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This Le Mans-winning Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Spider appeared in the very first issue of Octane. More than 20 years on, Robert Coucher acquaints himself and finally gets behind the wheel 

-  Robert Coucher

The legendary Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 is regarded by drivers, collectors, engineers, historians and enthusiasts as being one of the best sports cars of all time. Created by great Ingegnere Vittorio Jano, the Alfa's superb chassis was clothed by the leading carrozzerie of the 1930s, including Zagato, Figoni, Touring, Pinin Farina and Castagna. Around 188 were produced, about half that number with the Corto (short) chassis, and the rest in Lungo form. This Corto example, with lean Zagato Spider coachwork in the Alfa Romeo racing house colours, looks sublime. But it's a whole lot more than just good looks.

Vittorio Jano was one of the brains behind Fiat's racing success before moving to Alfa Romeo in 1923. He was responsible for the Alfa Grand Prix cars from 1924 until 1937, including the straight-eight-powered P2 in 1924 (which won the World Championship in 1925), the Tipo B (also known as the P3), the 8C 35 and the 12C 36. He later went on to design Lancia's Aurelia, its D23/24 sports racers and the D50 Grand Prix car. And just to keep himself busy while at Alfa Romeo, Jano created a succession of touring and sports cars alongside his racing machines, culminating in the 8C with its supercharged, twin-cam straight-eight, the competition versions of which dominated motorsport.