1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Base Convertible 2-door 2.0l Very Clean Car on 2040-cars

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We record Autoblog Podcast #317 tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments regarding the rest of the week's news via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
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Alfa Romeo SZ, the brutalist 'Il Mostro,' restored by FCA Heritage

Nicknamed Il Mostro — "the Monster" in Italian — because of its unusual, almost brutalist design, the 1989 Alfa Romeo SZ was meant to showcase all the technological prowess of the Milanese firm at the time. It was also meant to plant a stake in the ground and return the revered marque to its rear-wheel-drive roots. Though it was an evolutionary dead end, the SZ is still considered among the most distinctive cars in a brand filled with distinctive models. It should, then, be no surprise that FCA Heritage, the classic car and history preservation arm of Stellantis (which, apparently, was not part of the name change) has just restored one. The SZ began life at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show as the ES-30 concept, which stood for Experimental Sports 3.0-liter. The production car was named SZ for Sprint Zagato, but the design is credited to Robert Opron of the Fiat Style Center, while Antonio Castellana did the finishing details and interior. Zagato used its coachbuilding expertise to build the cars, whose bodywork was formed from a composite thermoplastic material called Modar, made by Italy's Carplast and France's Stratime. Alfa Romeo also claims it was the first car to be produced using computer-aided design (CAD/CAM). Beneath the sci-fi exterior lay a 12-valve, 3.0-liter V6 plucked from the Alfa Romeo 75 3.0i Quadrifoglio Verde. With 204 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, it was the most powerful Alfa of the time. Output was fed through a 5-speed transaxle and the suspension, Koni-designed shocks, and brakes reportedly tuned by Fiat and Lancia rally driver Giorgio Pianta and transplanted from the Alfa 75 1.8 Turbo Evolution Group A racer.  The original run was intended to span just 1,000 cars, but some sources say 1,036 were produced. That run ended in 1991, after which a roadster version called the RZ was built from 1992-93.  The example restored has been in Alfa Romeo's possession since the beginning. It served as a test car on the Balocco proving grounds and was used in promotional photos. There are several details on it that differ from production models, so much so that Alfa Romeo says it could be "considered a prototype." Unfortunately, as history shows, the SZ failed to usher in a real-wheel-drive renaissance at Alfa Romeo. After its end, there wasn't another rear-drive model until the 8C Competizione in 2007.

Best in Show: 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta wins at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Well over 200 vehicles from 17 countries competed for Best in Show honors at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but there could be only one winner: the 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta you see above. The deep blue bodywork of the vehicle was first seen at the 1938 Berlin Motor Show, and the vehicle was recently restored to its original show condition. This Alfa Romeo is owned by David and Ginny Sydorick. "This car is one of only five built, and it has recently been completely restored, taking a huge amount of effort and dedication from all those involved," said Sydorick after the win. The '37 8C 2900B Touring finished ahead of a 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Town Limousine and a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Figoni Fastback Coupe for the golden ribbon. This is the third time an Alfa Romeo has won the coveted Best in Show trophy at Pebble Beach, the first an 8C 2900B Touring Spider in 1988 and the second an 8C 2900B Touring Coupe in 2008. Last year's winner was a silver and blue 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer. Related Video: Featured Gallery 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta: Pebble Beach Misc. Auto Shows Alfa Romeo Automotive History Coupe Luxury Special and Limited Editions Classics Pebble Beach