Back to back: Alfa 1900 Special or Alfa 1900 Touring?

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Worldwide’s Scottsdale auction offers a unique Alfa-Romeo 1900 based Special. It’s a 1958 car with stunning coachwork by Autotechnica del Lario in Lecco, Italy. Although the year of manufacture is not mentioned, the seller’s blurb states: “The curvaceous, all-aluminium bodywork was crafted from 12/10-gauge panels and with its voluptuous, decidedly sexy lines, stands along with the best body designs of the 1950s”. It does remind us of the 250 SWB, but perhaps prettier? Or are we now insulting owners of that vehicle?

Mechanically there’s nothing wrong either, with the 2litre Alfa Romeo DOHC, ‘twin-plug’ inline four-cylinder, mated to twin Webers and good for an estimated 130hp (the car weighs under 900kgs). Naturally, the suspension has been tweaked, while the interior is beautifully kitted out, totally in 1950s/1960s fashion also. Remarkably, perhaps, it received an award for ‘Best Original/Preserved car’ during the Manhattan Beach Concours of 2014. It is estimated to make 350- to 425,000 dollars now. Further details here.

Okay. We like the Special. But some people may prefer their Alfa 1900 slightly more in its original guise. Then the 1954 1900C Super Sprint Coupé with body by Touring is perhaps the best available. It will be for sale with RM/Sotheby's in Paris this February. This one was built on 5 May 1954 and sold new in Milan on 27 October 1954. It made it over to the US in 1965, but came back to Europe in 2009 when it underwent a 3,000-hour restoration to full original spec, only completed this past summer. The estimated price remains unknown so far, but we think it may be quite similar to the Special. More information here.

We have decided on our own favourite. How about you?

(Words editor, pictures Worldwide auctioneers / RM/Sotheby's)

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