The Alfas Designed By Carrozzeria Touring

Carrozzeria is Italian for coach builder, back in the 1930’s Carrozzeria Touring created some of the most stunning and (still) sought after cars around. During the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance a handful of these pre-war beauties were a special feature on the field. 

Known as “The Flying Star” this 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Touring Spider was built specifically for the 1931 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Polished aluminum accents on the body are only one of the features which differentiate this from the standard competition Alfa coachwork. Look closely, the one piece windshield was quite an accomplishment at the time. The interior, exterior and even the steering wheel are white, which contrasts sharply with the black dashboard and tires. A gleaming example of stylized coach building.

Proof race cars can be beautiful this 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B MM Touring-style Spider Corsa and the only survivor of this body style. Driven by Franco Cortese for Scuderia Ambrosiana, who commissioned the car, they won seven of eight races in 1938. It is still driven by the current owner in the Mille Migla, and always finishes.

Another spider, this 1938 8C 2900B Touring Spider, is one of the most appreciated of the vintage Alfas. This 8-cylinder lungo (long wheelbase) is the touring version of the racing 2900A. Though 2900B’s were made for touring,  many raced, winning the Mille Miglia in 1938 and 1947. This car is 4th in a total production of thirty-two.

The hard top version and former Pebble Beach Best of Show Winner in 2008, 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta has its own special details. Note the differences in the hood louvers and fenders from the car above. This particular car has an exciting race history having raced in and won the very first Watkins Glen race in 1948 against noted driver Briggs Cunningham.

The final car five 6C’s, this 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Touring Coupe had the super powerful 120 bhp Tipo 256 race engine created under direction of Enzo Ferrari. Like the others, this touring car was not just a Sunday driver, earning a place in eight races in 1939. These later 6C’s shared similar molded in headlamps unlike the 1931 version but you’ll notice very distinct differences in the body and fender designs. A similar Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Berlinetta, known as the “Mussolini Mistress” car was not sold at the 2015 RM | Sotheby’s Paris auction.