Introduced in 1951, the 1900 was Alfa Romeo's first post-war design and the first model intended for series-production. It was also the world's first such car available with both a twin-cam engine and a five-speed gearbox - and there was synchromesh on every ratio. Given Alfa Romeo's history, it was inevitable that the factory would build special editions and Touring of Milan, then Italy's top coachbuilder, styled a coupe body for the 1900 Sprint and Super Sprint. It was among the most handsome four-seat cars of its day and time has not withered its appeal. With 115 bhp from the 1,975cc engine in ultimate Super Sprint tune, top speed was an impressive 112 mph with acceleration and handling to match. A mere 854 Super Sprints were made and the example we offer must be among the finest available. The German vendor describes this car as being in 'very good' condition throughout, having covered a mere 2,000 kms since restoration. Finished in red with a fawn grey leather interior, it has lightweight plexiglass side windows and that most desirable of features, Borrani wire wheels. It has German papers, so local import taxes will be liable if it remains in Switzerland. {analysis} The car pictured was reported sold at Brooks auction in Geneva, Switzerland on March 15, 1999 for $33,392, including buyers commission. (The price was converted at US $0.68 per Swiss franc.) This car has had a lot of experience on auction blocks in the last six years. The price it made at the Geneva sale is pretty typical of the other results. When we saw this Alfa at the Leake auction in Tulsa on June 5, 1993, it had been recently restored. Even so, the bidding was modest. The car sold at Barrett-Jackson in '94 for $60,900 and then went unsold at B-J two years later, at a reported high bid of $65,000. In 1997, at Dana Mecum's auction in Arlington, Illinois, it failed to sell again at $31,500. By the time it reappeared at Barrett-Jackson in '98, the age of its restoration was starting to be apparent."An excellent older restoration that's starting to come apart at the edges" we said in SCM. It was reported sold for $37,538. Later that same year, at The Auction in Las Vegas, the Super Sprint was bid to only $29,000. Now the action moved to Europe. At Christie's auction in London on November 30, 1998, the red Alfa sold for $33,206. Now here it is in Geneva, with a price still in the $30s. The car is in good condition and its auction results in recent years have been quite consistent. {/analysis}

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