The 815 with Alberto Ascari & Lotario Machiavelli just before the start of 1940 Mille Miglia. An official Touring photo with the emblem on the back of the photo. A wonderful piece that I just got from Europe. Ken Goldman Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 2 cars were Auto-Avio Construzioni 815/020 and 815/021. The Lotario Rangoni Machiavelli car, 815/020, is said to no longer exist.
20 minute edit time still annoys. It's Auto Avio Costruzioni, not Construzioni. Date of the Certificate of Origin on both cars was 19th April, 1940. 815/020 registration date 24th April, 1940. 815/021 registration date 25th April, 1940. Engine In Line 8 cylinder of 1496cc. Bore and stroke 63 x 60 mm. 72 BHP. Weber carburettors. 4 speed gearbox. Wheelbase 2420 mm. Independent front suspension. Rear axle with leaf springs. Rudge Boranni wheels. Stella Bianca tyres 5.50 x 15. Speed 160-170 km/h. Body by Touring. The 2 cars were not identical with slight differences including in the radiator grille, and Machiavelli's car 815/020 was more de luxe with different leather seating and Alberto Ascari's car 815/021 more spartan.
Great car! But beaten by Huschke v.Hanstein and my uncle, Walter Bäumer, Sen. in their BMW 328 Touring coupé!
Chassis #021 belongs to Mario Righini since the early 1970s. He got it from the 7th owner Emilio Fermi Storchi. It is the only surviving AAC 815. Chassis #020 was destroyed/scrapped/dismantled in the mid-1950s. Marcel Massini Image Unavailable, Please Login
in other words a recently discovered long thought destroyed barn find which will be appearing at an auction near you!
The very similar Touring Superleggera bodied Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Torpedino Brescia. 3 examples built. Image Unavailable, Please Login
There is an article about the 815 in the July, 2021 edition of Auto Italia. It's suggested that #021 could be the most valuable car in the world with a value of up to £100 million GBP.
Although the 815 is the progenitor of the marque that is pure speculation. IMO the most valuable cars in the world are in the Mercedes museum--the MM winning#722, the Uhlenhaut Coupe, Silver Arrows pre and post war . . .
And I suppose we have to include the Warhol BMW M1- with its value as a Warhol driving the price of it into the stratosphere. That said, I absolutely love the 815(s) and always have.
However, I am pretty sure that the Warhol-BMW M1 would top every Ferrari in value, also the magic 250 GTO.
…and that is why for me it will never be the most valuable car. That claim would be for me the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe followed or equaled by some very important F cars.
Yeah, calling the 815 the most valuable car in the world is a stretch, I don't think it would make the top 10. Sort of reminds me of that streamlined pre-Porsche Porsche that disappointed at auction a while back
As a car it is one of my all time favorites but I don't think it has the historical value to get it there.
Unfortunately none of them are surviving. And saw 815 today as MM went through the Righini museum today and 815 was on display for us, outside. Sorry no chance to stop not to make an photo we were just driving through!