Alfa to be honored at Pebble

The 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will pay tribute to all that is Alfa Romeo, celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Italian auto manufacturer founded as Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili.

The Aug. 15 gathering will make Alfa fans drool, showcasing vehicles ranging from a 1910 A.L.F.A. 24 HP to the just-unveiled, Bertone-designed Alfa Romeo Pandion show car.

There also will be a display of rarely seen cars from the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo (the Alfa Romeo Museum) in Arese, Italy. The museum is shipping seven vehicles for display at the concours, including:

The 1938 8C 2900 B Lungo is one of the seven rarely-seen Alfa Romeos coming to Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, Italy.

-- 1938 8C 2900 B Lungo: One of the most prestigious sports cars Alfa built before World War II, the 8C 2900 B Lungo is a race car dressed as a street car. The 8C 2900 was the fastest race car of its time, reaching a top speed of 113 mph with gorgeous styling. An 8C 2900 B Lungo was the 11th and final Alfa Romeo to win the Mille Miglia (in 1947).

-- 1938 Gran Premio Tipo 158 “Alfetta”: Developed by Scuderia Ferrari, the 1.5-liter, eight-cylinder Alfetta (“Little Alfa”) is a single-seater that became one of the most successful race cars ever produced. Its success includes post-WWII wins in the then-new Formula One series.

Some of the privately owned Alfas on hand at Pebble will include:

-- 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Bertone Coupe: This is one of only 40 Alfas built on the lightweight Super Sport chassis during World War II. Mario Revelli di Beaumont designed this unique coupe and Bertone built the body. The car just completed a major restoration in Italy and will make its world concours debut at Pebble.

-- 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Competizione 2 Seat Coupe: This is the second (and only surviving example) of three race cars designed and built by the Alfa racing department in 1948. It ran four straight Mille Miglia (1948-1951) and competed in 17 races throughout its career, collecting three wins and coming in second five times.

-- 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C2900A Carrozzeria Alfa Spider: Shown at the Milan Motor Show in 1936, this car was owned by an RAF pilot (and race-car driver) during World War II and sold in 1947 to a collector in Los Angeles who separated the chassis, body and engine. Alfa expert and author Simon Moore reunited the chassis and body in the '80s, and the car reappeared at the Mille Miglia in 1987. Now restored to its original colors, this is the only 1935/1936 Carrozzeria Alfa Spider to survive with its original coachwork.

In addition to honoring Alfa's centennial, the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jaguar, will feature Pierce-Arrow and will showcase Italian designer Ghia. Special classes will focus on the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, Hot Rod Lakesters and Bonneville racers and Prewar American Motorcycles.

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