1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spyder

Following the success of his 8-cylinder P2, Alfa Romeo engineer Vittorio Jano created the 8C, an engine built on a common crankcase with two separated 4-cylinder alloy blocks topped with detachable alloy cylinder heads. The 8C was first raced at the 1931 Mille Miglia.

This first Alfa Romeo 8C 2300s were ready in time to make their debut at the 1931 Mille Miglia, a grueling race even for thoroughly developed cars. Two Zagato-bodied cars were entered for Tazio Nuvolari and Luigi Arcangeli.

This Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Spider is one of the earliest 8Cs produced and was used by the Alfa racing team in 1931. This is one of the two Alfa cars that raced at the Targa Florio that season and was driven by Tazio Nuvolari. It was sold shortly after to Scuderia Ferrari and was raced by Enzo Ferrari himself in his last competitive event, the Circuito delle Tre Province. It was later driven to victory by Piero Taruffi in the Coppa Grand Sasso, one of his first races driving for Scuderia Ferrari. The car was sold again before the end of the season and continued to be raced in various events, including the Mille Miglia in 1932, 1933, and 1934. After 1934 it was owned by several British collectors and remained in unrestored condition for 70 years.

By 1935 the car was sold to an owner in the United Kingdom, where it remained for decades to come. Among its later owners were marque expert and restorer Paul Grist and racing driver and collector Nick Mason of Pink Floyd fame.