Guide: Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM Pinin Farina Superflow 1
Background
At the end of 1953, Alfa Romeo closed their competition department. They would continue to support privateers with uprated parts for models like the 1900, but works involvement in motor racing came to an end when the 6C 3000 CM and 6C 3000 PR programmes were abandoned on cost grounds.
Two of the half dozen 6C 3000 CMs were Spiders. The example in which Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1953 Merano Supercortemaggiore (chassis 00127) was retained by Alfa Romeo. The other (chassis 00128) was given to Pinin Farina in the summer of 1955 as the basis for a show-stopping concept.
Sports racing cars have always been popular platforms for coachbuilders to create their most exciting designs. Low slung competition chassis are typically not constrained by humdrum considerations such as ground clearance or easy cockpit access. As a result, they have always been in demand as the perfect basis for futuristic styling visions.
At the Turin motor shows of 1953, 1954 and 1955, Bertone had displayed a trio of legendary dream cars known as the Berline Aerodinamica Tecnica series (BAT). They were based on the Alfa Romeo 1900 and cemented Bertone’s reputation as the most exciting design house in Italy. By contrast, Pinin Farina were renowned for elegant, more conservative coachwork.
To demonstrate their credentials in the cutting edge world of aerodynamics, Pinin Farina transformed chassis 00128 into the Superflow 1. It was displayed at the Turin Motor Show in April 1956, one year after the last Bertone BAT car (BAT 9).
Bodywork
Painted white with a two-tone blue swage line and matching interior, the Superflow 1 featured partially exposed front wheels shrouded by Plexiglas fenders. These large transparent panels also covered the headlights and extended all the way back to the leading edge of the doors. The nose was home to a traditional Alfa Romeo grille flanked by trapezoidal intakes.
At the back, dramatically finned wings were located either side of the pointed tail to help with high speed stability. For aerodynamic efficiency, the rear wheels were partially enclosed.
Aside from a central T-bar panel, the cockpit was entirely transparent. It comprised curved one-piece glass sections at the front, back and sides. The two-piece doors had a Gullwing upper element and conventional lower section.
Chrome was used for the window frames, front grille, headlight bowls, wipers, door handles, bonnet trim and badges. The sills were finished in meshed stainless steel and neatly housed two exhausts on the passenger side. No bumpers were fitted.
Interior
The right-hand drive two-seat cockpit was upholstered with blue leather. It covered the dash, seats, rear bulkhead and parcel shelf to contrast the light grey carpet.
Instrumentation was located directly behind the steering wheel. Various toggle switches were mounted on a central control panel that joined the dash with the transmission tunnel.
Chassis
Under the skin, the Superflow 1 was pure Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM. It comprised a tubular steel central backbone chassis with independent double wishbone suspension at the front and a de Dion axle at the rear. Coil springs, hydraulic dampers and drum brakes were fitted to each corner along with 16 x 6.5-inch wire wheels shod with Pirelli Corsa tyres.
Engine & Gearbox
Alfa Romeo’s straight six engine had a cast iron block and aluminium alloy dual overhead camshaft head. It displaced 3495cc, ran 8.2:1 compression, six sidedraught Weber 48 DOM carburettors and dry-sump lubrication. Output was 275bhp at 6500rpm.
Power was transmitted through a five-speed gearbox with single dry-plate clutch and limited-slip differential.
Developments
The 1956 Turin Motor Show ran from late April to early May and the Supeflow 1 was very favourably received. However, the car would only remain in this state for a few short weeks.
After its outing at Turin, Pinin Farina immediately set about reconfiguring chassis 00128 into the Superflow 2 for the Paris Motor Show the following October.
Chassis 00128 was then rebuilt on a further two occasions, first as the Spider Super Sport (Superflow 3) for Geneva in 1959 and finally the Superflow 4 (Geneva 1960).
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Pininfarina - https://pininfarina.it
