Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Spider Pininfarina

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B 412.012 Spider Pininfarina made automotive history when it fetched over $4 million USD at a Christie’s International Motor Cars sale in Pebble Beach, CA, on August 30, 1999. This record-breaking auction price for the decade highlighted the rarity and significance of this iconic vehicle. Originally a two-passenger 8C 2900B Alfa Cabriolet, one of fewer than 30 ever produced, this particular car had a storied racing pedigree. It competed in the prestigious Mille Miglia race in 1938, showcasing its prowess on the track. The final auction price of $4,072,500 was more than double the previous high of $2 million set by a Ferrari at a Christie’s auction the year before. Believed lost for a considerable period, the 8C 2900B began its life as a cycle-fendered competition car under the ownership of Piero Dusio, who later founded Cisitalia. Dusio extensively raced the car, including notable appearances at events like the Mille Miglia. Subsequently, chassis 412.012 underwent significant modifications when it was re-bodied by Pinin Farina into an elegant Cabriolet after its racing career. After World War II, the car found its way to Switzerland before eventually making its way to the United States, where it was fitted with a Chrysler engine. Its history took a pivotal turn in 1989 when Simon Moore, an authority on the 8C 2900 Alfa Romeo, was contacted by the car’s owner who intended to restore it. Moore facilitated a deal that reunited the original engine with the remarkably well-preserved car, which was then acquired by Terry Cohn, a noted collector. Under Cohn’s ownership, the car underwent a comprehensive restoration by Tony Merrick, completed in 1992. Cohn actively used the car, including a memorable journey driving it to Italy and back to compete once again in the Mille Miglia. Unfortunately, due to illness, Cohn decided to part with the car at the 1999 Christie’s Pebble Beach auction, with a substantial portion of the proceeds benefiting a cancer charity. Since then, Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B 412.012 has become part of a prominent American collection, returning to Pebble Beach in 2005 to commemorate Alfa Romeo’s 95th anniversary. Its legacy as a rare and exquisitely restored piece of automotive history continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike, embodying the pinnacle of Alfa Romeo’s racing heritage and design excellence.