For sale: the ultimate nine‑Alfa garage

The 8C is the undoubted star of the Bonhams Quail sale, to be held both live and online at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on 14^th August. In every respect the 1934 car is a stunner. It’s one of five 8Cs with cabriolet bodywork by Figoni of Paris, a fittingly top of the range option for Alfa’s first eight-cylinder car.

Do not be lulled by the elegant lines and striking two-tone red paintwork. Underneath is a racer: a 100mph machine, designed by Vittorio Jano, which in competition form with drivers like Nuvolari behind the wheel proved a world beater, especially at Le Mans, in the early ‘30s.

The 8C was the supercar of its day. To afford one – especially one like this with its eye-wateringly expensive bodywork – it would have been useful to own a gold mine. Which was not a problem for this car’s first owner, Roaul Calvayrac. He was heir to a mine in Mexico that was the world’s leading producer of gold in the early 20^th century. 

So precious was the car that Calvayrac buried it in hay in a barn on his estate in France so the German occupying forces in the Second World War didn’t find it.

The 8C has had only four owners in the US since then and today Bonhams says it is regarded as the most authentic and arguably most handsome of the five cabriolets penned by the French carrosserie.  It certainly wowed the judges at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 2018 where it won best in class.

At the Bonhams Quail auction, the 8C comes with a presale estate of US$6.5-7.5m (£4.9-5.7m).

If that’s too rich for you there’s no shortage of other Alfa jewels in the sale, from eight decades of Italian sporting flair.

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GTC ‘Coupe Royale’ by Carrozzeria Touring

Estimate: US$525-575,000

A class winner at the Louis Vuitton Classic in Paris after a restoration in the 1990s, this is one of few surviving Touring 6Cs with original coachwork and matching numbers. The six-cylinder Alfa was a successful Mille Miglia model in period and Bonhams says this example would be perfect for both the concours lawn and period road rallying. 

1951 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet by Pininfarina

Estimate: US$450-600,000

From the ‘30s to the ‘50s and the more modern cabriolet lines of Pininfarina distinguish this six-cylinder Alfa, the last of its type to get this bodywork from the master Italian carrozzeria. It’s been a regular in both Mille Miglia reruns and concours events at Pebble Beach, Villa d’Este and Chantilly.

1953 Alfa Romeo 1900CS Berlinetta

Estimate: US$275-350,000

Another Pininfarina-bodied classic Alfa from the ‘50s, the coupe is one of only 100 produced. Prepared for road rallies, it is eligible for the modern Mille Miglia.

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce “double bubble” by Zagato

Estimate: US$300-400,000

This striking Zagato coupe is one of just 18 Sprint Veloces bodied by the Italian coachbuilder and the only one originally fitted with the signature twin roof bubbles. The 1.3-litre, 95PS car has an extensive period race history including the 1960 Targa Florio and today comes with its FIA passport so is ready for historic events like the Mille Miglia.

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1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider by Touring

Estimate: US$120-140,000

Few cars sum up La Dolce Vita like an Alfa Spider and this one comes with all the requirements of a very sweet 1950s-style life: twin-Weber 2.0-litre, five-speed manual ‘box, and a lovely (restored) Touring-designed body that’s spent most of its life in sunny California.

1967 Alfa Romeo 1600 Duetto Spider

Estimate: US$50-75,000

A Californian car since new, this Spider’s claim to fame is its originality. It’s an award winner with a twin-cam, twin-Weber 1.6-litre with 109PS.

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1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce by Giugiaro

Estimate: US$55-85,000

Bonhams says this is an unmolested, blue-plate California car with some subtle aesthetic upgrades that was refurbished by a US Alfa specialist.  Pretty coupe looks go with 132PS, a five-speed ‘box and all-round independent suspension and disc brakes.

2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider

Estimate: US$270-320,000

The most modern Alfa in the sale, this latterday 8C is thought to be one of just 35 Spiders produced for the US market, and rarer still for its striking pearl white bodywork. Its 4.7-litre V8 produces 444PS and this has covered only 3,600 miles from new.

Images courtesy of Bonhams.