This is the absolutely magnificent 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Touring Berlinetta s/n 412029. Dating back to 1935, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 was designed with motorsport racing in mind, with direct focus on an endurance race known as the Millie Miglia. The 8C 2900A first made a public appearance at the 1935 London Motor Show, and a subsequent 10 total examples were constructed, with just 5 in 1935 and 5 in 1936. Three of these 8C 2900A examples were entered into the 1936 Millie Miglia by Enzo Ferrari under Scuderia Ferrari, where the drivers finished in top three positions, with Italian bobsledder and racing driver, Antonio Brivio taking 1st, Italian racing driver and first ever Formula One World Champion, Giuseppe Farina finishing 2nd, and motor-racing driver from Italy, Carlo Pintacuda taking 3rd. They repeated success the following year in 1937 taking 1st and 2nd place, and in 1936, the 8C 2900A also won the 1936 Spa 24 Hours. Alfa Romeo introduced the 8C 2900B in 1937, and along with the introduction of this more comforting model, was the inauguration of a new ‘Lungo’ chassis variant. Just 10 total ‘Lungo’ 8C 2900B examples were produced for the entire world, with only 5 of those featuring enclosed Berlinetta-style bodywork from the Italian automobile coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Chassis 412029 (shown here) is one of those 5 examples produced, and is said to be the 3rd car built. After this car was first sold in 1938, it was subsequently sold in Rome in August of 1946, and was later exported to Switzerland in 1947. From here, the car was raced and modified to feature a sunroof, and the original engine was sold and replaced with a Studebaker powertrain. The car sat in Switzerland for a while before Alfa Romeo historian, Luigi Fusi, was able to rescue to car and brought it back to Milan where it now resides in the Alfa Museum. The 8C 2900 was the work of Vittorio Jano, one of the greatest Italian car designers of all time.
How many made? 1 of 5
Engine: 2,905 cc / 177.3 cu in supercharged straight 8 - 180bhp
Debut: 1937 Paris Motor Show
Top Speed: around 109mph
0-60mph: n/a
Photo Credit: @pablorivasbao
Research: @rarecarsonly