Alfa Romeo 1900 Classic Cars for Sale

Cars built in the 1950s were generally racy yet classy vehicles that pleased the eye and made an impact on the road. The sturdy curvy silhouette of the sporty Alfa Romeo 1900 exemplifies the period.

Alfa Romeo 1900: all the firsts

The Alfa Romeo 1900 was the first car that Alfa Romeo produced entirely on its highly automated production line. It was the first car to be produced without a separate chassis, although the basic 1900 chassis was to lend itself to various models through the collaboration of important Italian coach-builders. It was also the first to offer a left-hand-drive version. It was in production between 1950 and 1959 and was available in various models: Berlina (sedan), Sprint (coupé) and Spider (convertible). It was the first automobile to be known as the "family car that wins races"! Indeed, it was roomy and accommodating yet fast and dynamic, fully suitable for competitive racing, and did actually win races!

1950: The Alfa Romeo 1900 is presented to the public

A prototype of the Alfa Romeo 1900 sedan car was unofficially presented at the Salone di Torino in May 1950. Because of a certain resemblance to another FIAT prototype, it was considered unsatisfactory so was sent back to the drawing board. The combined efforts of design engineers Orazio Satta Puliga and Antonio Alessio, plus the precious collaboration of Gaetano Ponzoni of the Touring Superleggera coach-building company, produced the definitive model which was presented to the press in October in Milan. That same month the Alfa Romeo 1900 was officially introduced to the world at the Paris Salon.

The coach-built Alfa Romeo 1900: a variety of looks and designs

The design corrections effected by the Touring Superleggera coach-building company were a major contribution to the success of the Alfa Romeo 1900. The company decided to keep to this format and profit by the expertise of the prestigious Italian coach-building industry which, at the time, was beginning to feel endangered by the advent of complete unibody automobile production which would have precluded their services. Alfa Romeo built five different versions of the chassis to accommodate various independent coach-builders. The Zagato coach-building company helped produce the lightweight coupé, designed for racing; Touring Superleggera built the 1900 Sprint Coupé; and Pininfarina produced the elegant four-seat Cabriolet.

Alfa Romeo 1900: some technical data

The Berlina measured 4,400mm long, 1,600mm wide (1,630mm coupé version), 1,490mm high (1,350mm coupé) with a wheelbase of 2,630mm (2,500mm coupé). The 1900 was available in two-door or four-door models; it had a four/five gear transmission and a 1,884cc, four-cylinder, twin cam engine. During its nine-year production period, 21,304 Alfa Romeo 1900s were built.