An elegant Alfa Romeo 1900 Sport Coupé of the shores of Lake Como

Rare ONES - This was one of the many beautiful cars made by the Italian coachbuilder that you have rarely seen before. It is very interesting to discuss, because besides its rare existence, this car also records the harsh difficult times experienced by the Italian coachbuilding industry players at that time.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé The Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé is a handbuilt and utterly gorgeous coachbuilt rarity from a small Italian coachbuilder in the Lombardy town of Lecco. (Picture from: AlfaBB)

As in the 1960s saw the major Italian coachbuilding houses encounter a number of technical difficulties notably with the development of 'unibody' chassis designs, making them unable to face the challenges of a world in which car makers can competently design and produce even their low volume models in-house. 

As we know, back then this creative industry was very much in its pomp, made buoyant by the growing momentum of the Italian economic miracle, its attendant industrialisation, and a wealth of homegrown talent. Nowhere else could you find such a happy blend of artistic and technical skill when it came to styling and fabricating motor car bodywork.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé is one of eight units made by ATL (Autotecnica del Lario) workshop located on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. (Picture from: SilverstoneAuctions)

Iginio Alessio, General Manager of Alfa Romeo at the time was one of the great enthusiasts, concerned about the future survival of the Italian independent coachbuilding industry as the arrival of the 'unibody' chassis design threatened the 'Carrozzerie' business at the time.

As the result, Alfa generously offered official contracts to Touring to build the sporty 1900 Sprint Coupé, and then to Pininfarina to build the elegant four-seater Cabriolet and Coupé. In addition to the availability of a suitable chassis and power train coupled with Alfa's fatherly approach to small design houses meant wherever there were talented stylists and competent engineers, so the sporty and fast Alfa Special emerged.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé built on the 'Superleggera' style chassis consisting of steel tubing of varying diameters with boxes in sections where all the mechanical attachments are attached. (Picture from: SilverstoneAuctions)

Although not all of them end up being a pretty story, as some disappear after one or two misguided attempts. But ATL (Autotecnica del Lario) was one of the exceptions and lasted for almost twenty years in the Lombardy town of Lecco and became known for their elegant, fast and agile little coupé called the Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé, that's possibly one of eight units made straight from the ATL workshop located on the shores of Lake Como.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé's interior has two seats are upholstered in dark brown leather, coupled with many tin clocks behind a steep wooden steering wheel with three perforated metal spokes. (Picture from: SilverstoneAuctions)

As quoted from BringATrailer, the coachbuilding company was founded in the 1960s by Ercole Zuccoli in Mandello del Lario, besides produced a number of Maserati and Alfa Romeo one-offs and re-creations, ATL also offered a series of dune buggies during the 1970's.

While related to the 1900 Sport Coupé, unfortunately there're no factory record about it, then it can be a little doubt that this spectacular work of automotive art was really the original product of the ATL's team of talented craftsmen at the time. However there's few remaining auto vendors locates near of the original ATL workshop at the shores of Lake Como, as well as one or two older residents whose still remember the car well.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé is powered by a 1900cc Alfa Romeo four-cylinder twin cam engine to burst through twin Dellorto carburetors. (Picture from: SilverstoneAuctions)

If one looks at all the coupés made by ATL differ slightly in terms of details, the 'House Style' is instantly recognizable and no one else has created a such design quite like that. While the restoration of this special Alfa Romeo 1900 seen here, it has now been successfully completed in Verde Inglese (British Racing Green), which is started back in the 1980s, reportedly, it once discontinued, and in unfinished condition then presented to the current owner. It was only on its 23rd occasion that the rebuilding work was initiated, after completion it has been used sparingly in its spiritual home.

1965 Alfa Romeo 1900 ATL Sport Coupé's bodywork consists of a hand-formed, thin gauge aluminum body that hangs over a birdcage frame. (Picture from: SilverstoneAuctions)

Its chassis is made in the 'Superleggera' style consisting of steel tubing of varying diameters with boxes in sections where all the mechanical attachments are attached. While its bodywork consists of a hand-formed, thin gauge aluminum body that hangs over a birdcage frame.

To make this beautiful car run elegantly, the automaker then installed a 1900cc Alfa Romeo four-cylinder twin cam engine to burst through twin Dellorto carburetors which offers very strong performance and a classic Alfa Romeo driving experience as well.

And in 2021 this beautiful car was auctioned by Silverstone Auctions in England, therefore this 1900 Sports Coupé is not registered in that country, so it has been brought into the UK under temporary admission. If the vehicle is sold to a buyer in the UK, the seller will settle any import taxes due and obtain a NOVA on the buyers behalf. Finally at the auction the car was sold at a price of £202,500 or approx. €234,684. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILVERSTONEAUTIONS | TOPGEAR-AUTOGUIDE | CLASSICDRIVER | PETROLICIOUS ]

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