In October, RM Sotheby's sold online in the same lot three models of the Alfa Romeo Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica :

the B.A.T. 5,
the B.A.T. 7,
and the B.A.T. 9d.

Exceptionnal sale, the price was corresponding to the rarity of these cars : $US 14,840,000 😲.

History of Alfa Romeo B.A.T.

The B.A.T. family, an abbreviation standing for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica, is composed of four concept cars designed by Franco Scaglione, famous Italian designer for the Carrozzeria Bertone (Turin, Italy) :

the first B.A.T. 5 in 1953,
the second B.A.T. 7 in 1954,
the third B.A.T. 9 in 1955,
and just for info, the B.A.T. 11 in 2008, a concept car presented during the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

The series was hand built in Turin on the Alfa Romeo 1900 mechanical components with an aerodynamic design and stunning design almost like works of art 😀. Huge success both with the press and the public...

B.A.T. 5 (1953)

The idea behind this car is to minimize the drag (more about this concept on Wiki). Scaglione worked on four full size models before the final example, the 5th. The Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica 5, or B.A.T. 5 was born. The model is presented during the 1953 Turin Auto Salon.

Very special design for the B.A.T. 5 with this fenders and rounded center in the front, tailfins andrear wheel skirts. Everything was done in order to control the airflow and decrease drag. Despite the jet-age design, Scaglione thought the cars with road-legal drivability (but with no headlamps 😀, no there're hidden in the fenders).

With only four cylinder engine producing 43 hp, the B.A.T. 5 can reach 198 kmh (123.6 mph). The drag was obly 0.23 at 150 kmh.

B.A.T. 7 (1954)

With the success of the B.A.T. 5, Scaglione worked on an update version with a new design improving what the public liked :

a lower hood,
bigger tailfins...

Thanks to these modifications, the drag's coefficient was at only 0.19. For example, today, the Toyota Prius or Tesla Model S, the best for the effiency, are at 0.24. The car was presented at the 1954 Turin Salon. Another big success with the cover of the Swiss magazine Automobil Revue.

B.A.T. 9d (1955)

In 1955, Scaglione work on the third concept with in mind “make it more practical for road use.” He reduced the tailfins and eliminated the skirts. The front is more traditional with the famed Milano crest like the oone on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta grille.

This example was also unveiled during the Turin Salon, as expected also a success

It's the first time the three models were sold together. In 1989, there are presented together during the visit of Nuccio Bertone at the California's Art Center College of design to receive an honorary degree.