1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Touring Berlinetta
edited by David Barth, 16 December 2008.
Courtesy "The Auto Collections" showroom at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in Las, Vegas, Nevada, USA. Photos were
taken 23 November 2006.
Some of the information presented below is from "Imperial Palace Auto Collection" by Ralph Engelstad, owner of the
hotel/casino and the automobiles until his death in 2002.
Chassis number: 915030
This car has won several awards:
1998 Pebble Beach
Gwenn Graham Winner
2004 Ironstone, CA
Most Elegant Closed Car
2004 Kirkland, WA
Most Elegant Closed Car
"Alpha" is short for Societa Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, formed in Milan in 1910.
This car was imported into the United States by Earl Porter of Chicago in 1962.
It was bought by Mr. John Jumer of Elkhart, Indiana in 1965.
It was purchased in 1990 by Charlie Morse and Malcolm Harris.
Restoration began in 1994 and was finished just before the 1998 Pebble Beach event. Malcolm had over 1,500 of his
personal hours invested in this great masterpiece.
Characteristics of the Tipo 6C 2500S Berlinetta:
- Engine: straight-six
- Camshaft: Double-overhead
- Combustion chambers: Hemispherical
- Bore: 72mm
- Stroke: 100mm
- Displacement: 2.5 liters (150 cubic inches)
- Power: 95 hjp at 4,600 rpm
- Top speed: 100 mph
- Suspension: Independent, all around
- Brakes: Drums on all 4 wheels
- Trasmission: 4-speed, non-synchromesh
- Wheelbase: 118 inches
- Body builder: Carrozzeria Touring
This car is one of 66 "S" (Superleggero or Superlight) versions built. Instead of a wooden skeleton beneath the body,
the S models had tubular steel covered with aluminum sheets. 33 of the "S" models were fitted with the touring body
shown in this example.
This car was a gift from Mussolini to his mistress, Clara Petacci. As the Allies invaded Italy, he and Clara tried to
make a dash to the Swiss border in this Alpha, but just before they reached the border, they were caught and executed.
The car was impounded by local police, and some time later, was brought to the U.S. by an American soldier. The car's
history has been verified by Petacci's wartime bodyguard.
At the time these photos were taken the price was not disclosed, but inquiries were invited.
