Stolen Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider returns for auction

“I’d love to have seen the look on the thieves’ faces when they opened the trailer,” stated David Gooding, President of Gooding & Company Auctions.

Theft and Recovery

Two years ago, a stunning 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider was stolen from a hotel parking lot while it was being transported to a restoration shop.

The thieves, who initially may not have fully realized the value of their haul, quickly understood the magnitude of their crime.

This particular Alfa Romeo, one of just 40 models ever built and among the rare five long-chassis Touring Spiders, is a gem in the world of classic cars.

The theft of such a sophisticated and rare vehicle was not a simple crime.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider, with its pre-WWII allure and mechanical sophistication, is essentially impossible to sell on the black market due to its unique and easily identifiable characteristics. For many months, enthusiasts and collectors of prewar Alfa Romeos speculated about the car’s fate, with fears that it might be destroyed or lost forever.

Fortunately, the FBI traced and recovered the car in December, ending the insurance nightmare that had ensued, which involved a $23 million claim. The recovery was a significant relief to the tight-knit community of Alfa collectors and enthusiasts.

Upcoming Auction Highlight

Now that the insurance issues are resolved, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider is set to make a grand appearance at Gooding & Co’s 2024 Pebble Beach auction. Expected to be the highlight of the Monterey Car Week auctions, it has the potential to be the most significant sale of the event.

Gooding & Co, alongside other prominent auction houses such as Broad Arrow, Bonhams, Mecum, and RM Sotheby’s, will feature various exceptional cars next month.

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However, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider stands out due to its rarity and historical significance. According to Gooding, “It’s exceedingly rare for any 8C 2900 to come up for auction, and especially not a Spider.”

Historical Significance

This particular Alfa Romeo, chassis number 412027, has never been offered at auction before.

In the past decade, only two other 8C 2900s, including one Touring Spider that sold for $19.8 million, have appeared on the auction block. Typically, such rare and valuable cars trade privately among collectors.

Gooding emphasized the car’s exceptional appeal, noting its remarkable style, mechanical prowess, and esteemed provenance. “It has it all,” he said, highlighting the car’s significance in the antique car world.

Conclusion

The return of the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Spider to the auction scene marks the end of a dramatic chapter and the beginning of a new opportunity for collectors.

As it heads to the 2024 Pebble Beach auction, it is poised to capture the attention and admiration of car enthusiasts worldwide, potentially setting a new record for the year’s most notable auction sale.