Alfa Romeo produced just 188 examples of its legendary 8C model between 1931 and 1933; nearly all were destined for immediate entry into competition or—dependent on coachwork—exhibition. Though previously documented as a genuine 8C by Alfa Romeo marque experts Angelo Tito Anselmi, Simon Moore, and Angela Cherrett, almost nothing of this car’s early history was known until recent research by Archivio Targhe.

This long-chassis 8C was fitted new with cabriolet two-seater coachwork from Pinin Farina and first registered on 23 November 1932 in Turin as “TO-28241” to HRH Prince Filiberto of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Pistoia and Genoa. In April 1933 the Duke exhibited his 8C at the exclusive Monte Carlo Concours d’Elegance, where it was narrowly beaten for Grand Prize honours by the 8C of Baroness Maud von Thyssen.

On 30 August 1937, Prince Filiberto sold chassis number 2211075 to noted racing driver Vittorio Belmondo. Belmondo is believed to have commissioned an update to the original bodywork with a new “waterfall” type grille, reprofiled wings, and several trim pieces, while also registering this 8C as a new car—not a used one—in Genova as “GE-24759”. Stylistically, the coachwork changes resemble 8C commissions executed by Graber or Worblaufen. It was quickly sold to a local resident, who remained its latest Italian owner of record before World War II.

In 1949, the car appeared registered in Switzerland with French diplomat Jean-Louis Pierre Leinss. By 1956, it had been purchased by 21-year-old, UK-based enthusiast Brian Eckersley, who registered it as “PXY 63” and immediately used the car as his honeymoon chariot. Eckersley’s retained his beloved and well-known 8C until his death in 1999. During his 43-year stewardship of this fine pre-war supercar, he updated the coachwork with additional chrome trim but otherwise retained Belmondo’s aerodynamic pre-war updates to the original Pinin Farina cabriolet body.

The consignor purchased chassis 2211075 from Eckersley’s estate in May 1999. They immediately brought it back to Italy to begin a comprehensive restoration with the intent of exhibiting it at all of the world’s finest concours for pre-war coachbuilt automobiles.

Between 2000 and 2005, this lovely 8C was completely disassembled and restored by Cremonini Classics in Modena with a forensic focus on preserving and rebuilding original parts wherever possible. Components past the point of saving were suitably recreated or replaced with period-correct originals. Similarly, the car’s supercharged straight-eight engine was entirely rebuilt, the original cylinder head was repaired by marque specialist Gianni Torelli, and a replacement set of correct-ratio gears were sourced and installed in the gearbox. During disassembly, grey paint chips and blue leather fragments were discovered by the restoration team—thereby lending a historic motivation to the car’s current colour scheme.

Under the consignor’s prized ownership, this incredible 8C 2300 has been exhibited to great acclaim at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Retromobile, and the Coppa della Perugina historic road rally.

A supercar of its day that has not lost a single ounce of its desirability or exotic appeal, this unique 8C 2300 Lungo Cabriolet combines spectacular one-off styling and incredible provenance in a compelling package that is sure to thrill its next fortunate caretaker.