A trio of historic 1950s Alfo Romeo concept cars are about to hit the auction block and RM Sotheby's, automotive partner to the namesake auction house, says they're expected to sell for as much as $20 million.
For those unfamiliar with the world of classic cars, Ian Kelleher, chief marketing officer at RM Sotheby's, explained why these vehicles are so exciting.
"These weren't just wild designs that were not functional," Kelleher told Cheddar. "They all have engines. They all actually will exceed 125 miles-an-hour at speed."
The lineup of cars Kelleher was specifically referring to were the Alfa Romeo BAT 5, 7, and 9 concept models. The Italian carmaker wanted to develop an appealing, more aerodynamic vehicle for consumers in the 1950s.
"Each year they looked to improve upon a previous design," said Kelleher. "What makes all of these special, going from year to year, was that they were designed in the most forward-thinking way possible."
The CMO pointed to the BAT 7 in particular, with its giant aerodynamic fins in the rear, as one of the most "wild" of the designs. The culmination of the upgrades led to the BAT 9, the most "roadworthy" of the model lineage according to Kelleher.
"Individually each one was a work of art. Individually each one was an improvement on the last one, but when you look at all three together it takes on a whole new meaning," he said.
With the vehicles hardly seen in the public in the past three decades, Kelleher expressed that the auction house predicts an enthusiastic response for the sale of the roadsters on Wednesday, October 28.
"We estimate the trio, the triptych shall we say, of the cars to sell between $14 and $20 million," said Kelleher. "It's the first time they've ever been offered at auction as a triptych. It's the first time they've been seen like this in an atmosphere where they could be purchased effectively."
Note: Patrick Drahi, Chairman of the Board of Cheddar's parent company Altice USA, is also the owner of Sotheby's.
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
Kim Perell, author and entrepreneur, shares actionable tips and tricks to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs kick off 2026 with confidence and momentum.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
Emera CEO Scott Balfour discusses soaring energy demand, AI-driven grid challenges, clean-power investments, and how the company is building a resilient future.
JB Mackenzie discusses Robinhood’s new entertainment prediction markets, letting users engage with pop culture, award shows, and more through low-stakes bets.
