Coachbuilding has become a lost art in the automotive world, mainly due to the costs involved. However, it once enjoyed a strong following, with third-party companies producing some of history’s most beautiful and elegant models. This 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Roadster is no exception, although it is a rare example from that company that doesn’t feature a body produced by a firm from its native Italy. It underwent a meticulous restoration to recapture its former glory but is set to go under the hammer at Amelia Island, Florida, on Saturday, 4th March. You will find this automotive gem listed here at Broad Arrow Auctions with an estimate of $1,500,000 – $2,000,000. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Araknid78 for referring this stunning classic.

Alfa Romeo introduced the 6C 1750 in 1929, with the model remaining in production until 1933. The company adopted some unusual design features, including a chassis engineered to flex on uneven surfaces to absorb shock to improve comfort and handling. Most buyers handed over their cash for a bare chassis, dispatching their new purchase to companies like Zagato and Touring Superleggera for coachbuilt panels. However, our feature car differs because its original owner selected a coachbuilder outside Italy to perform this task. Guiseppe Figoni was an ex-pat Italian gentleman who emigrated to France at the age of fourteen. He undertook an apprenticeship as a carriage builder, becoming the owner of Carrosserie Automobilie in 1919. He turned his skills to automotive coachbuilding with great effect, rolling out elegant cars for Delahaye, Bugatti, Renault, and Alfa Romeo. Although there is conjecture surrounding how many examples of the Alfa 6C 1750 received his treatment, it is believed the figure is between three and ten cars. This one spent most of its life in various locations in France before finding its way to North America in the late 1950s. A previous owner commissioned a faithful and meticulous restoration in the mid-1990s. The Alfa passed to another owner in 2014, who worked to achieve perfection. The overall presentation suggests they were successful, with the car presenting superbly while retaining all the parts that identify it as a French coachbuilt classic. These include an “Alfa Romeo Paris” radiator badge, French script on the wheel knock-offs, and a data plate written in French. Such is the condition following the final restoration that this 6C picked up coveted awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2021.

By modern standards, the drivetrain configuration of this Alfa seems quite conservative. Although owners could order a 6C with a SOHC engine, this Roadster is a high-performance model powered by a DOHC 1,752cc six-cylinder engine that breathes deeply courtesy of a Roots-type supercharger. In unblown form, this motor produced 64hp. Bolting on the supercharger lifted that figure to 85hp, which reached the road via a four-speed manual transmission. The power was impressive for a low-capacity engine from this era and provided the driver with scintillating performance. The engine upgrades pushed the car’s top speed from 81mph to 90mph, helping explain why the 6C tasted its share of motorsport success. The inherent value of a vehicle of this caliber rests in its originality, and this Alfa doesn’t stumble at that obstacle. It remains a numbers-matching classic that is ready to hit the road with the successful bidder behind the wheel.

There is a genuine sense of purpose surrounding the interior of many cars from this era, with the equipment levels looking spartan by modern standards. However, it contains everything an owner might expect in a vehicle designed as a driver’s car. The 2014 quest for perfection saw the interior retrimmed to its factory specifications by renowned upholsterer Graham Moss. The timber dash features an array of beautiful Jaeger gauges to monitor the Alfa’s vital signs, while the seats feature sumptuous Dark Brown leather. There is no evidence of wear or damage, only the wrinkles that are part of aging leather’s character. Considering its overall presentation, it is easy to see why this car is an award winner.

Like any classic car, this 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C Gran Sport Roadster won’t appeal to all tastes. However, it is undeniably elegant, recapturing memories of a time when the world was less complicated than it is today. Current economic circumstances make it challenging to determine whether the bidding will reach the auction estimate, but there is history that may offer a guide. In researching this classic, I found a previous auction from 2017. The Alfa changed hands for a cool $1,595,000. However, that figure fell well short of the $2,250,000 – $2,750,000 estimate on that occasion. Do you think history will repeat itself, or will the bidding on this stunning classic soar like an eagle?