Nibbling at the heels of the Bugatti Atlantic in the desirability stakes, the sensational Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B with bodywork by Touring was, without doubt, the most advanced and lusted-after sports car of its day. So much so that renowned marque authority Simon Moore famously dubbed the 8C 2900s the ‘Immortals’. 

This particular example is one of just five built and owned by the Beverly Hills collector David Sydorick, who commissioned a comprehensive restoration to its 1938 Berlin Motor Show specification prior to its appearance at Pebble Beach. “It is a piece of automotive architecture mounted on a Grand Prix chassis that has technology that was top of the line,” commented a jubilant Sydorick. “It’s beautiful from top to bottom.” 

Sydorick’s opulent Alfa fought off competition in the form of a 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Town Limousine and a 1948 Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport Figoni Fastback to claim not only the ‘Best of Show’ trophy but also two other awards including for that the most elegant closed car. We certainly can’t disagree with the jury’s thinking – the deep blue beauty embodies automotive elegance and Touring’s design is one of the most sensuous and well-proportioned bodies ever to grace the automobile. And its got the race-proven technology to boot. For want of a better word, it is a masterpiece…

Photos: Rolex / Stephan Bauer for Classic Driver © 2018