Description
This vehicle is Lot 159 to be auctioned by Bonhams at The Zoute Sale, Sunday 11th October 2026. Please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Auction Timings:
Lots 1 - 174 are to be sold from 12:00 local time on Sunday 11th October 2026.
Public Viewing:
Available 7 October 2026, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
8 October 2026, 10:00 - 18:00 CEST
9 October 2026, 10:00 - 20:00 CEST
10 October 2026, 09:00 - 19:00 CEST
11 October 2026, 09:00 - 18:00 CEST, at the auction venue..
Lot 159
1951 Alfa Romeo 1900 M 'Matta'
Registration no.
Chassis no. AR51 00217
Engine no. AR1307 02285
Rare Italian alternative to the Land Rover
Originally delivered to the Italian Military
Meticulously restored in Germany
Eligible for the Mille Miglia
Bearing more than just a passing resemblance to the Land Rover, the Alfa Romeo 1900 M was intended to fulfil a similarly utilitarian off-road role as its British counterpart and was likewise equipped with a separate chassis and four-wheel-drive transmission. Used by the Italian Army and Police, the 1900 M - also known as 'La Matta' (mad woman) - was powered by de-tuned (65bhp) version of the Alfa Romeo 1900's twin-overhead-camshaft four-cylinder engine and must be one of the very few military vehicles ever made that enjoyed such a race-bred power unit. A total of 2, 000 were delivered for military/ police use between 1951 and 1953, with a further 50 being released into the civilian market.
This beautiful Matta was first registered to the Italian Military in 1951 and was not registered to its first civilian owner, a resident of Cosenza, until 1978. Later on, the Matta found its way to a large classic car collection in Germany where it was meticulously restored. The result is nothing short of stunning and the Matta presents beautifully in dark blue with a dark red canvas top. Rarely have we seen these Mattas restored to such a high degree. A very interesting alternative to the much more common Land Rover and fitted with Alfa Romeo's legendary twin-cam four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1900 cc, this stunning Matta is offered with an old Italian libretto. It passed the stringent German TÜV in 2020 but was never registered in Germany. Importantly these Mattas are also eligible for the Mille Miglia.
€45, 000-55, 000
All lots are sold ‘as is/ where is’ and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness, mileage, engine capacity and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams website for all pertinent auction information.
