1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 ‘Flying Star’

Built for the upcoming concours circuit, this ghostly white Alfa was built for the 1931 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. It was accompanied by model Josette Pozzo and together they took the Coppa d’Oro di Villa d’Este trophy.

The Star’s body was the work of Touring, a design house in Milan that had built almost identical bodies for Isotta-Fraschini and Fiat chassis. By 1931, Touring had bodied many Alfa Romeos, but the flying star was the most decorated for the sporting chassis.

Touring’s signature touch is at the running boards where the fenders separately swoop and intertwine to the top and bottom of the chassis rail. The rest of the body’s overall shape is similar to the standard competition coachwork but was unique in detail.

The off-white bodywork, interior and wheels are ornamented by a nickel-plated dash which was copied by later French coachbuilders including Figoni et Falaschi. This accent runs the length of the body and integrates with the door hinge before hugging the rear fender. Three louvers on the hood adopt the same lines and mimics an elliptical coma trail of a star.

The interior is an all-white affair with a huge white steering wheel and upholstery. These contrast the black dashboard and a brass shift knob engraved with the original owner’s initials. The windscreen is a one piece design that is sculpted to mimic its competition history.

Since the 6C 1750 was already one of the most successful Italian models of its period, it’s no surprise that it won at Villa d’Este. Over seventy years afterwards, it was shown at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours to celebrate the year of Alfa Romeo. Later this year it well reunite with Villa d’Este at the 2007 edition of the show.