Alfa Male: The 8C's Pheromones of Design

[VisualHomage]

from:
http://chadglass.blogspot.com/2012/0...of-design.html

excerpt:
Last night I was on Sunset Strip at Cafe Primo with the Elysee Wednesday group. With talk already going on as I arrived, one of the attendees remarked that there had been an Alfa 8C Competizione sighted in the lower parking deck. So I thought how wonderful and great, cool, neat-o, what nice conversation this is --but it didn't penetrate my mind initially that it was there right now. As it became apparent, I eventually got a clue as people began rising from their seats, getting up to have a look. I had just taken a seat and then found myself up again, as if I had not sat down. Alas, the night had officially begun.

[B R]

Sorry I couldn't make it last night. Catch you next time.

[amenasce]

those wheels

[VisualHomage]

Yes the rims were awful, hence, why I didn't really feature them.

[VisualHomage]

Originally Posted by B R

Sorry I couldn't make it last night. Catch you next time.

Hi, Brian.

[MacGeek]

Nice writeup!

Just a small correction: 84 8C Competiziones and about 30-35 8C Spiders made it to the USA.

Couldn't resist, I'm an 8C geek

[VisualHomage]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

Nice writeup!

Just a small correction: 84 8C Competiziones and about 30-35 8C Spiders made it to the USA.

Couldn't resist, I'm an 8C geek

Very well, any help in accuracy is invited. I am a geek, too. So what is the breakdown? Were more than 500 8Cs made? Or does the 84/30-35 absorb into the 500?

[MacGeek]

Disclaimer: I should warn you that am a bit OCD like NNO, except my field of obsession-compulsion is the 8C

First of all, I should specify that the 500 unit production run is for each variant. So, 500 Competiziones, and 500 Spiders (there is some info floating around suggesting that they made less than 500 Spiders, but that's another story).

I can't say for sure whether they made 500, or a bit more. The fact that chassis numbers are not contiguous doesn't help: all cars made at the Maserati factory follow a single numbering sequence, so you might have a number of contiguous 8C chassis numbers, then a whole bunch of GranTurismos, Quattroportes and Grancabrios, then some more 8Cs, depending on the production mix at the factory. There's no consistency at all.

There is also no way of knowing the x/500 number, as the cars aren't numbered. The x/500 number only appears on the sales contract and on the "Certificate of Authenticity" coming with the car. Some people had the number engraved on the dedication plate, but most kept the standard one (including myself: I hate the typeface they chose for the custom engraving option, and the graphics layout of the custom plate looks worse than the standard one).

I should also add that I have 485 8C Competizione and 231 8C Spider VINs in my little "8C register", so I don't have data on all vehicles. My register also includes some pre-production VINs.

My database has 84 Competizione US VINs (and I do believe I have all of them); and 15 US-bound 8C Spiders, but I'm fairly sure I'm missing some, since I was given the "about 30-35" quote by Alfa Romeo.


On an unrelated note, here's a breakdown by exterior color. 8C Competizione only, since I don't have enough 8C Spider data for a meaningful statistic.

- Rosso Competizione: 60%
- Rosso Alfa: 19%
- Black: 15%
- Yellow: 2%
- Custom color: 4%

Just two custom-colored cars were sold in the US. One is Napolis', in Rosso P 4/5; the other one is painted in Grigio Nuvolari, and was owned by a F-Chat member (I think he sold it).

Among the 10 yellow cars made, two came to the US. A Ferrari Magazine article about Phil Bachman's collection mentions "a handsome pair of Alfa Romeo 8C Competiziones". Knowing his love for yellow, I believe he owns at least one, maybe both of them.

[amenasce]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

Disclaimer: I should warn you that am a bit OCD like NNO, except my field of obsession-compulsion is the 8C

First of all, I should specify that the 500 unit production run is for each variant. So, 500 Competiziones, and 500 Spiders (there is some info floating around suggesting that they made less than 500 Spiders, but that's another story).

I can't say for sure whether they made 500, or a bit more. The fact that chassis numbers are not contiguous doesn't help: all cars made at the Maserati factory follow a single numbering sequence, so you might have a number of contiguous 8C chassis numbers, then a whole bunch of GranTurismos, Quattroportes and Grancabrios, then some more 8Cs, depending on the production mix at the factory. There's no consistency at all.

I should also add that I have 485 8C Competizione and 231 8C Spider VINs in my little "8C register", so I don't have data on all vehicles. My register also includes some pre-production VINs.

My database has 84 Competizione US VINs (and I do believe I have all of them); and 15 US-bound 8C Spiders, but I'm fairly sure I'm missing some, since I was given the "about 30-35" quote by Alfa Romeo.

How many are off colors like the Grigio that is for sale at Miller Motorcars?

[MacGeek]

Originally Posted by amenasce

How many are off colors like the Grigio that is for sale at Miller Motorcars?

I edited my previous post to include just that, and more bits of information which came to mind afterwards

I have 20 Competiziones in a custom color, 2 of those in the USA. See above for info about those two

Other custom colored Competiziones I know of include white (both plain white and Fuji), Vinaccia, a light blue which could be Azzurro California or Avio met (I can't tell for sure from the pics), and I'm probably forgetting more.

Edit: John Elkann owns one in Blu Oceano as well.

