The ten rarest and most expensive Alfa Romeos in history
Biscione, 6C, 33 Stradale - iconic cars that have incredible values today
Today, Alfa Romeos are still recognised as beautiful cars, but perceived as mass-produced goods. In the past, however, they were cars of desire, absolutely exclusive. Today, the survivors of that era are worth millions.
We are talking about the pioneering period between the 1930s and the 1960s, when the most powerful, exclusive and elegant Alfas were created. Racing cars that were tamed for the road and now fetch top prices at auction.
In this list we present the ten rarest and most expensive Alfa Romeos of all time, masterpieces on wheels coveted by museums, wealthy collectors and investors from all over the world. To avoid repetition, we have chosen the most valuable example of each model, otherwise the ranking would only include the magnificent 8C and 6C from the first half of the 20th century.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ (1962)
€800,000
Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ (1962), Zagato im oberen Teil
Let's start at the lower end of the ranking, in a very valuable tenth place, which is occupied by the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ from the second series of 1962. This is the version with the more aerodynamic bodywork with a truncated rear, also known as the SZ2, the second reincarnation of the Giulietta Sprint Zagato.
This Giulietta, which was produced in a series of 44 units and took all the racetracks by storm, was auctioned at Bonhams in Paris in 2016 with an estimated top price of €800,000 with its 1,290 cm engine and 118 PS, but remained unsold.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (1965)
€1,425,025
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (1965), this is where the Alfa-Millionäre begin
Another Alfa Romeo of great value is the Giulia TZ from 1965, the racing car successor to the SZ, but with a 1.6 engine with 172 PS. This "Tubolare Zagato" was sold in London in 2022 by the Gooding Company for the equivalent of €1,425,025.
Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Berlinetta Zagato (1955)
€1,744,382
Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Berlinetta Zagato, der 'Millenove' im Abendkleid
A little further back in time, we find another Alfa millionaire that was unable to find a new owner at auction. RM Sotheby's offered a stunning Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Berlinetta Zagato from 1955 at auction in 2016 and valued it at the equivalent of €1,744,382.
The compact coupé was one of 39 examples built by the Milanese coachbuilder, has a 1,975 cm, 116 PS engine and can look back on a rich sporting history.
Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupé (1939)
€2,669,873
Alfa Romeo Type 256 Coupé (1939), the only example in the Spider Siluro version
The first Alfa Romeo on this list to exceed two million euros is a rare Tipo 256 Coupé from 1939, the only example with touring bodywork to take part in the 1940 Mille Miglia in the Spider Siluro version.
The engine was a 2,443 cc inline six-cylinder with 125 PS. The beautiful car was sold by the Gooding Company in Pebble Beach in 2019 for €2,669,873.
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider (1931)
€2,984,831
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Compressor Gran Sport Spider (1931), also driven by Nuvolari
We reach new heights with the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Compressor Gran Sport Spider from 1931. Thanks to a restoration at the highest level, a price of €2,984,831 was realised at Bonhams in 2014.
A true masterpiece, once again drawn by Zagato, that any great collector would love to have in their garage.
Alfa Romeo Tipo B (1932)
€5,541,461
Alfa Romeo Tipo B (1932), der Wagen der Scuderia Ferrari
The first single-seater in this ranking is the 1932 Alfa Romeo Tipo B, a king of Grand Prix racing with a long history of competition, including in the ranks of Scuderia Ferrari.
The 2,654 cm in-line six-cylinder engine produced 215 PS. In 2018, it was auctioned off at Bonhams for the impressive sum of €5,541,461.
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967-1969)
€10-20 million
Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (1967-1969), the legendary original version
Franco Scaglione was the designer of this incredible Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, a true rarity of the Biscione brand, of which only 18 examples were produced between 1967 and 1969 with the 230 PS 2.0 V8 naturally aspirated engine.
The prototype is on display at the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum in Arese. It is not easy to determine the value of this jewel, as a 33 Stradale rarely comes up for sale, but one can well imagine that an interested buyer would spend between €10 and €20 million.
Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5, B.A.T. 7, B.A.T. 9d (1953, 1954, 1955)
€14,381,459
Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5, B.A.T. 7, B.A.T. 9d (1953, 1954, 1955). Three masterpieces of style
The trio consisting of the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5, 7 and 9 models has also earned a place in the Olympus of the most famous, most valuable, most iconic and rarest Alfa Romeo cars. The three concept cars were developed between 1953 and 1955 by Carrozzeria Bertone on the basis of the Alfa Romeo 1900 and are worth €17 million.
They are three masterpieces boldly designed by Franco Scaglione to explore the stylistic and aerodynamic possibilities of the sports saloon of the early 1950s under the name "Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica".
Three sculptures on wheels, representing an evolution from the rather dreamlike theme of wraparound wings to a road-going model. The three cars were sold by RM Sotheby's in 2020 for the impressive sum of the equivalent of €14,381,459.
Alfa Romeo Tipo 159 'Alfetta' (1951)
€15-20 million
Alfa Romeo Type 159 (1951), the first Formula 1 queen
The realm of the most valuable and historically significant cars also includes a champion such as the Alfa Romeo 158/159 'Alfetta', the single-seater that won the first two Formula 1 World Championships in 1950 and 1951.
Its drivers were Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, champions who led this legendary single-seater to victory with its 1.5-litre in-line engine with 8 cylinders, twin superchargers and 425 PS.
Of the four Tipo 159s built, the most famous is kept in the Alfa Museum in Arese, but it is difficult to place a value on it. If it is true that the rival Mercedes-Benz W196R sold for almost €23 million, the Alfetta could be estimated at between €15 and €20 million.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider Touring (1939)
€19,188,200
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider Touring (1939) , the best Italian sports car
Back in the world of certainties (and not estimates), we come across the most valuable Alfa ever sold at auction: the spectacular 1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider Touring, which changed hands at an RM Sotheby's auction in 2016 for the equivalent of €19,188,200 - a record value for the Italian brand.
It is one of only 12 Spider Touring cars produced, with an 8-cylinder in-line engine with double volumetric supercharger producing over 180 PS, a masterpiece recognised worldwide and representing the pinnacle of Italian sports cars of its generation. Suffice it to say that Artcurial sold an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Touring Berlinetta in 2019, estimated at between €16.3 and €22 million.
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