Alfa Romeo 8c 2900b Spider Corsa Sperimentale 'balena'

The remains of this car are found in the 1980s in a bedroom in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the last example of the 8C 2900 series, Alfa Romeo's fastest and most powerful prewar sports/racing car.

This Balena (whale) is an experimental streamlined model with a 180 hp engine, developed by engineer Gioacchino Colombo. Later, Colombo would make his name as the designer of the legendary twelve cylinder Ferrari engine. From 1949 to 1951, Carlos Perez de Villa raced this Alfa in Argentina. The first eleven cars in the 8C 2900 series were used exclusively for racing by Scuderia Ferrari. This type, the 8C 2900A, took the first three places in the Mille Miglia in 1936 and won the 24 hour race at Spa Francorchamps. In the two following years Alfa Romeo also won the Mille Miglia, in 1938 with the 8C 2900B. The B has an extremely rigid chassis with independent front suspension and swing axles at the rear, making it possible to achieve high cornering speeds. It can therefore truly be called a genuine super sports car.