1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta

No sports car in the world of the thirties was faster than the immortal Two-Nine. That it was also the most elegant high-performance automobile of its era is widely believed as well.

The 8C 2900B was built because Alfa Romeo wanted to continue dominating Italy's Mille Miglia race. It also needed a production car to replace the 8C 2300. The 2900 chassis with its supercharged 2905 cc, 180 bhp engine proved to satisfy both needs. Three cars were entered in the 1936 Mille Miglia and finished in order.

Only a handful of 2900Bs - not more than 30 - were produced from 1937-1939. Several of the long-wheelbase models were produced in 1938, including this car, which was exhibited at the Paris Automobile Salon that fall.

In 1947, dealer and sometimes racer Emillio Romano acquired the car to race in the Mille Miglia with co-driver Clemente Biondetti. Their victory represented the fourth for the Two-Nine, and the eleventh and last for the Alfa Romeo.

Source - Historical notes courtesy of The Collier Collection