ALFA ROMEO 6C 2500 Super Sport 1939-1952 Photos, engines & full specs

It was the last car launched by Alfa Romeo before WWII. But the technology involved and the iron will of its makers made possible the re-run of the model after the war ended and it was built in few forms until 1952.

Alfa Romeo was one of the most powerful and sportiest cars before WWII. Its cars won many races and its engineers tried to push the boundaries with advanced techniques, unused by most of its competitors. Most of the 6C vehicles were delivered as chassis, and the customers finished their cars at various coachbuilders such as Pininfarina or Touring Superleggera of Milan.

The construction was based on steel, ladder-frame chassis. There were three different wheelbases, the shortest one being used for the sport and super-sport models. They were fitted with roadster-type bodyworks, so the cars were lighter and more competitive. The Super Sport version featured the shortest chassis, with a 2.75 (108.2”) wheelbase. Its curved bodywork with fluid lines was ahead of its times.

Inside, the most unusual feature of the car was the driver's seat, which was installed further back than the side-passenger. That was due to the driving post and the fixed steering wheel. The instrument panel used most of the gauges and dials from the racing version. Since it wasn't fitted with rear seats, it didn't have rear side windows.

Under the hood, the 6C 2500 featured an inline-six engine. For the Super Sport version only, it was fitted with two Webber carburetors and a higher compression ratio of 8:1 instead of 7:1. That improvement led to a total output of 110 hp. The suspension is independent all round with twin trailing arms on the front while the rear has swinging arms.