What happens when a profound Alfa Romeo connoisseur gets bored? Right, he writes a book about Alfa Romeo - in this case about the 6C 2300 and 6C 2500 series.
How it all began
Spettacolo Sportivo 2018 in Zandvoort. A group of Alfa Romeo enthusiasts examines a new, small booklet about the Dutch 6C 2500. They immediately think that there should be a similar book for German-speaking countries, but more comprehensive. Attention is immediately drawn to Hans-Jürgen Döhren, who is also sitting in this group and who has finally become "man".
Almost didn't happen
He is a little hesitant at first, because although his book "Millenove" earned him great praise and success, he had actually decided that he would not write another book. "It's an unimaginable amount of work to write a book," he says, looking back. Nevertheless, the Alfa Romeo enthusiasts had an easy time of it and were able to convince Döhren to tackle a new book.
Although he wasn't bored at all, he started work on the new book. And he had quantified the effort correctly. "The consequence was that I wasn't in my workshop for a year and the restoration of my 1900 Touring has now been delayed by at least 12 months," he smiles. But what are 12 months when the quid pro quo is such a great book with the apt title "Alfa Romeo La Passione 6C 2300 - 6C 2500"?
Extensive research
Döhren's book is not just another in a series of well-known facts and figures. No, he broke new ground with his concept. He meticulously sought out many special Alfa Romeo 6C models in the German-speaking world, which he described or had described.
All documented with photos, most of which were taken for this book and published for the first time. The result is a varied color volume with interesting background stories and great photos. 60 of these rare models are portrayed on 360 pages.
Few examples left
Around 4,200 models of the 6C 2300 and 6C 2500 series were built between 1934 and 1953, with only around 600 surviving. During these two decades of production, the 6C models were not only among the most beautiful, but also among the most expensive cars. Wealthy industrialists, film stars and political dignitaries (and sometimes also from church circles or the army) could afford these expensive cars. And it was these models in particular that established the Milanese car brand's enduring reputation.
With this in mind, there are Alfa Romeo collectors who look at the Ferrari and tease the owner by saying: "Look, the poor man's Alfa Romeo". For an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS as a Grantourismo coupé or convertible, you had to lay out the pittance of 48,000 Swiss francs in 1949, while you could put a Ferrari 166 Sport in your garage for a modest 38,000 francs...
Alfa Romeo La Passione 6C 2300 - 6C 2500 is available from the publisher Alfapoint or from bookshops for 86 euros. Alfa Romeo enthusiasts will have to hurry, however: The edition was limited to 915 copies - 915 because this was the internal type series designation for a large number of the 6C Alfa-Romeo.
Bibliographical details
- Title: Alfa Romeo La Passione 6C 2300 - 6C 2500: 1934-1954
- Author: Hans-Jürgen Döhren
- Language: German/English
- Publisher: millenove.de
- Edition: 1st edition, October 2019
- Format: Hardcover, 29.6 x 24.6 cm
- Scope: 350 pages, 550 illustrations
- Price: EUR 86.-
- Buy/order: Online at www.millenove.de, or in bookstores
