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The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta has a rare distinction at Pebble Beach: two different examples won Best of Show, in 2008 and 2018. That record makes it one of the event’s most acclaimed cars, though it is not a formal ranking of every concours car worldwide. The 2018 winner, chassis 412020, is especially well documented: a 1937 long-wheelbase Berlinetta whose exhibition history began at the Paris Auto Salon.
Why the 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta stands out
The car combines a rare model, distinctive Touring coachwork and a record of major concours success. Alfa Romeo reported in 2008 that 33 road-going 8C 2900B cars were made across short- and long-wheelbase versions, with wheelbases of 2.90 metres and 3.00 metres respectively. The same release put the number of Berlinettas at just six. These are manufacturer-reported figures, not an independently verified production census. Alfa Romeo’s 2008 announcement also described the model’s straight-eight as designed by Vittorio Jano.
The two Pebble Beach wins are the clearest basis for the car’s reputation. The wins belong to separate examples, however, and their histories should not be combined: one was shown in 2008 by Jon and Mary Shirley; the other, in 2018 by David and Ginny Sydorick. Pebble Beach’s official archive lists both winners.
The two Pebble Beach Best of Show winners
| Event | Car and exhibitor | Documented details and awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, shown by Jon and Mary Shirley | Alfa Romeo said Jon Shirley had purchased the car four years earlier. It beat more than 200 classic cars from 27 countries, according to the manufacturer’s event announcement. The release quotes jury chairman Sandra Kasky Button praising its “grace, style and the right proportions.” The source does not provide the chassis-level history available for the 2018 winner. |
| 2018 | 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, chassis 412020, shown by David and Ginny Sydorick | A Lungo (long-wheelbase) Berlinetta with Superleggera coachwork. Before Best of Show, it won its class, the Charles A. Chayne Trophy and the J. B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car prize. |
The event-year and model-year distinction matters: the 2008 award went to a 1938 car, while the 2018 award went to a 1937 car. Alfa Romeo reported 209 cars from 17 countries competing in 2018; its 2008 release reported more than 200 classic cars from 27 countries. Those figures describe the respective event fields, not production totals. Alfa Romeo’s 2018 announcement records the later winner and its awards.
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What makes chassis 412020 distinctive
A period show car with a documented itinerary
The 2018 winner was revealed at the Paris Auto Salon in 1937, then appeared at the Milan Auto Show that year and the Berlin Motor Show in 1938. It was featured in period magazines and in an Alfa Romeo sales brochure, which called it the “Coupé Leggero.” Before its Pebble Beach victory, the car was restored to its 1938 Berlin Motor Show specification. Pebble Beach’s profile of the 2018 Best of Show winner identifies it as chassis 412020.
Details that set its body apart
The profile notes two distinguishing features of this example’s early Berlinetta form: a steeply raked, aerodynamic grille and the absence of running boards. These details help distinguish it from later 8C 2900 Berlinettas. Its Touring Superleggera bodywork is central to the car’s identity, but the available account does not establish a full technical specification or a complete ownership chain.
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Its earlier Pebble Beach recognition
Chassis 412020 had already been named Most Elegant Closed Car at Pebble Beach in 2001. In 2018, it won the same special award again, along with its class and the Charles A. Chayne Trophy, before taking Best of Show. Concours chairman Sandra Button said of the 2018 car: “This Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring has all that one would wish for in a car—speed, style and, frankly, sex appeal,” adding, “The Touring styling is simply magical, and to top it off it makes all the right noises!” Alfa Romeo attributed both remarks to Button in its 2018 release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to identify which winning car a source means
- 2008: The winner was described as a 1938 Berlinetta shown by Jon and Mary Shirley. Alfa Romeo’s announcement says Shirley had bought it four years before the concours.
- 2018: The winner was the 1937 Berlinetta, chassis 412020, shown by David and Ginny Sydorick. Its show history and restoration target are documented in Pebble Beach’s winner profile.
- Either year: The model name alone is not enough to identify the specific car. Check the event year, model year and exhibitor; chassis 412020 specifically identifies the 2018 car.
The official Pebble Beach Best of Show archive provides the event’s historical winner list, while the 2008 Alfa Romeo release and 2018 Pebble Beach profile supply the distinct car details.
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