Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Berlina Pininfarina

Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Berlina Pininfarina: Its Portello factory devastated by wartime bombing, Alfa Romeo did not resume car production until 1946 with, inevitably, a pre-war carry-over: the 6C 2500. Last of the separate-chassis Alfas, the 2500 had debuted in 1939 and was a development of the preceding 2300. The engine was, of course, the latest version of Alfa’s race-developed double-overhead-camshaft six, bored out to 2,443cc. The Alfa tradition of building driver’s cars par excellence was upheld by the 2500, for although the box-section chassis was no longer state-of-the-art, it boasted all-independent suspension, generously-sized brakes, fast-geared steering, and an unusually slick column-mounted gearchange. The weight gain over its pre-war predecessor was offset by the increase in engine capacity and superior aerodynamics, top speed being an identical 97mph (156km/h).  For all its charm, the 6C 2500 represented Alfa Romeo’s history rather than its future, nevertheless standing the company in good stead until the arrival of the thoroughly modern 1900 in 1950. Production continued until 1953, by which time a little fewer than 2,200 of these handsome automobiles had been made. The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 S Berlina Pininfarina is winner of the Honour Grand Prix at the 1950 Concours d’Elegance Lido di Venezia.