A trio of Alfa Romeos will be offered as a single lot at the forthcoming Contemporary Art Evening Auction at Sothey’s in New York on 28 October.

Many regard these three to represent the seminal vehicle designs of the 20th century. B.A.T. 5, 7, & 9 were presented to the public over three consecutive years.

Although designed around simple Alfa Romeo road chassis, the cars are a blend of sculpture, efficiency, and conjure up 50’s fantasy sci-fi.

Working with airflow as the essence of how to develop the lines of the vehicle, the entire concept was dubbed the Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica 5, or B.A.T. 5.

Franco Scaglione studied aeronautics and designed for Italian fashion houses before creating his masterpieces B.A.T. 5,7,9 (Photo; The Klemantski Collection via Sotheby’s) — *Franco Scaglione studied aeronautics and designed for Italian fashion houses before creating his masterpieces B.A.T. 5,7,9* (Photo; The Klemantski Collection via Sotheby’s)

Rob Myers, Chairman of Sotheby’s, says,

“To be able to offer the Alfa Romeo B.A.T cars as a single lot triptych at auction is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

These three truly spectacular cars are amongst the most instantly recognizable and important pieces of automotive design ever produced. Furthermore, they have never been offered for sale as a united trio, and so the offering of this design triptych may never happen again. The importance of the offering of these cars cannot be underestimated either within the automotive or within the art, sculpture and design world.”

David Galperin, Head of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Auctions in New York, added,

“Designed and executed in the early 1950s, the Alfa Romeo B.A.T. automobiles represent the great creative ingenuity that marks post-war Italy and the European avant-garde at this period in history.

Presented in the context of our Contemporary Art Evening Sale, alongside works by titans of post-war Italian art and design such as Lucio Fontana and Carlo Mollino, the sheer radicality, sculptural brilliance, and unique artistic vision of these automotive icons will be ever more magnified.”