Alfa Romeo 1900C SS - Well aware of the company's excellent reputation, Alfa's head engineer Orazio Satta ensured that the more affordable car was not a step backwards, but in fact a major step forward. Doing away with the traditional separate body and chassis configuration, they developed a unitary construction with the body doubling as a chassis and carrying all the mechanicals. This made mass production a lot easier and did not hamper the performance or handling of the car. It did however took away the ability for custom coach-builders to work their magic on the new Alfa.
Although sporting only four cylinders, the new 1884 cc engine was also not a departure from the Alfa Romeo tradition. Like its predecessors the new engine featured dual overhead camshafts. Despite its modest size, the free revving engine produced 90 bhp, matching the performance of the considerably larger six cylinder engines in the 6C 2500. The new engine was mated to a four speed gearbox, operated by a steering-column mounted lever. The compact power-plant was installed longitudinally in the chassis and drove the rear wheels.
For a moment it looked like Alfa Romeo had gone all sensible, but in 1952 a more powerful T.I. version was added to the line-up. In 1954, the range was revitalised with the introduction of the Super with a slightly larger and even more powerful engine. The ultimate version was the Super Sprint, which packed a 115 bhp engine. A 1900C was created specifically for coach-builders like Touring, Pinin Farina, Zagato and Ghia. The bodies fitted ranged from luxurious two seaters to spartan racing cars, which proved very successful in the popular two litre racing class.
It is safe to say that Alfa Romeo's timely switch of policy to appeal to a broader audience has ensured the company's survival. Alfa Romeo's old rivals Talbot Lago and Delahaye did not readjust and neither made it through the difficult 1950s. The 1900 was not only instrumental in Alfa's survival, it also formed the basis for some of the era's finest and extravagant designs. These ranged from the elegant Touring and Pinin Farina Coupes, to the race winning Zagato Coupes, to Bertone's three BATs.
