1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spyder

Many collectors consider the 8C 2300 Alfa the quintessential pre-World War II sport/racing car. Its designation refers to its eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2300 cubic-centimeters. The Monza was the short chassis model built to be light and efficient, thus ideal for grand prix and endurance racing. This car finished second at the Mille Miglia in 1933.

As requested by Count Carlo Castlebarco, the Zagato Coachworks converted this Monza racecar into a sports car by adding fenders, lights and a spare tire. Finished in time for the 1933 Mille Miglia, this car finished second, piloted by The Count and Franco Cortege. The car went on to compete at the 1933 Monza race, 1938 LeMans, and then went club racing in England. It crashed mildly in the 1933 Monza Race after which it was sold and continued to compete in 1934. It came to America in the 1950s. The car is entirely original, wearing all the original panels excluding the front fenders.

Vittorio Jano, who joined Alfa Romeo in 1923, designed the 8C 2300. The engine uses a 2556cc supercharged, DOHC, inline 8-cylinder with alloy cylinder block and heads capable of producing 178 horsepower. The engine had two four-cylinder blocks and two-cylinder heads on a common crank and crankcase. A four-speed manual gearbox and drum brakes were also used. The Monza version was the special racing derivative.