanied by 40 Pages of Restoration Photos

Retains Matching-Numbers Engine per Chassis Plate

Technical Specs

2,443 CC DOHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine

Single Weber Twin-Choke Downdraft Carburetor

90 BHP at 4,600 RPM

4-Speed Column-Shift Manual Gearbox

4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

Front Independent Suspension with Coil Springs and Hydraulic Dampers

Rear Independent Suspension with Trailing Arms, Torsion Bars and Dual Hydraulic Dampers

Carlo Alberto Braccini, Rome, Italy (acquired new in 1949)

Francesco Ricciardi, Potenza, Italy

Jack Braam Ruben (acquired from the above)


Temporary UK Import
See UK Registration/Import Status Guide in catalogue.

The 6C was a long-running model in Alfa Romeo’s lineup, and it saw numerous revisions over its 27-year production run. Initially developed by automotive engineering legend Vittorio Jano, the only constant with the 6C name was that the engines had six cylinders. The final variant of the road-going 6C was the 2500, built from 1938 to 1952.

The 6C 2500 was first shown just before the start of WWII, but production was understandably slow between 1940 and 1945. However, in 1946, as Europe began to rebuild, Alfa Romeo debuted a new car built on the 6C 2500 chassis. Known as the “Freccia d’Oro” – or Golden Arrow – this car was unique. Where nearly every previous 6C had been bodied by outside contractors, the Freccia d’Oro was built entirely in-house by Alfa Romeo. The Freccia d’Oros were handcrafted luxury cars with sporting driving dynamics. Produced in Alfa Romeo’s Portello workshop in Milan, these were the first 6Cs to have their bodies welded to the chassis rather than affixed by bolts, which improved structural rigidity. Between 1947 and 1952, Alfa Romeo built 680 Freccia d’Oro 6Cs, a small fraction of which are believed to remain today.

This 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Freccia d’Oro, chassis 916447, is a particularly striking example, finished in its original striking shade of Verde Esmeralda, and benefits from an extensive restoration to concours standards under prior Italian ownership. According to the Alfa Romeo 6C Registry, this car was built in May 1949 for Carlo Alberto Braccini of Rome, who was believed to be the Italian ambassador to Greece at that time.

As seen in photographs on file, the Alfa Romeo was finished in black prior to restoration, but Verde Esmeralda paint was visible under the engine bonnet. At this stage, the 6C was a vehicle that, although unrestored, was remarkably complete and a perfect candidate for a concours restoration. This 6C was disassembled and the body was removed from the chassis and stripped to bare metal before being repainted.

The tan cloth seats, that were present prior to the restoration, were reupholstered to bring it to the show standard of the rest of the car. The interior is adorned by an optional translucent steering wheel, adding to the car’s Art Deco-era appeal. The Alfa is also equipped with unusual onboard jacks.

Now presented in outstanding overall condition, this Sport Freccia d’Oro, with its matching-numbers engine, offers discerning collectors a rare variant of the 6C 2500 that is eligible for a number of prestigious driving events throughout Italy and concours worldwide.

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