L'Alfa Romeo 8C continues to demonstrate that it now occupies a unique position in the classic car market. In the United States, a 2008 model was just sold at auction for $308,000 at Bring a Trailer. An already remarkable result, but one that becomes even more so when you look at how the auction unfolded: just a few hours before it ended, this 8C still seemed likely to sell for less than $200,000. And above all, it had a «flaw» that collectors generally don’t appreciate very much: it had been in an accident.
Yet this particular car had some serious selling points. It is one of only 500 coupes produced, of which about 90 were intended for the U.S. market. Finished in Rosso 8C Competizione with a red leather interior, it has only 3,900 miles on the odometer—about 6,300 km. Under the hood is, of course, the 4.7-liter F136 V8 producing 450 ch, paired with a six-speed automated transaxle.
An 8C with a previous accident
With a car of this caliber, its history can make a huge difference in its value. And this 8C’s history includes an entry that might have deterred bidders.
In November 2016, the car was involved in an accident (with a Ferrari) that caused the airbags to deploy. According to the seller, the impact mainly affected the front bumper. The photos provided show the damage before repairs were made. The seller claims that the headlights and fenders were not damaged and that the vehicle was repaired using original parts.
Today, however, it’s hard to tell what the car’s history was just by looking at it. According to the seller, several people who inspected it during the sale reportedly found no visible signs of the repair. The accident is nevertheless recorded in the Carfax report, a factor that generally detracts from the value of such a rare classic car.
From $192,000 to $308,000 in a matter of hours
That is precisely what makes the end of the auction so spectacular. On August 26 at 5:21 p.m., the bid was still only $192,000. Seven minutes later, it jumped to $220,000. Then everything picked up speed.
In the final few minutes, the bidders engaged in a fierce battle: 250,000, 251,000, 270,000, 271,000, 275,000, 280,000, and then 285,000 dollars. With just a few minutes left before the auction closed, the 300,000-dollar mark was surpassed. A final bid of $308,000 ultimately won the car. In total, the auction recorded 30 bids, 15,472 views, and nearly 1,500 people watching.
This $308,000 is still below the prices recently achieved by certain 8Cs with very low mileage, particularly the Spiders, which have already surpassed $400,000. But the result is particularly interesting given the reported accident.
Above all, it shows just how desirable the Alfa Romeo 8C has become. Today, it embodies nearly every feature sought after by collectors. So much so that, even with a less-than-flattering history in its Carfax report, buyers were still willing to battle it out until the very last minute to push the price past $300,000.
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