Aug 16

Aug 16 Guide: Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM Pinin Farina Superflow 2

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Background

In the summer of 1955, Pinin Farina were supplied with an Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM racing car upon which they were given carte blanche to create a state-of-the-art design concept.

The 6C 3000 CM had been Alfa Romeo’s works sports racing car for the 1953 season. It replaced the Touring designed C52 ‘Disco Volante’ which suffered from extreme lift. As a result, the C52 never raced in its original body style.

Half a dozen 6C 3000 CMs were constructed: four Berlinettas followed by a pair of Spiders. One of the open top cars (chassis 00127) had won the Merano Supercortemaggiore in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio and the other (00128) was the car given to Pinin Farina.

The gift from Alfa Romeo was part of a wider contract that included a commission to design and build bodies for Alfa’s pretty two-seat production model - the Giulietta Spider.

At the time, Pinin Farina had a reputation for more reserved coachwork than the likes of Bertone and Ghia. To alter this perception, Pinin Farina used chassis 00128 to create the radical Superflow 1. The stunning machine then starred at the Turin Motor Show between late April and early May of 1956.

Following its Turin debut, the Superflow 1 was reconfigured into the Superflow 2. It would appear alongside a similarly aero-inspired new Ferrari (the 410 Superfast 1) at the Paris Motor Show in October 1956.

Bodywork

The transition from Superflow 1 to Superflow 2 was more involved than an initial glance may suggest.

Most significantly, a subtly redesigned front clip featured a shorter, more slender nose. Conventional metal fenders replaced the unusual Plexiglas covers fitted to the Superflow 1. Clear plastic cowls were retained for the headlights. An intake scoop was added to the hood and the traditional Alfa grille was discarded in favour of three cut away intakes.

The rear fin profile remained largely unchanged but the fin’s upper element on the Superflow 2 was formed in transparent Plexiglas.

Otherwise, aside from a colour change to red with a white centre stripe, noseband and swage line, everything was pretty much as before.

The roof comprised four large pieces of curved glass that gave the cockpit a light and airy feel. Gullwing upper door elements were mounted on a body coloured T-bar in the roof. The lower door sections opened conventionally. A solitary vent was added at the top of the Superflow 2’s rear screen to improve cooling.

As before, the rear wheels were partially enclosed to reduce drag. The familiar pointed tail (largely obscured by the fins) would subsequently become a popular feature on various Alfa Romeo and Ferrari models.

Interior

The Superflow 2’s interior was re-trimmed with white leather for the seats, doors, lower dash and rear bulkhead. Black leather was used for the upper dash and red leather for the parcel shelf. The window frames, light bezels, wipers, door handles and badges were all chrome plated.

Chassis

Mechanically, the Superflow’s 6C 3000 CM underpinnings were unmodified.

The chassis comprised a tubular steel central backbone 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 all round along with 16 x 6.5-inch wheels shod with Pirelli Corsa tyres.

Engine & Gearbox

Alfa Romeo’s straight six engine had a cast iron block and alloy dual overhead camshaft head. It displaced 3495cc, ran an 8.2:1 compression ratio, six sidedraught Weber 48 DOM carburettors and dry-sump lubrication.

Output was 275bhp at 6500rpm.

Transmission was via a five-speed gearbox with single dry-plate clutch and limited-slip differential.

Superflow & Superfast

The Superflow 2 was displayed in Paris along with the even lovelier Ferrari 410 Superfast 1. These cars placed Pinin Farina at the cutting edge of road car aerodynamics and would have been among the fastest vehicles of their day.