What do you think of replicas? I admit, my opinion is that they are “less than”. And really, the market says so, too. But does this niche deserve derision, always? Time to learn about Pur Sang. First, the name: it means “utmost”, “thoroughbred”. And next, the location: Argentina. Pur Sang was founded a couple of decades ago in a country that yearns for quality but has been denied it, thanks to one hundred years of perverted politics. Out there near the banks of the Paraná River, about a hundred craftsmen make replicas of cars like the Alfa 8C 2300 Monza and the Bugatti Type 35; every component is handmade to exacting original specifications. Even manufacturing flaws of the day are faithfully reproduced. Clients pay upwards of a million dollars for a Pur Sang. For a discount off the exorbitant sticker price, a would-be owner might peruse the RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale auction catalog, where this 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza recreation by Pur Sang is selling at no reserve on January 25th. The estimate is $400,000 to $500,000. This exotic tip comes from Araknid78 – thanks!

The car you see here is a replica of one of the most famous pre-war race cars of all time. Enzo Ferrari founded his racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, in 1929, eventually amassing more than forty drivers. Ferrari’s close relationships with Alfa and Vittorio Jano were instrumental in the development of the Monza 8C 2300 cars – in fact, the first use of the famous prancing horse showed up in 1932 when these Alfas raced at the 24 Hours of Spa. Powered by a 2.3 liter, twin-overhead-cam, supercharged eight-cylinder engine making about 180 hp, the car was capable of around 140 mph. The Ford Model 18 with its V8 had just arrived in ’32, but most drivers were accustomed to the Model A’s 45 mph: the existence of the Monza 8C 2300 must have felt like us comparing our daily to Red Bull’s 900 hp F1 car.

This car is right-hand drive, with a gated shift; the four-speed gearbox should be synchro’d on the top two gears. Taller drivers beware: the two-seater’s quarters are cozy and the large-diameter steering wheel can be a challenge for – ahem – an oversized pilot. The driving experience can be seen here. Period Jaeger gauges, leather seating, and the center throttle are meticulously true to the factory originals.

The car’s hand-crafted aluminum bodywork is finished in classic Rosso; every detail shines like a jewel. While the quality of this example is unquestionable, price is another matter. A touring-bodied 8C 2300 by Pur Sang sold from the Gene Ponder Collection late in 2022 for $627k. Granted, this was configured as a more usable example. Here is another sale comparison – this time to a racing Monza by Pur Sang. It sold at Bonham’s 2023 Scottsdale auction for $362,500. Sotheby’s estimate may be a bit aspirational; we’ll see where it crosses the block.