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A rare 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider, the pre-war equivalent to the Ferrari 250 GTO, is the latest star attraction to be announced for RM Sotheby's upcoming Monterey sale, August 19 to 20th during the famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance week in California. One of five cars on offer from the esteemed Sam and Emily Mann Collection, the tremendously valuable “2.9” is the first to be offered at public sale this century and rumour circulating say it could change hands for £20m, breaking a record for a pre war car.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B represents the ultimate original gran turismo. The Italian equivalent of the Bugatti Atlantic, 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.

See Sam Mann talk to RM Sotheby's about his 8C and the cars from his collection that are coming to market by clicking here