An ex-Mussolini Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 saved from a US scrapyard for $300 in the 1960s is going under the hammer in February with a mammoth estimate of €1.9-2.4 million.
The fascinating 1939 Sport Berlinetta was ordered new by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and given to his mistress Claretta Petacci and will be sold by RM in Paris.
The Touring-bodied car (chassis 915033) was chauffeur-driven by Franz Spögler, who later confirmed its identity and revealed that it was the car in which Il Duce's mistress made her failed dash for freedom in 1945.
After the war, the Alfa was shipped to the United States by a US serviceman and subsequently disappeared, only to be rediscovered in New York State and restored to concours-winning standard.
Augustin Sabatié-Garat from RM Auctions Europe said:“Few cars that have passed through our hands have had quite the important historical context that this Alfa Romeo can boast.
“It played a role in one of the most important moments of the Second World War, and is a fascinating footnote in 20th century history. That it is also one of the most desirable of all pre-war Grand Touring cars and beautifully restored by the world’s leading marque expert, makes it an unbelievable prize for any serious collector.”
