According to the Top Gear crew you need to have owned an Alfa Romeo to be considered a true petrol head. I don’t completely agree, but I understand the point. Alfas have a certain intangible something about them. Achingly beautiful, they exude ‘Petrol-Head’ from every flowing panel. They have a great history, but through my driving life they’ve never offered anything that really grabs me. Now exclusively front wheel drive cars they’ve always seemed like Fiats in Armani. But that’s about to change. Bring on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Roadster.
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Roadster is the car every Alfa fan has dreamed the company would make. First shown as a concept car back in 2003, the car is now a reality. This is a Ferrari bashing Alfa - it’s Show and Go. What more could you ask for? Well, more than a handful being made would be a help. As would any left for sale!
Long sold out, at least as a hardtop, Alfa are now offering the Roadster version from late 2008 / early 2009. And we’ve got one up for grabs, which considering there are only going to be a handful built is no mean feat!
So what’s the Competitzione got on offer? And is it really an Alfa? Two good questions, which actually aren’t that easy to answer. The first is easier - it offers a great deal. A 4.7 V8 is a good starting point. As is 450bhp. But more important is the absolutely gorgeous carbon fibre body. This is, finally, an Alfa to lust after. A paddle-shift gearbox (there is no manual or fully auto option available) gives good control and it will hit 60mph in around 4 seconds. Yes please! But is it an Alfa?
In many ways this is actually a Maserati. Many of the components are direct, or modified, existing Maserati items. And if you need a service you’ll be getting it done at the local Maserati dealer, not the Alfa one. And the car is actually being bolted together by Fiat. So it’s not a pure Alfa, it’s a bit of a mongrel. But I don’t care. It is gorgeous! It’s got an Alfa badge and it looks every inch an Alfa Romeo. How could you not want one?
So yes, we have an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider / Roadster for sale. But not for long!
