Description
The Alfa Romeo 2600, produced between 1962 and 1968, represents the marque’s last grande berline and coupé to adopt a straight-six engine with a double overhead camshaft, true to the mechanical tradition that earned Alfa Romeo its reputation. Offered in several versions – Berlina, Sprint and Spider – it embodied the refinement, power and elegance of the Milan-based firm at the start of the sixties. The second series, introduced from 1964, benefited from various improvements: engine optimisation, four-wheel disc brakes, firmer suspensions, as well as subtle aesthetic adjustments. Produced in limited numbers, it was aimed primarily at connoisseurs, attracted by its 2, 584 cm³ inline-six developing 145 hp at 5, 900 rpm, mated to a five-speed manual and capable of reaching 200 km/ h in sovereign comfort.
The example presented here belongs to this second series. Its first owner is said to have been engineer Carlo Chiti, iconic figure of Italian motorsport and craftsman of Alfa Romeo competition engines. It is he who reportedly replaced the original Solex carburettors with Weber units equipped with individual filters, improving the engine’s breathing and liveliness. Subsequently, the car was owned by Ettore Delli Carri, a veterinarian and presenter of the Italian wildlife programme “Il Giardino Straordinario”, broadcast on Italian television. It was he who undertook the steps for registering the car with ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano).
The car arrived in Belgium in November 2003, after a road trip from northern Italy. On arrival, the head gasket was replaced, the car having stood idle for several years. The odometer then showed 4, 500 km, corresponding to the distance travelled since the complete engine rebuild by the previous owner. Since that date, approximately 20, 000 km have been covered without a fault in twenty-two years of use. The engine now totals 25, 000 km and runs perfectly, helped by an electronic ignition of type 1-2-3 guaranteeing increased reliability.
The interior was completely redone at the end of 2020, including upholstery and carpets, and remains in as-new condition. The Michelin X tyres, fitted in 2023, show barely 1, 000 km of use. The complete exhaust system, made in stainless steel by Freddy Bantuelle from the collector, offers a sound that is at once noble and hushed, in perfect harmony with the nobility of the six-cylinder. The original toolkit is still present, though partly incomplete and requiring restoration. This is also the exemplar that was the subject of an article in the Italian magazine Ruote Classiche in 1988, a photocopy of which accompanies the car.
