Alfa Romeo, after suffering wartime bombing that crippled its factory, didn’t restart car production until 1947, leaning on the pre-war 2500C model until 1952. In 1950, the company unveiled its first post-war car, the 1900, a groundbreaking design by Dr. Orazio Satta Puliga meant for mass production. This vehicle marked a significant departure for Alfa Romeo, featuring unitary construction and a twin-overhead-camshaft engine in line with the brand’s racing heritage.
Despite its family car appearance, the 1900 had sporty attributes, including wishbone and coil spring independent front suspension and a well-placed live rear axle. This versatility led to the creation of two high-performance versions. The 1900C Sprint, introduced in 1951, featured bodywork by Pinin Farina and Touring, powered by the 1900TI saloon’s 100bhp engine. The Touring-designed Sprint Coupe gained widespread acclaim, laying the foundation for Alfa Romeo’s future aerodynamic coupes.
The Sprint Coupe offered both sporty performance and ‘2+2’ seating, sporting Alfa’s signature heart-shaped vertical grille and side intakes. In 1954, the engine expanded to 1,975cc, renaming the model ‘Super Sprint.’ Touring later introduced a new 3-window body in 1956, offering a 115mph top speed due to its lightweight alloy body. The 1900 excelled in various competitions, solidifying its status as one of Alfa Romeo’s most successful cars.
Source: Bonhams Cars
