Nice curves of the Bargon Alhambra sportscar from the late 1960s

Rare ONES - As has been the case before when surfing the internet, we again found a unique sports coupé figure. Frankly, we feel curious and disturbed to find out immediately about this car that we believe is rarely known by the public. And well, here's one more sports car that can be included in that category is the Bargon Alhambra which once joined into the world's automotive crowds in the late 1960s.

The second prototype of Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Coupé has a double body with a wavy waist line and coupled with panoramic windows. (Picture from: AutomotiveHeritage)

If we look at the name, of course we can immediately guess that this car is the work result of a Spanish manufacturer. Well, the mentioned Spanish coachbuilding company was Carroceria Bargon, and its name derived from the first letters of the name of the company founder Bartolomé González (Bar-Gon).

The first prototype of Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Spider while on display at the Barcelona Motor Show 1968. (Picture from: AdvancedFleetManagementConsulting)

Initially, Bartolomé González opened his-owned Bagovia workshop in Barcelona, where he made several elongated sedans and station wagons based on the Seat 1400. It's noted, the Bagovia's most famous project was the Seat 750 Primavera convertible built based on the Seat 600, presented at the Barcelona Fair 1961 and built in triplicate.

The second prototype of Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Coupé was a unique 2-seater sports coupé measuring 3.9 m long, 1.5 m wide, and 1.2 m high. (Picture from: BMWFaq.org)

When one of Spanish manufacturer of engines, trucks, buses and automobiles Barreiros (known as the Chrysler Europe subsdiary from 1969 to 1978) was opened its production facility in Villaverde to produce Dodge and Chrysler models, then he moved the workshop nearby, on Via Antonio Dominguez in Madrid, where he converted many Barreiros cars into limousines, ambulances and hearses.

The Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Coupé was recieved a more luxurious leather interior with a Smiths wood-panelled instrument panel. (Picture from: VintageARV)

Only in the mid of 1960s. Bartolome González, together with businessman Antonio Bienvenida and car importer Luciano Otera, decided to create their own sportscar based on the Simca 1000. And at the Barcelona Motor Show 1968, they presented the Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Spider, a roofless prototype powered by a modified 1.2 liter Simca Rally engine.

The Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Spider while on display at the Retromovil Madrid 2018 where its condition was very poor and required a total restoration immediately. (Picture from: HistoricMotor.fr)

In 1969, the second prototype of the Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Coupé was prepared, which received a more luxurious leather interior with a Smiths wood-panelled instrument panel, a Blaupunkt radio and Austin A40 Farina headlights.

Both prototypes of the Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 (in pictured is coupé model) built based on the Simca 1000, and powered by a modified 1.2 liter Simca Rally engine. (Picture from: BMWFaq.org)

Besides having the uniqueness of the name, it turns out that the Bargon Alhambra also has another uniqueness in terms of shape which can be seen in both two prototypes it built, in which had a double body with a wavy waist line and coupled with panoramic windows.

The second prototype of Bargon Alhambra Sport 1200 Coupé while on display at the Retromovil Madrid 2010. (Picture from: Simca1000)

Unfortunately the business journey of this Spanish coachbuilder in world's automotive did not run smoothly, due to administrative, economic and technical problems made the small production of the roadster and coupé models was never happened. Today, both models are safe in private collections, but rarely seen by the public. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOPASION18 | AUTOMOTIVE-HERITAGE | VINTAGEARV | ALLCARINDEX ]

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