Alfa Romeo stunned the crowd at Frankfurt’s 2003 Motor Show with the 8C Competizione coupe concept, following it up with an open-top concept at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Far more than beautiful, limited-edition playthings, these cars boldly announced Alfa Romeo’s intention to again produce compelling sports cars after a stretch of relatively pedestrian offerings. The 8C duo also paid homage to the great Alfa Romeos of the past, including, as the Competizione’s name suggested, the glorious competition cars of the Mille Miglia. Perhaps most important, these models heralded Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States after an absence of more than a decade.

Wolfgang Egger of the Alfa Romeo Style Center penned the 8C with absolute beauty and power in mind. The distinctive design offered a glimpse into the marque’s future design language while paying homage to vaunted Alfa Romeos of the past. With classic proportions, inspiration clearly derived from such post-war greats as the 33 Stradale and Giulia TZ. The 8C’s unmistakable grille and badge, accentuated by a cluster of bi-xenon headlights, finish off one of the most gorgeous Alfa Romeos ever produced.

Complementing the stunning design is exceptional performance. The 8C is powered by a Ferrari/Maserati F136 all-aluminum, naturally aspirated, 4.7-liter V-8 engine producing 444 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 354 pounds-feet of torque at 4,750 rpm. The engine is mated to the “Superfast” computer-controlled, paddle shifted, six-speed automated manual transaxle with a twin-disc clutch. The transmission is placed in the rear for better weight distribution and handling, which is further improved by the front and rear dual-wishbone suspension setup.

Although demand for the 8C was strong, supply was limited to just 1,000 units worldwide: 500 examples of the Competizione coupe, and a further 500 of the 8C Spider. A mere 35 8C Spiders were allotted to the United States, and each example quickly found a home—even with a suggested retail price starting at a formidable $299,000.

Showing under 900 miles at time of cataloguing, this Alfa Romeo 8C Spider is presented in the striking colors of Rosso Metallic over a Sienna leather interior. Factory optioned with carbon-fiber dash panels, it is also accompanied by its three-piece windscreen kit and two master keys.

Simply hearing the sound of this car’s V-8 delivers a unique, visceral emotion. Becoming one of the lucky few to own and drive an 8C, however, is the only way to truly grasp the true magic of this car.