1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder

Alfa Romeo began in 1906 under the name of SAID (Societa Anonima Italiana Darracq) building cars that were totally unsuited to local conditions, unreliable and underpowered, and dumped on the Italian market in an effort to increase the fortune of the French entrepreneur Alexandre Darracq. Within three years the company was on the verge of bankruptcy and was reorganized under a different set of initials ALFA (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobil). Its cars changed, too, and in an effort to boost its image, the company decided to go racing beginning in 1911.

Designed by Vittorio Jano as a replacement for the 6C 1750, the racing versions of the 8C 2300 had multiple wins at LeMans, Spa, Targa Florio, and the Mille Miglia. Built from 1931 to 1934, the chassis was fitted with stunning coachwork by Touring, Zagato, Brianza, Castagna, Figoni and others.

Perhaps the greatest tribute to the legendary 8C series is that Alfa Romeo has named its latest supercar the '8C Competizione.'

The 8C 2300 displayed here, which was bodied by Touring, was displayed by Alfa Romeo at the Paris Automobile Salon in 1932. Sold new in England by the British concessionire F.W. Stiles, it was raced at Brooklands and Shelsley Walsh. The second owner Harry Rose drove the car to Monte Carlo a few times to watch the Monaco Grand Prix. Rose also participated in local motoring events with the 8C at Shelsley Walsh and Brooklands.

The car came to the United States around 1940 and later joined the collection of Maryland Senator Anders Lofstrand. It remained in his family until 1987 when it was purchased by Judge North. In 1991 it was acquired by Gordon Barrett who carefully preserved and maintained the car. The car was extensively researched including a visit with Luigi Fusi who was one of the Alfa Romeo designers during the period, before the restoration, which was completed in 2003. Mr. Barrett used the car on six 1,000-mile tours in the Rocky Mountains. After twenty six years of ownership, the car entered new ownership in 2017.