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When Alfa Romeo launched the Tipo 102 2000 Berlina at the 1957 Turin Motor Show, it had already supplied a new car platform to one of its most favored coachbuilders: Pinin Farina. Farina’s new car – Sestriere, after the Italian ski resort near Mont Blanc – made its debut at the same 1957 Turin Motor Show as Alfa’s 2000 Berlina. Such preferential treatment resulted in the first-ever coachbuilt Alfa 2000 and the first coupe designed on Alfa’s 2000 platform. Indeed, Farina’s two-door car was first shown some three years before Alfa’s own 2000- based coupe, the Giugiaro-penned 2000 Sprint of 1960.
Based on the same 2720mm wheelbase as the 2000 Berlina, rather than the shorter 2500mm wheelbase chosen by Alfa for its 2000 Spider, this was a large car by coupe standards. And since it shared the Alfa 2000’s four-cylinder 1975cc engine, with a mere 105hp, it can’t have been terribly fast.
The Sestriere’s low-slung, wide, the long shape looked very sleek. There was perhaps a hint of Facel Vega about it, but it certainly plundered American design themes, particularly in the front grille; this was a scarce example of an Alfa Romeo with no hint of a scudetto (Alfa’s traditional shield-shaped grille). There was a noticeable kink aft of the doors, raising the rear wing line so that the tops of the wings stood proud of the boot. The faired headlamps with transparent Plexiglas covers were also very much in vogue at the time.
At the tail end were stacked twin taillights, while the angular rear end sloped gently down to the bumper. Other notable features included frameless side windows and wire wheels with 160×400 tires.
However, the most striking thing was the sliding door on the driver’s side, opened by a handle that sat curiously in the middle of the door. The door could be slid manually or electronically, pulling outwards and then back along concealed guides.
As presented at the 1957 Turin Show, it was painted pale yellow with a light green leather interior. Then at the 1958 Geneva Motor Show, a second version was displayed, now painted metallic blue with a tan leather interior. Quite possibly, this was the 1957 prototype redone. Its other main difference was that the sliding door had vanished: the revised Sestriere now had hinged doors on both sides, with the handles in the conventional positions. Also new was a restyled front end featuring a stubbier nose, new headlights without Plexiglas covers, and a reshaped grille. While the 1958 Geneva car retained foglights, these were now repositioned. Then at the car’s third and final show appearance – the 1958 Turin Show – the foglights in the grille had vanished.
Having made appearances at several 1958 shows (Geneva, Turin, and a Concours in Rome), the Sestriere was retired from public life. What happened to it after then is a mystery; it’s one of those sadly now lost Pinin Farina prototypes – unless anyone knows otherwise?
Source: Drive My
Images: Pininfarina; quandoilbiscionemordeva.forumalfaromeo.it
