Topic: Solved ropat#49: 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Conrero Supersonic by Ghia

[ropat53]

What car is this and by which coachbuilder?

[cljo]

Jaguar XK120 with Ghia body? The one that was shown at the Paris Salon in 1951?

[ropat53]

It is by Ghia, but not Jaguar and slightly newer.
It's locked for cljo

[ropat53]

Up unlocked and a very easy puzzle

[fyreline]

Ghia built these "Supersonic"-style cars on a few different chassis - the wheel covers make me think this one is the 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 'Conrero' version (even though I just happened across a Fiat 8V Supersonic with the same wheelcovers! Oh well, I'll still go with the Alfa).

[ropat53]

Yes that's the car 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900. Chassis designed and built by Conrero and the Supersonica body designed by Savonuzzi and built by Ghia. It was made for Swiss Robert Fehlman who raced it at the 1953 Mille Miglia.
A very similar car but Fiat 8V belonged to Lana Turner

[ropat53]

Fehlman later destroyed the car in an accident and it was rebuilt as the barchetta seen below.

[Allemano]

Shouldn't it be "Supersonic" instead of "Supersonica"?

The Conrero Alfa was the very first of the "Supersonics"
The following Fiat, Aston Martin and Jaguar didn't have that spectacular panoramic back window.

[Carnut]

Fehlman later destroyed the car in an accident and it was rebuilt as the barchetta seen below.

This one in fact!:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=18877.0

[Iluvatar]

Supersonic not Supersonica

[ropat53]

Supersonic not Supersonica

Yes of course it's my mistake, but I can't find how to correct it, can somebody please tell me how?

[Carnut]

Supersonic not Supersonica

Yes of course it's my mistake, but I can't find how to correct it, can somebody please tell me how?

I've done it for you.
All you need to do is click on 'Modify' in your initial post then do the change/s you want to the title and Save it.

[fyreline]

The Conrero Alfa was the very first of the "Supersonics"
The following Fiat, Aston Martin and Jaguar didn't have that spectacular panoramic back window.

Thanks, Allemano . . . didn't know either of those facts. The panoramic rear window is really neat.

[ropat53]

Supersonic not Supersonica

Yes of course it's my mistake, but I can't find how to correct it, can somebody please tell me how?

I've done it for you.
All you need to do is click on 'Modify' in your initial post then do the change/s you want to the title and Save it.

Thank you Carnut

There's another very interesting part of the history of this car, I quote from http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/1900-2000-2600-1950-1968/37445-conrero-alfa-ghia-mm-1953-a.html
"After Felman was done racing this car he sold it and then it started a new career in Madagascar of all places.
Eventually some bush mechanic red-lined the engine and it blew to pieces.
Conrero got a letter from the owner how impressed he was with the car and engine and instead of dumping the car it was shipped back to Italy as a gift to mr Conrero. Following the letter a crate was delivered with the car inside."

[Iluvatar]

The second body of the Supersonic, built by Ghia and designed by Vilhelm Koren.