Mussolini unique parade car at June 15 auction

Alfa Romeo delivered seven parade cars to the Italian government in 1937. Only one, seen here, was used as Mussolini’s “official car.” The car survived the war, hidden away until just recently. The unrestored “Mussolini Alfa Romeo” will be auctioned in Caen, France, on June 15, 2014.

The Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, had a large number of cars during the period of 1922-1945 when he was the Head of the Government of Italy and the Duce of Fascism. Only one, however, was his “official” car.

The car, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B, carried Adolf Hitler during the 1938 official trip to Italy. It was the car that Mussolini used when he made his official trips through Italy. It was also this car that carried him to the meeting of the 1943 Grand Fascist Council that resulted in his dismissal.

In 1937, the Italian government placed an order with the prestigious firm, Alfa Romeo, for seven parades cars. These were to be designed in a style appropriate for carrying Italy’s highest figures during official events.

All the frames of the frames were commissioned on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and received the license plate “PS” indicating the “Special Police.” Destined to be exceptional automobiles, Alfa sent the frames to the most prestigious coach builder of the time: Castagna of Milan.

One of the seven cars became the “Admiral” of the fleet.

The car was intended for the King of Italy. Ercole Castagna also wanted to emphasize the importance of the car by putting his full name on the tags affixed to the car.

The car, however, was used as the only official car of the highest figure of state and head of the government, Benito Mussolini.

Lost for over 70 years, the Mussolini’s official car was recently discovered by Aiolfi & Partners. It will be offered for sale on June 15 at a special auction in Caen, France.

The 1938 6C 2300B was powered by the same engine that Alfa Romeo fitted in its racing cars. The 6-cylinder was equipped with a dual cam head and hemispherical combustion chambers—the highest car technology of the time. The gearbox was synchronized, a premium technology in 1938.

Lost for 70 years

The Alfa Romeo was officially sold by the Ministry of Interior October 10, 1945, to a local Rome mechanic. The new owner sold it to the Count Alessandro Dudan, an Italian senator.

Dudan immediately understood the historical significance of the vehicle. He took the precaution to hide it in a secret place because many American occupation troops were looking for significant war trophies. In fact, once they learned that the former senator had acquired the “Mussolini car,” they interrogated him and searched his home—but with no success.

It was at this time of intense scrutiny that Dudan took the extra precaution of walling up the car in one of his garages. Eventually, the searching ended. Fifteen years had passed.

The frame was also at the forefront of technology, equipped with independent front wheels mounted on double wishbones, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear shocks could be adjusted by the driver on the dashboard.

After Dudan’s death, his son retrieved the vehicle from its hiding place. He did not mention the car to anyone, however.

Gradually, the car succumbed the ravages of times and fell into a state of disrepair. It took many years before a family friend convinced Dudan’s son to sell the vehicle in order for it to be saved for the ages.

The auction house of Aiolfi & Partners are honored to offer this car to the collecting community. For more information and / or to register to bid, log onto www.aiolfipartners.com.

Alfa Romeo delivered seven parade cars to the Italian government in 1937. Only one, seen here, was used as Mussolini’s “official car.”

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