THE VILLA D’ESTE

That one of the most beautiful Alfa Romeos of the early postwar era shares its name with the site of one of the world’s most prestigious concours d’elegance is no coincidence. Touring’s new creation on the short-wheelbase 6C 2500 chassis, with a triple-carbureted Super Sport engine, debuted at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in the spring of 1949. It utilized Touring’s famous lightweight Superleggera construction, with aluminum outer panels welded to a small-diameter tube frame. The design incorporated rounded but tightly wound lines with wonderful character creases emphasizing how the fenders flowed around the wheels and extended out to the tapered tail, and a relatively close-coupled but glassy roofline emphasizing the shorter chassis. It was justifiably acclaimed and won the Gran Premio Referendum, or people’s choice, at what was then known as the Concorso Internazionale d’Eleganza a Como.

Unsurprisingly Alfa Romeo and Touring collaborated on a limited run of copies, under the name Villa d’Este. A production run of 25 examples was apparently intended, but 36 were eventually built to fulfill the clamor of a wealthy public before the 6C 2500’s production run ended in 1952. As a boutique, hand-built luxury model, no two examples of the design were precisely alike, lending each car a character of unique, one-off individuality. The pinnacle of 6C 2500 production, the Villa d’Este is today generally regarded as the most desirable iteration of Alfa Romeo’s celebrated postwar model, combining capable mechanical performance, luxurious interior amenities, and elegant exterior design.

CHASSIS NUMBER 951.891

According to information in the history file, this particular Villa d’Este was delivered on 12 December 1950 to the Alfa Romeo distributor in Lugano, Switzerland. It was later exported to the United Kingdom in 1958, then in 1977 was sold to Pentus Brown. Mr. Brown eventually sold it to its first American owner, John Thorne of Texas,

In the early 1990s the car was sold by a representative of Mr. Brown to Jim Simpson of Contemporary Classics in Texas, well-known for his long-term ownership of the two Nardi Blue Ray show cars. It was acquired from him by the partnership of Villa d’Este historian and roster-keeper, Marco Makaus, and respected Milanese restorer, Giancarlo Cappa, and was sold by them to Gerolamo Etro, proprietor of the eponymous fashion and interior design concern, for whom Cappa then undertook a full restoration in a very subtle but striking livery of Grigio Metallizzato over Naturale beige leather interior – work that was obviously finished to the highest of standards, and that retained the car’s original, numbers-matching engine, as listed with this chassis in Angelo Tito Anselmi’s Alfa Romeo 6C 2500.

Meticulously kept by Mr. Etro for many years, the Alfa has since been well-preserved in the fine stewardship of its owners, including the renowned collector Peter Kalikow, whose legendary stable includes many of the most significant examples of postwar Italian custom coachwork. Still remaining in marvelous concours-quality condition, it is complete with an impressive set of material-coordinated fitted luggage within the storage compartment behind the driver and passenger. Further, it is believed to have not been shown since its restoration, thus making further concours opportunities, or exhibition at the annual gathering of these cars, Villa d’Este Style, a wonderful prospect for a new caretaker. Alternatively, it is eligible for any number of international rallies, including the Mille Miglia.

Then as now, it is a showstopper, with lines, power, and presentation worthy of its storied spiritual home on Lake Como.