[amenasce]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

I edited my previous post to include just that, and more bits of information which came to mind afterwards

I have 20 Competiziones in a custom color, 2 of those in the USA. See above for info about those two

Other custom colored Competiziones I know of include white (both plain white and Fuji), Vinaccia, a light blue which could be Azzurro California or Avio met (I can't tell for sure from the pics), and I'm probably forgetting more.

Edit: John Elkann owns one in Blu Oceano as well.

Here is the one i saw 2 weeks ago. Gorgeous, too bad he didnt go for red leather and red top.

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/2975/img5644a.jpg

[MacGeek]

That is probably 49814, can you confirm the VIN?

[amenasce]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

That is probably 49814, can you confirm the VIN?

i will ask. i know the owner had a coupe also in red.

[MacGeek]

Thanks, your help is very much appreciated

Here is mine with her daily driver sister:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2666898/DSCF0455.jpg

This was taken during the Alfa Centenary celebrations:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2666898/DSC_0145e.jpg

[VisualHomage]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

Disclaimer: I should warn you that am a bit OCD like NNO, except my field of obsession-compulsion is the 8C

First of all, I should specify that the 500 unit production run is for each variant. So, 500 Competiziones, and 500 Spiders (there is some info floating around suggesting that they made less than 500 Spiders, but that's another story).

I can't say for sure whether they made 500, or a bit more. The fact that chassis numbers are not contiguous doesn't help: all cars made at the Maserati factory follow a single numbering sequence, so you might have a number of contiguous 8C chassis numbers, then a whole bunch of GranTurismos, Quattroportes and Grancabrios, then some more 8Cs, depending on the production mix at the factory. There's no consistency at all.
.....

Thank you, MacGeek for your additional information. Much enjoyed and appreciated. I have updated my reportage to reflect your clarifications.

[Greg23]

The rims on that 8C yell out for "SACRILEGE!!!!!!"

However Mac your are such a source of information, that I ask my self why don't you write and print out a book! You would have many of us willing to buy!

[LamboRider]

What are prices for the Alfa 8C at now?

[merstheman]

I liked your blog post, but I agree the wheels on the car you saw are hideous.

The first one I ever saw was actually a red coupé parked unceremoniously in a lot by the train tracks about 20 - 30 mins outside NYC when I took the amtrak down from Boston. I lived in Boston for college from 2007 to 2011, and used to take the train to NY on occasion. I remember exactly what part of the train ride I could see it, from the left side of the train. Almost every time I went to NY it was there, sometimes parked next to a red 911 convertible, which looked pedestrian next to it... I wonder if it was Jim's car...

After that, I used to see this 8C fairly regularly in Boston, usually flanked by a red 458 which also looked exaggerated next to the sublime lines of the 8C. Too bad the owner seems to be a bit of a hooligan... To me it is the most beautiful car built in a very long time...

Alfa Romeo 8c- Playing in the snow. - YouTube

Alfa Romeo 8c- Playing in the snow. - YouTube

[VisualHomage]

merstheman, thanks for your reply and that vid. Yes, the 8C proves that great Italian design and function do live and breathe today more than ever. The 8C is evocative of the earlier times of panel beaters and artisans.

[LamboRider]

Originally Posted by MacGeek

Disclaimer: I should warn you that am a bit OCD like NNO, except my field of obsession-compulsion is the 8C

First of all, I should specify that the 500 unit production run is for each variant. So, 500 Competiziones, and 500 Spiders (there is some info floating around suggesting that they made less than 500 Spiders, but that's another story).

I can't say for sure whether they made 500, or a bit more. The fact that chassis numbers are not contiguous doesn't help: all cars made at the Maserati factory follow a single numbering sequence, so you might have a number of contiguous 8C chassis numbers, then a whole bunch of GranTurismos, Quattroportes and Grancabrios, then some more 8Cs, depending on the production mix at the factory. There's no consistency at all.

There is also no way of knowing the x/500 number, as the cars aren't numbered. The x/500 number only appears on the sales contract and on the "Certificate of Authenticity" coming with the car. Some people had the number engraved on the dedication plate, but most kept the standard one (including myself: I hate the typeface they chose for the custom engraving option, and the graphics layout of the custom plate looks worse than the standard one).

I should also add that I have 485 8C Competizione and 231 8C Spider VINs in my little "8C register", so I don't have data on all vehicles. My register also includes some pre-production VINs.

My database has 84 Competizione US VINs (and I do believe I have all of them); and 15 US-bound 8C Spiders, but I'm fairly sure I'm missing some, since I was given the "about 30-35" quote by Alfa Romeo.


On an unrelated note, here's a breakdown by exterior color. 8C Competizione only, since I don't have enough 8C Spider data for a meaningful statistic.

- Rosso Competizione: 60%
- Rosso Alfa: 19%
- Black: 15%
- Yellow: 2%
- Custom color: 4%

Just two custom-colored cars were sold in the US. One is Napolis', in Rosso P 4/5; the other one is painted in Grigio Nuvolari, and was owned by a F-Chat member (I think he sold it).

Among the 10 yellow cars made, two came to the US. A Ferrari Magazine article about Phil Bachman's collection mentions "a handsome pair of Alfa Romeo 8C Competiziones". Knowing his love for yellow, I believe he owns at least one, maybe both of them.

Is there more than one black color than Nero Ossidiana?