The 8C 2900B Lungo / Corto — one of the most beautiful and most valuable pre-war cars ever built.
The 8C 2900A (1937) and 8C 2900B (1937–1939) used a development of Alfa Romeo's Grand Prix Tipo B straight-eight reduced for road use — 2,905cc, twin superchargers, around 180–220 bhp depending on tune. Independent suspension front and rear, lightweight construction and Touring Superleggera Berlinetta coachwork made the 2900B Corto (short-chassis) and Lungo (long-chassis) two of the most desirable cars on Earth. Only 32 production 2900Bs were built.
Considered by many the most beautiful pre-war car ever built; concours examples have crossed $20 million.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2900A | 1937 | 10 | Grand Prix-derived; very rare. |
| 2900B Corto | 1937–1939 | — | Short-chassis sports specification. |
| 2900B Lungo | 1937–1939 | — | Long-chassis with Touring Superleggera Berlinetta coachwork. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Verified original chassis, Touring Berlinetta coachwork, Alfa Romeo Centro Storico documentation.
Twin-supercharged Grand Prix-derived straight-eight; rebuilding is a seven-figure undertaking. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
2900B Corto Touring Berlinettas lead; Lungo cars follow; 2900A (10 built) is essentially uncatalogued. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.
Tiny specialist circle; almost all work is supervised by recognised pre-war Alfa specialists. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
Among the top three pre-war collector categories globally with the Bugatti Atlantic and Mercedes Special Roadster.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-19 | RM Sotheby's Monterey | 1939 8C 2900B Lungo Berlinetta (Touring) | — | $19,800,000 Sold |
Among the most valuable and beautiful pre-war cars. Liquidity is essentially nil.
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