2008 Alfa Romeo Romeo-8C Competizione

Description 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C CompetizioneVIN ZARJA181280040358Rosso Alfa with Black Interior At the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, Alfa Romeo unveiled a concept car that suggested they were interested in heading a different direction. One of Italy’s most storied marques, Alfa Romeo had developed a host of legendary sports cars, with watershed cars such as the 6C, 8C, Tipo 33, TZ1, TZ2, and a host of more accessible but still thrilling cars like the Giulietta, Giulia, and GTV. As the 90s arrived, Alfa continued to produce characterful cars as much as they could considering the wholesale switch to front wheel drive for all models. They exited the US market after the 1995 model year and in the eyes of many enthusiasts, they had lost their way a bit as the Fiat era deepened. The 8C then, while just a concept, suggested a desire to get back to Alfa’s roots: a stunningly styled cab-rearward rear wheel drive sports car with carbon fiber body, mid-front mounted engine, and transaxle at the rear. And indeed, when it was announced that the car would be available to the public in a limited run of 500 examples worldwide, a clientele that would not typically be seen in a 147 or 166 snapped up the car, with many ending up in collections alongside other exotic Italian machinery. It was appropriate therefore that the 8C moniker should be resurrected for this car, an exotic flagship with thrilling performance and inimitable Italian character. Just 84 examples were sold in the United States via Ferrari/Maserati dealers, and the car was enthusiastically received, laying the groundwork for today’s American resurgence of Alfa Romeo in the form of the 4C and the new Giulia. This particular car was sold new in November of 2008 at Miller Motorcars of Greenwich Connecticut to Mike Tillson, proprietor of a highly regarded Ferrari restoration and service shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He never titled the car and later that month, he passed the car on to a collector in California as part of a package comprised mostly of classic cars, including a BMW 507, the Aston Martin DB2 Volante driven by Tippi Hedren in “The Birds”, a Ferrari 365 2+2, several Jaguar XKs, and a few other cars. A copy of the original invoice from Miller Motorcars is included, as is various documentation from the sale to the buyer in California. The original window sticker is also with the car, along with a copy of the certificate of origin. The car has remained with the same collector since then, and has been regularly serviced at Ferrari dealers in the San Francisco Bay Area, and new tires were installed less than 1000 miles ago. The front bumper was also repainted due to stone chips at one point and clear bra then installed on the front bumper, headlamps, and rear wheel arches. The car is complete with accessories including fitted luggage, books set with books, both keys with original leather holders, and touch up paint. The car is in essence, a one-owner collector-kept 8C that has covered fewer than 8300 miles from new and has never had any accidents. Cosmetically, the car presents extremely well, with minimal wear to be expected for a car that has covered a few thousand miles. There is a handful of touched up chips on front facing surfaces and the driver’s door edge, although the front bumper has been protected by the clear bra and is excellent. The front carbon fiber splitter has a crack. The glass and lights are excellent, as are the wheels other than a one inch section of chipped paint on the front right wheel. The trim and badges are excellent. The interior feels very special because it showcases the carbon fiber construction of the body. The dashboard, center console, and even the sills are exposed carbon fiber. The seats are leather trimmed carbon fiber buckets with excellent attention to detail including embroidered Alfa Romeo logos on the seat backs. The perforated leather also adds a sense of occasion, as does the extensive contrasting red stitching. There is light wear on the driver’s seat bolster but the interior is otherwise difficult to distinguish from new. The (limited amount of) carpet is excellent, as are the switches, gauges, and controls. The car uses bespoke switchgear, which gives a sophisticated and unique feel to the interior that’s appropriate for its MSRP of $250,000. The engine compartment is impressive, with the engine mounted well back for optimum weight distribution. The underside of the hood is bare carbon fiber, proudly displayed to show the car’s construction off. The engine presents essentially as new, as expected for the car’s low mileage. The rear compartment is essentially useless for storage, although there is a sizable parcel shelf which can house the two fitted leather suitcases included with the car. The driving experience is certainly modern, with effective climate control and a straightforward user interface, but there is a sense of occasion, charisma, and personality that is generally quite difficult to find in modern cars. One of the most impactful parts of the car’s experience, aside from being cocooned in carbon fiber, is the noise. A set of valves can be manually opened by selecting the Sport button, and the car pops and crackles through the exhaust like a carbureted race car from the 1950s on both upshifts and trailing throttle. The exhaust note is absolutely glorious, while the rest of the experience is equally enjoyable, from the taut, balanced chassis to the sensational brakes. The gearbox is typical for single clutch paddle shift gearboxes of the period and is happiest when operated manually, which gives the driver direct control of the fantastic engine noises. This is an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a aesthetically stunning, technically interesting, and viscerally thrilling modern collector car. One of just 84 examples in the US and 500 worldwide, this is an exceedingly rare car that is almost guaranteed to appreciate. Indeed, it has all the requisite ingredients for a futu