R.M. Sotheby’s to offer rare Alfa 2.9
NEW YORK _ A rare 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider — pre-war equivalent to the Ferrari 250 GTO — is the latest high-profile car to be announced…
NEW YORK _ A rare 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider — pre-war equivalent to the Ferrari 250 GTO — is the latest high-profile car to be announced for RM Sotheby’s upcoming Monterey sale, Aug. 19–20 during Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance week. One of five cars on offer from the Sam and Emily Mann Collection, the “2.9” rounds out a lineup of 100 collector cars on offer at the upcoming auction. According to RM Sotheby's, it will be the first time a “2.9” has been offered at public sale this century..
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B represents the ultimate original gran turismo. The Italian equivalent of the Bugatti Atlantique, it is a symphony of fabulously intricate engineering, thrilling power, and sinful beauty that incorporates independent suspension and a remarkable straight-eight engine with gear-driven overhead cams and two superchargers. It is believed that only 32 original chassis were produced in various configurations (rarer even than the aforementioned 250 GTO) and the survivors are arguably the most sought-after of all pre-war automobiles.
One of approximately 12 Touring Spiders known to exist, the Alfa on offer, chassis No. 412041, has been in the Sam and Emily Mann Collection for two decades. Documented by renowned Alfa Romeo authority Simon Moore in his book, The Immortal 2.9: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, it is the recipient of an award-winning restoration by 2.9 guru Tony Merrick.
The Alfa Romeo headlines a selection of five extraordinary cars from the Sam and Emily Mann Collection set for RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction.
Additional collection highlights set for Monterey include:
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’, chassis no. 0507 GT, a part of the Mann Collection for over 15 years. Restored to the condition in which it enjoyed a wonderful period racing career, including the 1956 Mille Miglia and the 1959 Tour de France.
1908 American Underslung 50 HP Roadster, chassis no. 1427, one of only a handful equipped with original factory roadster bodywork, and one of even fewer still with the 50-hp engine.
1926 Miller Locomobile Junior 8 Special, chassis no. 8; raced at Indianapolis from 1926–1929.
1926 Bentley 3-41Ž2 Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas, chassis no. 911. A faithful recreation of the legendary “Old Mother Gun”.
Other sale highlights will include the first Shelby Cobra, CSX 2000; the 1956 Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type; a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider; anda 1957 BMW 507 offered for public sale for the first time in Monterey.
For full event details visit www.rmsothebys.com or call 519-352-4575.
