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The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B represents the ultimate original gran turismo. The Italian equivalent of the Bugatti
Atlantique, it is a symphony of fabulously intricate engineering, thrilling power, and sinful beauty that
incorporates independent suspension and a remarkable straight-eight engine with gear-driven overhead cams
and two superchargers. It is believed that only 32 original chassis were produced in various configurations
(rarer even than the aforementioned 250 GTO) and the survivors are arguably the most sought-after of all
pre-war automobiles.
One of approximately 12 Touring Spiders known to exist, the stunning Alfa on offer, chassis no. 412041, has
been a crown jewel of the Sam and Emily Mann Collection for two decades. Documented by renowned Alfa
Romeo authority Simon Moore in his book, The Immortal 2.9: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, it is the recipient of an
immaculate, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award-winning restoration by 2.9 guru, Tony Merrick, and
has been a frequent participant in concours d’elegance and vintage rallies. Perhaps the most persuasive
testament to the quality of the car’s restoration and subsequent expert care, along with the effortless
drivability of the 8C 2900, is the fact that the Manns have spent over 12,000 miles behind the wheel, including
seven 8C Alfa Tours between 1999 and 2013, in addition to the Copperstate 1000, the Colorado Grand, the
California Mille and the California Classic Rally. A rare sight at auction, the featured Alfa is expected to
surpass the current record for a pre-war automobile sold at auction by a comfortable margin when it goes
under the RM gavel next month. In the lead up to the sale, the Alfa 2.9 is available for preview at Sotheby’s
New York (corner of York Avenue and 72nd Street) from today through until early August.
“The Alfa 2.9 is a car of peerless engineering and extreme elegance— in my mind it represents the absolute
highest echelon of car collecting and is a perfect fit for our sale during the Pebble Beach Concours
d’Elegance week,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “From the
standpoint of an automotive enthusiast, there is perhaps no more resplendent sound than that of the twin
supercharged, dual overhead cam straight-eight engine of the mighty Alfa 8C at full speed. Without question,
acquiring a car of such magnitude establishes one’s collection at the forefront of the hobby.”
The Alfa Romeo headlines a selection of five extraordinary cars from the esteemed Sam and Emily Mann
Collection set for RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction. The collection, a labor of love by Sam—an accomplished
industrial designer—and his wife of 45 years, Emily, is celebrated as one of the world’s leading car
collections, noted for its incredible quality, rarity and presentation.
Additional collection highlights set for Monterey include
· the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Competizione ‘Tour de France’, chassis no. 0507GT, a part of the
Mann Collection for over 15 years and a very early example of the ultimate Ferrari GT of its era. Magnificently
restored to the condition in which it enjoyed a wonderful period racing career, including the 1956 Mille Miglia
and the 1959 Tour de France, the featured TdF was shown at the 2006 Cavallino Classic where it was judged
Best of Show GT. It has successfully completed two Colorado Grands and the California Mille among other
events (Est. $7,000,000 - $9,000.000);
· an authentic, early 1908 American Underslung 50 HP Roadster, chassis no. 1427, one of only a handful
of the potent, well-engineered American Underslungs equipped with original factory roadster bodywork, and
one of even fewer still with the 50-horsepower engine. Formerly of the renowned Lindley Bothwell and D.
Cameron Peck Collections, chassis no. 1427 comes to auction having been sympathetically maintained and
mechanically sorted (Est $1,400,000 - $1,750,000);
· the historically important 1926 Miller Locomobile Junior 8 Special, chassis no. 8; raced at Indianapolis
from 1926–1929, chassis no. 8 has the longest continuous racing history of any Miller 91 and was driven by
some of the most prominent drivers of its era, including Cliff Durant, Eddie Herme, Russ Snowberger and Fred
Frame. It comes to auction having been authentically restored (Est $750,000 – $1,000,000); and,
· the 1926 Bentley 3-4½ Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas, chassis no. 911. A faithful recreation of
the legendary “Old Mother Gun”, this thrilling Bentley has been properly sorted for rallies and tours (Est.
$600,000 – $750,000).
Kelleher adds, “These five examples represent some of the finest of their individual models. Each has been
meticulously maintained and cared for, and exhibits breathtaking presentation. We’re thrilled to have been
entrusted with these cars by Sam and Emily Mann; they reflect Sam and Emily’s finely honed eye for
aesthetics and design, and will unquestionably be the centerpiece of any important automotive collection.”
The five vehicles from the Sam and Emily Mann Collection join a magnificent roster of other blue-chip
automobiles slated for the upcoming RM Sotheby’s sale, including the very first Shelby Cobra, CSX 2000;
the 1956 Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type; a spectacular 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider;
and an eye-popping 1957 BMW 507, which is offered for public sale for the first time in Monterey. Reinforcing
RM Sotheby’s reputation as the market leader in the presentation of private collections at auction, in addition
to the Sam and Emily Mann Collection, the sale will also feature a selection of vehicles from the Jim Click
Ford Performance Collection and the Riverside International Automotive Museum.
A tradition spanning more than 30 years, RM Sotheby’s annual Monterey auction, held during the Pebble
Beach Concours d’Elegance week, returns to the Portola Hotel & Spa in downtown Monterey, California,
August 19-20.
Related material
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