This is the world’s oldest Alfa Romeo.
The 1921 Alfa Romeo G1 is going to be one of the headliners at RM Sotheby’s next year, offered without a reserve and an estimate somewhere north of $1m.
The G1 was the first car designed under the Alfa Romeo name
The marque was founded as ALFA (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) in 1910, but was bought out by engineer Nicola Romeo in 1915. He added his last name to the company in 1920.
While this wasn’t the first car to wear the company’s new badge, it was the first to be designed after the name changed – hence its designation as the first Alfa Romeo.
The two-seat racer was created by Giuseppe Merosi and features a massive 6.3-litre six-cylinder engine capable of powering it to speeds of up to 86mph.
However, there was no market for the model in Italy.
Fuel was expensive and this thing had an efficiency of six miles to the gallon.
Only 52 were built and all save for two were shipped out to Australia. This one was bought new and put into storage in a barn for well over two decades.
It was rediscovered in the mid-1960s and underwent a serious restoration. Now it’s set to star in the January 18-19 Arizona auction.
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