Alfa Romeo’s first all-new offering of the post-war period arrived in 1950.

Designed by Dr Orazio Satta Puliga and intended for volume production, the 1900 was the first Alfa to employ unitary construction and – in keeping with the company’s sporting heritage – was powered by a twin-overhead-camshaft engine.

It should have surprised nobody therefore, when the 1900’s potential was realised in the form of two high performance derivatives.

Launched in 1951, the 1900C Sprint featured bodywork by Pininfarina (cabriolet) and Touring (coupé), both models utilising the 100bhp engine of the 1900TI sports saloon.

The Touring-bodied Sprint Coupé attracted such public acclaim that it was subsequently adopted as the basis for all future ‘aerodynamic’ Alfa Romeo coupés.

The Sprint Coupé was designed to offer sporting performance together with ‘2+2’ accommodation – guaranteed to appeal to the sports car enthusiast with a family – while the heart-shaped vertical grille with matched horizontal sid...