Description
1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider, Chassis 2111006 Ex-Works Alfa Corse and Scuderia Ferrari Tazio Nuvolari’s Coppa Ciano race-winning car 1932 & 1934 Mille Miglia, and 1932 Targa Florio entrant 6, 500-hour, £805k Jim Stokes restoration to 1932 Mille Miglia specification Retains original engine and period-fitted Zagato Spider body The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 is regarded by automotive connoisseurs as the finest pre-war sports car, a legendary design aligned with the Ferrari 250 GTO and the McLaren F1. Its accomplishments in period include a sweep of consecutive wins: four times at the Le Mans 24 Hours, three at the Targa Florio and two at the Mille Miglia. Clothed by Europe’s finest coachbuilders, 8Cs were also regularly lauded at the most glamorous of pre-war Concours d’Elegance. More substantial than a Bugatti and yet lighter than a Bentley, the 8C has been just right for the thick end of a century. This 8C, chassis 2111006, is the sixth example built from the initial first series in 1931. It was constructed with the ‘Corto’ short chassis and with a minimalist ‘bacquet’-style body for Alfa Romeo’s factory racing team – Alfa Corse. It had been expected to participate for the Works team in the 1931 Targa Florio, but was not completed in time. It’s likely that 2111006 was used more than once in that debut season, but its first known race was the epic 10-hour 1931 Belgian Grand Prix held on 12th July. The 8C was piloted to a spectacular 3rd place on the original 9. 3-mile circuit by Ferdinando Minoia and Giovanni Minozzi. Minozzi came from great stock as the grandson of Grand Prix driver Antonio Ascari and was cousin to future F1 World Champion Alberto. Minoia was a veteran wheelman with a career stretching back to the 1907 Coppa Florio, which he won, and included the inaugural Mille Miglia… which he also won. The 1931 Belgian GP podium in 2111006 secured Minoia the first European Drivers’ Championship, which had been established that year. Scuderia Ferrari acquired 2111006 on 29th July 1931 and, now wearing a distinctive Monza radiator cowl and the registration number “MO 5201”, was fielded for Tazio Nuvolari for the Coppa Ciano just days later on 2nd August. This long-established road race on the Tuscan coast attracted over 100, 000 spectators, with a world-class grid drawn in by both the magnificent trophy donated by the Italian Navy hero Costanza Ciano and the 215, 000 Lira prize money. The race became a classic Alfa-Bugatti, Nuvolari-Varzi duel, with each overcoming unavoidable setbacks with heroic performances. Varzi’s Bugatti crossed the finish line first, but the staggered start procedure had seen him set off 60-seconds ahead of The Flying Mantuan. Nuvolari in 2111006 appeared 14 seconds later and, with the start times accounted for, was declared the winner by a monumental margin of 46 seconds. Over the winter and into 1932, 2111006 was updated with the latest Monza-specification upgrades, including a shortened frame and improved front springs. More complete Zagato-style rear bodywork replaced the original minimalist arrangement and 2111006 was immortalised as the centrepiece of a sensational Scuderia Ferrari team photo en route to the 1932 Mille Miglia. Enzo himself stands proud behind 2111006, which is seen complete with its **** of red-tinted domed headlight covers, the quadrifoglio ensign and a hand-daubed number 82. Motorcycle ace Pietro Ghersi and Brooklands 6-Hours winner Guilio Ramponi were paired to drive 2111006 for Scuderia Ferrari in the Mille’ on 9th April. Despite being 8th fastest to Bologna – quite a feat in a grid featuring a 12 other 8Cs, several Bugattis and an SSK Mercedes – Ghersi and Ramponi would retire before reaching Firenze. One month later the Scuderia wheeled out 2111006 for Italy’s other great race, the Targa Florio. Future Grand Prix podium winner and Olympic medallist bobsledder Antonio Brivio was installed for driving duty, with 2111006 stripped of its windscreen, lights and three of its cycle wings for the race; the front right would remain in place to protect Brivio from debris kicked up on the notoriously rough surfaces. Brake issues would lead to the car’s retirement, however that would not stop Brivio from continuing in a second car to place 4th. The 8C would fair significantly better later in May at its last known race for Scuderia Ferrari, the Coppa Messina. With Ghersi back behind the wheel, 2111006 – reunited with all of its wings and lights – romped to victory along the challenging 52km road circuit. Evocative images capture the atmosphere at the finish line, with the roadside packed and the residential balconies groaning with cheering spectators. On 22nd November 2111006 was sold to Giacomo de Rham, and then again to the Alfa Romeo dealer in Rome in March 1933. The possibility exists that it was leased for...
