Look, this 1938 Alfa Romeo isn’t going to be cheap, but it is up for auction so this sleek piece of Italian design history could be yours. Rated as one of the finest of pre-war sports cars, and one of the greatest road-going Alfa Romeos ever made, you’re unlikely to see another one. That’s because this 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider is one of just five that’s believed still to exist - and what’s more the 1938 Alfa Romeo you see here has an intriguing history that involves life in Egypt and a spell in FBI custody.
Long bonnet behind tilted 1938 Alfa Romeo grille conceals the jewel at the heart of this automotive tour de force. Straight eight engine and chassis are the work of legendary Alfa Romeo chief engineer Vittorio Jano, as a road-going version of the marque’s race winning Tipo C single seater. Superchargers made sure the road car was no slouch and the power unit's engineering and design was way ahead of its time. Question was, how to clothe such a chassis in bodywork appropriate for the ultimate 1938 Alfa Romeo?
The answer was the celebrated studios of Carrozzeria Touring of Milan who came up with the swooping aerodynamic lines you see here. The firm’s patented superleggera - or super-light - system of tubing as a frame for aluminium body panels ensured that the engine would have as little weight as possible to propel. An early owner, a Major Raymond Flower who ran the Cairo Motor Company, recalled driving the 137 miles from Cairo to Alexandria in an hour and a half. “Of course,” he later said wryly, "it was not suitable for Egyptian roads and [was] absolute murder in Cairo traffic with the [supercharger] blowers permanently engaged."
A more pampered life eventually followed - after a short period of racing - of concours d’elegance victories, notably at the celebrated Pebble Beach event in California. A nut and bolt restoration included a new finish in the dark blue you see here, a total mechanical rebuild, and a full upholstery retrim. On the way to further work late last year, the 1938 Alfa Romeo had the unscheduled adventure of being stolen - and eventually recovered by the FBI.
Question might be whether the design, provenance and rarity of this 1938 Alfa Romeo makes it as much artwork as automobile. Whether you’re planning to keep your 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider in an air conditioned garage, or throw caution to the winds and plan a transcontinental adventure - our choice - you’ll need a fair bit of cash when it’s auctioned at Pebble Beach, in so many ways this 1938 Alfa Romeo’s spiritual home, by Gooding and Company. On their estimate, you’ll need to take around £16,000,000 with you on the plane to California for your bid. And yes, we’d love a ride.
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