Alfa Romeo’s Formula 1 (F1) team and its new headline sponsor Stake is auctioning off the 2023 C43 F1 launch car with the current bid standing at £103,000 (R2,240,000) as of 07h00 on 17 February.
The particular example of the C43 is a non-running showpiece authenticated as chassis no.1 by means of a signed plaque, and it is autographed by the 2023 driver line-up.
The offer window will remain open until 21 February at 17h00 local time, with the minimum bid increment starting at £1,000 (R21,800).
“This car represents a world first – the first time an official F1 launch car has become available to the public,” said F1 Authentics, the auction facilitator.
Accompanying the purchase of the original C43 are race suits and boots identical to what Valterri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu wore at the launch of the car, which have been signed by the drivers themselves.
Chassis no.1
The chassis no.1 launch car has been specifically designed to be a trophy in a collector’s cabinet and not for competition, being “constructed to withstand the load’s exerted for show car purposes,” said F1 Authentics.
Through computer modelling and the use of identical manufacturing techniques of the actual vehicles that compete, the company created complicated patterns that match up with the dimensions of the real car which serve to produce carbon fibre moulds via an autoclave. These unique moulds are used to develop each specific part of the car’s bodywork.
The result is that the chassis and body consist of high-performance, lightweight “pre-preg” carbon fibre to accurately represent the real deal whilst being durable enough to handle the load exerted through the axles.
The show unit also comes fitted with electronic features such as a 3D-printed steering wheel with a working screen and working rain lights. The steering wheel is fully connected to the front wheels via the steering rack thereby enabling the wheels to turn left or right.
The car can further be lifted by the front and rear, and the nose and front wing assembly can be removed for transport purposes, as can the wheels for pit stop practice.
The show car C43 measures 5.5 metres long, 2 metres wide, and 1.5 metres tall – weighing in at a featherweight 550kg.
Alfa Romeo C43 Chassis No.1
Keyword: A world first – You can buy chassis no.1 of Alfa Romeo’s 2023 F1 car