- Nur ein Exemplar gebaut (für Enzo Ferrari)
- erster Alfa mit dem "Cuore Sportivo"
- Sehr gute historische Dokumentation

Beschreibung:

Mit Chassis Nummer 915527 begann der berühmte Autodesigner Carlo Felice Anderloni seine Prägung auf das Design der Carozzeria Touring und auf Alfa Romeo. Ursprünglich sollte dieses Auto ein Ferrari werden, denn Enzo Ferrari höchstpersönlich wollte diesen Wagen! Leider mangelte es Ferrari damals an Geld und so wurde dieses Auto mit einem speziellen Rennchassis und weiteren Elementen der berühmten Alfa 8C Vorkriegs- Rennwagen dann ein richtiger Alfa Romeo. Die Entstehung des Wagens mitten im Krieg wurde nur möglich, weil in Mailand Kriegsindustrie ansässig war und dadurch Werkstoffe für die Produktion dieses einmaligen Automobils vorhanden waren. Nach Fertigstellung kaufte ein berühmter Kunstsammler aus der Schweiz den Wagen. Es gibt weitere gut dokumentierte Besitzer, die alle aus dem Kultur- und Fabrikanten Milieu der Schweiz stammen, u.a LeCoultre (Uhrenmanufaktur). Dann kommt das Auto zu dem berühmt gewordenen Wein Kritiker Michel Dovaz, der in Frankreich einen Bauernhof voll der seltensten und teuersten klassischen Fahrzeugen besaß, den berühmten „Sleeping Beauties“, die Mitte der Achtziger Jahre entdeckt wurden. Dieses Einzelstück von Alfa Romeo wurde geborgen und sehr behutsam restauriert. Das Auto ist ungeschweißt und wurde noch nie grundlegend auseinandergebaut.
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- Very well documented history
- Only one piece ever produced (for Enzo Ferrari)
- First Alfa with the "Cuore Sportivo"

Description:

With chassis number 915527, the famous car designer Carlo Felice Anderloni began to coin the design of the Carozzeria Touring and Alfa Romeo. Originally this car was supposed to be a Ferrari, because Enzo Ferrari himself wanted this car! Unfortunately Ferrari didn't have enough money at the time and so this car with a special racing chassis and further elements of the famous Alfa 8C pre-war racing cars became a real Alfa Romeo. The creation of the car in the middle of the war was only possible because the war industry was based in Milan and therefore materials for the production of this unique automobile were available. After completion, a famous art collector from Switzerland bought the car. There are other well-documented owners who all come from the cultural and manufacturing milieu of Switzerland, including LeCoultre (watch manufacturer). Then the car comes to the famous wine critic Michel Dovaz, who owned a farm in France full of the rarest and most expensive classic vehicles, the famous "Sleeping Beauties", which were discovered in the mid-eighties. This unique piece from Alfa Romeo was salvaged and very carefully restored. The car is unwelded and has never been completely dismantled.

Among the 6c Alfa Romeo Super Sports ID 915527 represents something like an extraordinary understatement. Being based on the legendary 256 racing configuration it came out as a disguised Ferrari. Instead of becoming the first road going pre-Ferrari the Touring Superleggera design commissioned by the Commendatore it was executed as a one-off Alfa Romeo for a discerning gentleman driver.

In this respect an Alfa Romeo of 1942 vintage is of extraordinary distinction and can be considered a true milestone. Owing to its wartime birth all creativity available would have to go into its development. Starting with the scarcity of materials only Carrozzeria Touring of Milan could procure them. As privileged provider for airplane components from its state-of- the-art Superleggera construction for them there was a way around wartime austerity. Nevertheless a special envoy to Hitler’s Reichskanzlei had to apply for exemption from the general embargo on non war-related aluminum use.

The circumstances of initiating this project and its clandestine consignment to a Swiss- French Nobelman from the Milan based Carrozzeria makes for a detective story. Equally intriguing the passage of eight documented Swiss owners who all have historical credentials in the arts, architecture and even ground braking inventions. It may well be assumed that this particular automobile has been an inspiration for the postwar cultural elite and has in turn profited from appreciative use during their ownership.

Rarely an automobile of this provenance surviving intact comes to the market. The ex- Sleeping Beauty is a time warp specimen incorporating all the values of a true monument auf automotive history. Its overall condition reflects the maintenance of quite an unbroken string of caretakers. Only an automobile of this stance can survive the mixed fortunes of wartime as well as postwar turmoil and ultimately the bonanza of “better-than- new” 100point restorations. Notwithstanding its authentic entity and charming period patina it completed the retrospective Mille Miglia without any complication. Testimony to its powerful and reliable mechanics. As a matter of fact it passed the quite challenging pre-race Italian MOT test at par with any roadworthy newtimer.

Driving this Alfa conveys all the thrills of a pre-war supercar. Once accustomed with the specifics of this eighty year old sportscar any driver will experience the thrill of once exclusive touring way ahead of its contemporaries.

Based on a then very avantgarde SWB chassis layout type 256 with all around independent suspension, the race proven DOC-6c engine combined with the extra light Superleggera coachwork this unique Alfa stands out among all its 6c brethren. Even if compared to the tipo 256 re-body coupé  auctioned at the Pebble Beach 2019 edition plays out its historic advantage: Although later from its chassis ID (915527) its job number # 2663 precedes the 256 re-body of 1942 (#2700) An absolute one-off prototype with its new front treatment establishing Alfa Romeos distinctive styling to this day.

Incidentally based on an original design initially blueprinted for Ferraris first road going production car with its clandestine branding as „Autoaviocostruzioni“ tipo 815. This again bearing close resemblance with the last pre-war Mille Miglia Alfa racer nicknamed “Topedino di Brescia” and Enzo Ferraris tipo Auto Avio 815 corsa entered in the same race with twin-engined Fiat mechanics.

But above all the fairytale provenance gives this Alfa its unique positioning. Hadn’t it been for Michel Dovaz, the French gentleman driver and sommelier with his exquisite tastes in cars as well as in superb wines – and Herbert Hesselmann the fashion photographer turned discoverer of sleeping beauties - this briar rose might have never made its way back into the lime light.

Now it is waiting for another kiss of life in prestigious rallying events and concours d’elegance where it is a sure candidate for preservation honors. But above all a priceless icon of automotive history that will convey the pure pleasure of classic driving in a most genuine way.

This Alfa with its intensely researched history and unbroken provenance surely commands an outstanding historic value as example of the collaboration of the most prestigious Italian automakers:  Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Touring Superleggera.

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For further Information and the full history please refer to „Sleeping Beauty -  The whole Story“