1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet
The 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet is a stunning example of postwar Italian elegance—one of the last true hand-built Alfas before the company transitioned to mass production. The “6C” series is one of Alfa Romeo’s most celebrated lineages, and by the time the 2500 Super Sport (SS) appeared, it represented the pinnacle of pre-Ferrari-era grand touring luxury and performance.
Leon’s stunning Alfa getting plenty of attention during Dolce e Veloce at the Petersen Museum
The 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet is one of those cars that feels more like a sculpture than a machine. With its long, flowing lines and open-top elegance, it perfectly captures the spirit of postwar Italian luxury. Bodied by the great coachbuilders of the era—most notably Pinin Farina—it was designed for the kind of person who might have parked it outside a lakeside villa on Lake Como, top down, silk scarf fluttering in the breeze.
Underneath that beauty is some real performance, too. The “Super Sport” was the top-tier version of Alfa’s legendary inline-six 2.5-liter engine, running triple carbs and pushing out over 110 horsepower—a serious number for the late ’40s. It wasn’t just pretty; it could move. Built on a tubular chassis and assembled largely by hand, the car combined prewar craftsmanship with a dash of modernity, making it a last hurrah for the old-world Alfa before mass production changed everything.
Today, the 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet is pure collector catnip. Rarer than most Ferraris, richer in detail than a lot of its contemporaries, and oozing with vintage glamor, it’s a showstopper at concours events and a time machine back to a more romantic era of motoring. It’s not just a car—it’s a rolling love letter to Italian style and sophistication.
Overview
Model: Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet
Year: 1949
Chassis: Tubular steel frame
Engine: 2.5-liter inline-six (hence "6C")
Power: ~110–115 hp in SS trim
Top Speed: Around 100+ mph (very fast for its time)
Coachbuilders: Most famously by Pinin Farina, Touring, and Ghia
Design & Styling
The Cabriolet version was often bodied by Pinin Farina, who gave it flowing fenders, delicate chrome details, and a folding soft top—combining sporty proportions with a refined, almost regal presence. These cars were tailored for Italy’s elite: movie stars, nobility, and the emerging class of industrialists. Every one was essentially coachbuilt, meaning no two are exactly alike.
The Super Sport variant was the most powerful road-going version of the 6C 2500. It featured triple carburetors and more aggressive tuning compared to the standard Sport or Turismo versions. The long hood, low stance, and open-top design made it a natural rival to contemporaries like the Delahaye 135 and the early Ferrari 166s.
Historical Significance
The 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet represents the end of an era for Alfa Romeo—just before the brand shifted toward more standardized production with models like the 1900. These postwar cars were the last great expressions of Alfa's artisan approach to car-building. Only a few hundred of the SS versions were built, and even fewer open-top examples exist today.
Today, a 1949 6C 2500 SS Cabriolet is highly coveted by collectors for its beauty, craftsmanship, and place in history. It’s a car that combines prewar elegance with postwar optimism, and it still turns heads wherever it goes—usually straight onto the lawns of Villa d’Este or Pebble Beach.
