1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, introduced in 1937, is said to be the progenitor of the postwar Grand Touring coupe. The engine is essentially the 2.9-liter eight-cylinder supercharged Tipo B that made the marque Alfa Romeo unbeatable in key races of the 1930s. The chassis is a boxed frame with a wheelbase of 2.75 meters, independent suspension, and huge hydraulic brakes. This fabulous first example has a rare Spider body by Touring. McClure Halley of Brooklyn, New York, ordered this car, requesting special instruments, chrome wheels, and details like engraved moldings - and then went to Bologna to make certain the car was built to his specifications. An early photograph records the car's debut at the Milan Motor Show. Richard Paine of Bar Harbor, Maine, acquired the car in the late 1960s, and John Mozart acquired the car from him in the early 1980s. The restored car was named Best of Show at the 1988 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Dave Holls, former director of Design at General Motors who served for years as Chief Honorary Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours, once said of this Alfa, 'If I could have only one car in the world, that would be the car I'd want to have.'