Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 12 March 2026
One of the world’s rarest Italian cars will take pride of place at the inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma this April, with The Keller Collection’s 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B confirmed for the event.
The machine will appear on the showfield on April 18 and 19, joining around 70 historic and iconic Italian cars spanning multiple eras.
Widely regarded as one of the most important Alfa Romeos ever built, the 8C 2900B is an example of Italian engineering and design from what many consider the golden age of coachbuilt automobiles.
Launched in 1935, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 was developed for competition, targeting events such as the legendary Mille Miglia. The ‘B’ variant followed two years later, with 33 examples produced between 1937, 1938 and 1941.
Power came from a 2.9-litre inline eight-cylinder engine equipped with twin Roots-type superchargers and Weber carburettors, producing 134kW.
The car also featured fully independent front suspension with coil springs and hydraulic dampers, while the rear used swing axles with leaf springs.
This particular car is believed to have served as one of the prototypes for the 1938 Mille Miglia, a race won by a variant of the 8C 2900B.
Its first owner was Italian racing driver Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina, who would go on to become Formula One’s first world champion in 1950.
Farina opted against the usual Touring bodywork, instead commissioning bespoke coachwork from Stabilimenti Farina, the firm founded by his father. The design also benefited from styling input by his uncle, iconic designer Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina.
Restored in 1995, the car debuted at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that same year before appearing at concours events across Europe in 1996. More recently, it claimed the prestigious The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award and took both Best of Show and The Spirit of the Concours Trophy at The Amelia.
