£1.8 million Alfa Romeo to be auctioned at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale
The Bonhams auction that coincides with the Goodwood Festival of Speed always features rare and impressive vehicles, but a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 ‘Le Mans’ tourer that will be sold there is truly spectacular.
The 8C engine was first entered at the 1931 Mille Miglia road race in Italy and was sold to private owners as either a short or long rolling chassis at prices starting at around £1,000. Amongst the early owners of this 8 cylinder engined car were Sir Henry Birkin, Piaggio Andrea Piaggio and Baroness Maud Thyssen.
As is often the case with vehicles of this era, this particular car has sported various styles of coachwork during its existence. Though the original style is unknown, the car was purchased in 1969 by the current owner as a saloon. It had been built by a small firm of King’s Cross based coachbuilders named Corsica whose clients numbered Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, Sir Malcolm Campbell, Cecil Kimber, Donald Healey and Nico Embiricos.
In the 1970s, the Alfa Romeo, which retains its original engine and chassis numbers, was re-bodied in its present Le Mans style coachwork and in the time since it has been carefully maintained and displayed a “multitude of historic sporting events”.
Enzo Ferrari, in praise of Alfa Romeo, is said to have once stated:
I lived with you for twenty years: how many deeds, events and men went by!
Today I remember them, each and everyone,
I still have, for Alfa, the tenderness of a first love,
The pure affection of a child for his mother
An estimate of £1,400,000 to £1,800,000 has been set for the 8C-2300. We’re certain that if he were alive, Mr Ferrari would be there bidding on the Tapestry Lawn at Goodwood House on 12th July 2013.
For more details about the Alfa Romeo 8C-2300, contact James Knight of Bonhams on +44 (0) 20 7447 7440 or email: james.knight@bonhams.com
All images © Bonhams