2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Coupe

At the September 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show, Alfa Romeo revealed their 8C Competizione concept car. When it was approved for a limited production run of 500 units that began in the 2007 model year, little had changed from the concept. Of the 500 units, just 84 were destined for U.S. shores, and most were pre-sold through Maserati dealerships.

The 8C Competizione was given its name in memory of the company's dominant prewar race cars, as well as the Juan Manuel Fangio-driven 1949 6C 2500 Competizione. These historic race cars inspired many of the styling cues on the modern 8C Competizione. It was designed by Wolfgang Egger at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo who gave the car arching fenders, a plunging rear-roofline, and an unmistakable Alfa Romeo grille.

The 8C features a carbon fiber body formed by the Italian firm ATR Group. Its chassis is a hybrid Maserati platform, using Gran Turismo A-Arms and a custom suspension. The 4.7-liter dual overhead cam V8 was a F430-derived unit that was assembled by Ferrari. Final construction took place at Maserati's Viale Ciro Menotti factory in Modena, with each example personally vetted by Alfa factory test drivers in the nearby hills around the Italian city.

The tuned V-8 engine offered 444 horsepower and 354 lbs./ft of torque. Zero-to-sixty mph took just 4.2 seconds. The top speed was conservatively listed at 181 mph. The power produced by the engine was sent to a rear-mounted, six-speed, paddle-shift transaxle for an ideal weight balance.

This particular example is a U.S.-delivery car finished in Rosso Alfa with a tan interior. It currently has less than 2,900 miles since new. It was previously the personal property of a Ferrari/ Maserati dealer in Hinsdale, Illinois. It is currently in the care of its third owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2017