€744,900
offers 0
1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Sprint Ghia Supergioiello
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Highlights
- A participant in the 1955 Rallye Monte-Carlo, as well as a raft of other events in period which are all documented
- The last of the 18 to 20 Supergioiellos to have been built by Ghia, with only three to four believed to still exist
- Beautifully restored by Cognolato in Italy, with just 78 kilometres covered since
- Eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica along with numerous other prestigious events
- Won ‘Best in Show’ at Essen Motor Show in 2016 and entered into the 2021 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance
The Appeal
With the advent of mass-production and monocoque construction, it seemed the writing was on the wall for the noble art of coachbuilding. The 1900 was to be Alfa Romeo’s first unibody platform to be built entirely on a production line, however it was offered to a number of Italy’s great carrozzerias in order to produce premium versions. Amongst the rarest and most beautiful was Ghia’s Supergioiello, of which only 18 to 20 are said to have ever been built. Of that already small number, just three to four are believed to exist today and here we have the last one Ghia produced.
With rich period competition history which includes participation in the 1955 Rallye Monte-Carlo, this immensely special Alfa Romeo has a wonderful history, competing in a great many rallies and Concours events over a number of years. Now restored to an exceptional standard by Italian specialist Cognolato, it’s in excellent condition and has covered a mere 78 kilometres since completion.
Any museum or esteemed collector would be proud to own this piece of motoring history, so be sure not to miss this unrepeatable opportunity.
The History and Paperwork
- Built in October 1953
- Delivered in May 1954 to Gumersindo Garcia Fernandez of Spain, who registered it with the Real Automóvil Club de España
- Fernandez competed in numerous events in 1954 and 1955 including the first Rally de los Pirineos
- He won first in class victory at the Subida a la Dehsa de la Villa held on 21 November 1954
- He and the car entered the 1955 Rallye Monte-Carlo which was reportedly completed although the time was not classified officially in the overall standings
- In September 1955, Belén Aguilar entered Alfa Romeo in the Concurso de Elegancia in San Sebastián
- The car was then owned by Salvador Ros, the president of the Club 600 Barcelona who continued to campaign the car
- With Ros, the car finished tenth overall at the 1958 Rallye de los Pirineos
- Ros continued to regularly campaign the car until an accident damaged the car in 1961
- A Carrozzeria Touring style nose was fitted to the car as the original Ghia coachwork was deemed to challenging to recreate
- Little is then seen of the Alfa until 1990, at which point it was owned by renowned automotive historian Pablo Gemino
- It was Genmino who studied its early competition history, providing the detailed record we have of the car’s early life to this day
- It was then owned by a significant Portuguese collector and later restored by Cognolato to its original specification, using images discovered by its then owner
- In present ownership for approximately five years
- Won ‘Best in Show’ at Essen Motor Show in 2016 and entered into the 2021 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elegance by the vendor
- Eligible for the Mille Miglia Storica along with numerous other prestigious events
The Interior
- Retrimmed to an excellent standard
- Upholstered in brown leather
- Beautifully presented
We imagine that climbing aboard this Alfa Romeo today feels much like it did for Fernandez or Ros in period as they embarked upon their gruelling rallies. Everything has been restored and retrimmed to exacting original specifications and since the car has covered so few kilometres since, there’s very little in the way of wear to report.
The seats and door cards are upholstered in sumptuous brown leather, with pale piping. These all present very well with no notable wear or any damage to report. The carpet does not appear stained or worn, and the same can be said for the headlining which is clean and correctly supported throughout the cabin.
An utterly delightful thin, wood-rimmed steering wheel presents the driver and there’s hardly any discernible wear to this, the gear lever or pedal rubbers. An Autovox radio and speaker provide a suitably period aesthetic and sound. All the switchgear looks in lovely order, instruments present clearly and we understand everything operates exactly as it should. Inside the boot, we find a spare wheel and note the carpeting to be in fantastic order.
The Exterior
- Retains its original colour - Rame Metallizzato (copper metallic)
- Period competition livery with the number ‘400’ prominently displayed down the sides
- Finished to an exceptional standard
The 1900 Supergioiello is one of those cars you can’t stop looking at. The longer you examine it, the more sublime details you notice, which is testament both to Ghia’s craftsmanship and the immense skill of Cognolato who restored the car to its former glory.
The paint finish and bodywork appears devoid of any flaws and the fact it has been entered in some of the most prestigious Concours events during recent years shows that it is in superlative condition. The original colour, Rame Metallizzato, dazzles under natural light and all the trim gleams to match. We haven’t seen any damage or corrosion and this continues underneath where there’s evidently nothing untoward to report.
It sits upon highly finished chrome wire wheels, all of which appear in fine order, as do the tyres.
The Mechanics
- 1.9-litre, four-cylinder twin-cam
- Four-speed manual gearbox with column change
- Drum brakes
- Independent front suspension with double A-arms, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers
- Live-axle rear suspension with trailing links, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers
- Impeccably presented under the bonnet
- Produced approximately 98 bhp when new
- Running and driving faultlessly
Alfa Romeo are of course revered for their twin-cam or ‘bialbero’ engines, and the 1900 featured the four-cylinder which was the predecessor of the legendary Nord unit. Delivering a very respectable 98 bhp to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox, it’s no wonder this 1900 Supergioiello proved a successful competition car in period.
Mechanically restored to the same exacting standards as the rest of the car, of course this engine runs wonderfully and the vendor reports that the Alfa is a pleasure to drive. We understand that a mere 78 kilometres have been covered since the restoration work was completed, so mechanically it remains a very fresh example with no issues to report. All is impeccably presented under the bonnet to period specifications.
Summary
This Alfa Romeo is amongst the most special cars you’re likely to see, let alone have the opportunity to acquire. In utterly brilliant condition and with a fascinating competition history behind it, this is the chance in a lifetime to call yourself the proud owner of a significant piece of automotive history.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
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Vehicle specification
- Year 1953
- Make Alfa Romeo
- Model 1900 C Sprint Ghia Supergioiello
- Colour Rame Metallizzato
- Odometer 250 Kilometres
- Engine size 1900
Listing Details
- Seller Type Trade
- Town Litomerice
- Location International
- Country Czechia
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