One to Buy: Bianco Divino 2010 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
Produced between 2007 and 2010, the gorgeous 8C was Alfa Romeo’s most exciting road car since the legendary but comparatively tiny run of Tipo 33 Stradales manufactured during the late 1960s.
Under the skin, the 8C featured a steel platform chassis, double wishbone suspension all round and Brembo brakes at each corner. In the engine bay was a 450bhp normally aspirated V8 assembled at the Ferrari factory in Maranello. Transmission was through an F1-style paddle shift gearbox and a limited-slip differential.
Assembly took place at the Maserati factory in Modena; the three-way collaboration between Alfa, Ferrari and Maserati was the result of all three brands coming together as part of the Fiat Group.
Having initially been offered in Coupe trim, Alfa Romeo subsequently offered the 8C as a Spider with both variants having been styled by the company’s Chief Designer, Wolfgang Egger.
Although the batch of 500 Coupes (dubbed the 8C Competizione) was expected to be followed by a similar number of Spiders, only 329 of the open bodied variants were ultimately built (all of which were left-hand drive as per the fixed head iteration).
One of these rare 8C Spiders is currently on offer with Tomini Classics in Dubai.
Originally destined for the Japanese market, it is configured in the extremely desirable and highly traditional colour scheme of pearlescent Bianco Divino with Red leather upholstery and has covered just 11,500km from new.
Reprinted below is Tomini Classics’ description:
Year: 2010
Exterior: Bianco Divino
Interior: Red leather
Mileage: 11,500 kilometres
Price: USD $299,000
Created in a limited run of 500 coupés and 329 ‘Spider’ convertible variants, the 8C (‘Otto Cilindri’) was conceived as love letter to the beauty and emotion of the automobile. With heritage dating back to the straight-8 racers of the 1930’s, the 8C nameplate was reincarnated once again in 2003, this time in the form of a concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show —a car almost identical to the production model that would come four years later.
In addition to the sumptuous lines penned by Wolfgang Egger, the 8C’s drivetrain also captured the magic of Italian motoring: a 4.7L Ferrari V8 gave it the melodic sound and a mighty pull —all 444 horses ticking north of 300kmph— worthy of one of Modena’s creations. A fast-changing, six-speed computerized gearbox would ensure seamless delivery of power to the tarmac, with the help of a limited-slip differential.
Different versions of the 8C were offered along the years: a Spider, from 2007 to 2010; a one-off TZ3 Corsa by Zagato, and perhaps the best well-known: the Disco Volante, a tribute to Alfa’s ‘flying saucer’ from the early 1950’s, coachbuilt by Carrozzeria Touring.
This particular Spider, finished in a pearlescent white, “Bianco Divino”, is one of a small handful of cars delivered to Japan. With just over 11,000 kilometres on the odometer, it is a very original automobile that is mechanically sound. This 8C is an excellent opportunity to acquire a limited-production automobile with pedigree worthy of the purest modern Italian thoroughbreds.
