Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Tipo C.
Constructor: | Vittorio Jano | ||||||||
Predecessor: | Alfa Romeo Tipo B ("P3") | ||||||||
Successor: | Alfa Romeo 12C-36 | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
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Chassis: | conventional lead frame | ||||||||
Engine: | 8-cylinder in- line engine , 3822 cm³ |
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Length: | 4300 mm | ||||||||
Width: | 1520 mm | ||||||||
Height: | 1321 mm | ||||||||
Wheelbase: | 2750 mm | ||||||||
Weight: | 735 kg | ||||||||
Tires: | Pirelli | ||||||||
Petrol: | petrol | ||||||||
statistics | |||||||||
Driver: |
Tazio Nuvolari Jean-Pierre Wimille Carlo Maria Pintacuda |
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First start: | 1935 Italian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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World Cup points: | - | ||||||||
Podiums: | - | ||||||||
Leadership laps: | k. A. / tba |
The Alfa Romeo 8C-35 was a racing car that Alfa Romeo produced from 1935 to 1936 for use in the Grand Prix series. It replaced the previous Alfa Romeo P3. The designer was Vittorio Jano . The car was to compete successfully in particular with the Mercedes-Benz W 25 and Auto Union Type B , which dominated the 1934 season , after the overall results between them and Alfa Romeo - represented by Scuderia Ferrari - were more or less even .
Development and technology
The chassis consisted of two steel longitudinal members and cross members ( ladder frame ) as with the type B P3. The new model had independent suspension. The front wheels were suspended from two inclined support arms ( crank arm axle ). The coil springs were encapsulated in oil-filled housings that acted as hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear wheels also had sloping arms and a transverse leaf spring with hydraulic and friction shock absorbers. The drum brakes were operated hydraulically.
In the first development stage of the 8C, the engine design was largely taken over from its predecessor. The eight-cylinder in-line engine had a displacement of 3822 cm³ and developed 330 hp (246 kW) at 5400 rpm. The concept also took the use of a V12 engine into account. The car had a four-speed gearbox and a differential lock on the rear axle. The car reached a top speed of up to 275 km / h, depending on the gear ratio.
A total of eight 3.8-liter engines were built as “new developments” for this type, so to speak. Most were used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C-35 Type C, as used by Scuderia Ferrari. (The designation P3 was deleted.) The 3.8 had a torque of 434 Nm between 900 / min to 5500 / min. It was equipped all around with 15.5-inch drum brakes and Pirelli tires 5.25 or 5.50 × 19 at the front and 7.00 or 7.50 × 19 at the rear.
Racing history
At the debut, the Italian Grand Prix in 1935 , Tazio Nuvolari just missed victory. Further good placings and national successes followed, the first international victory came in 1936 at the Grand Prix of Hungary , a second followed at the Coppa Ciano .
Although they were not up to the stronger Mercedes and Auto Union on the faster tracks, the Alfa Romeo proved themselves on the closer tracks and races.
Despite the skills of drivers like Carlo Maria Pintacuda and Jean-Pierre Wimille , the car did not achieve any notable successes. The biggest problem Alfa Romeo faced was the tremendous power of the German eight, twelve and sixteen cylinder engines. At 3.8 liters, the eight-cylinder engine of the C8-35 had reached its material-related maximum displacement, so that work on a completely new V12 began. In this situation the Alfa Romeo 16C was created :
The 16C called "Bimotore" was an idea by Enzo Ferrari , who had been the director of Alfa Romeo's racing department since 1933, which started under the name of " Scuderia Ferrari ". The result was a modified 8C with two separate eight-cylinder in-line engines and a total displacement of 6.3 liters. Luigi Bazzi, the team's technical director, designed the new car and had to finish it in just four months to take part in the Tripoli Grand Prix and the AVUS race in Berlin. The concept did not meet expectations.
backgrounds
During this decade, motorsport had a very strong political component in addition to the sporty one. Both Mussolini and Hitler tried to use the results (both of the drivers and the vehicles) for their respective ideologies for propaganda purposes. The construction of the "Bimotore" was probably heavily supported by the Italian government in order not to lose touch with Germany.
Whereabouts
Six of the two Tipo-C variants were reported to have been produced, but it is unclear whether this figure relates to total production of the chassis in 1935 and 1936 or whether six were built each (a total of twelve). Many of the Alfa Romeo racing cars of the time, which were no longer competitive for racing in Europe, were sold to South America to take part in Formula Libre races. These cars were continuously modified during their second career and none survived their "South American use" in their original form. It is believed that only two cars survived in their original condition; one is in the Museo storico Alfa Romeo , while the other was sold to a Swiss racing driver and fortunately has not been significantly modified. The privately owned chassis 50013 changed hands at a Christie's auction in 1988 for $ 2.85 million, which was a world record for a Grand Prix car at the time.
Others
On September 14, 2013, an 8C-35 owned by Scuderia Ferrari, in which Tazio Nuvolari won the Coppa Ciano in 1936 , was auctioned for 7,070,693 euros . That is the highest price ever for an Alfa Romeo. The car was offered by Bonhams auction house at its Goodwood Revival Meeting Sale in England. In addition to Nuvolari, the car was also driven by Hans Ruesch and Dennis Poore .
Alfa Romeo 8C-35 in Deauville 1936 and as a historic vehicle
Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 on the Circuito di Bergamo (2014), driven by Arturo Merzario . It is the original car that Tazio Nuvolari drove on the same route.
Technical information
Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Type C (Monoposto) | |
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engine | 8-cylinder in-line engine (two blocks of 4 cylinders each) |
Displacement | 3822 cc |
Bore × stroke | 78.0 mm × 100.0 mm |
Compression ratio | 8.0: 1 |
Power at 1 / min | 104 kW (142 hp) at 5200 |
Valve control | two overhead camshafts / 2 valves per cylinder |
Mixture preparation | 2 Weber 48 BS carburettors, double Roots blower |
cooling | water |
transmission | 4-speed gearbox, not synchronized (rear-wheel drive) |
Brakes | hydraulically operated drum brakes |
Front and rear suspension | Independent suspension with adjustable friction shock absorbers |
Body and frame | Aluminum body on a ladder frame |
wheelbase | 2750 mm |
Track width front / rear | 1350 mm / 1350 mm |
Front tire size | 5.25 or 5.50 × 19 |
Rear tire size | 7.00 or 7.50 × 19 |
Dimensions L × W × H | 4300 mm × 1520 mm × 1321 mm |
Empty weight (without driver) | 746.6 kg |
Tank capacity | 170 liters |
Fuel consumption | approx. 20 l / 100 km |
Top speed | approx. 275 km / h |
Web links
- Ultimatecarpage.com Articles, pictures and technical information about the 8C-35. Accessed May 29, 2020
- Bonhams Goodwood Revival 2013 - Lot 235 - Alfa 8C-35 Promotion film from the auction house with contemporary footage on YouTube . Accessed May 30th. 2020
- Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8c GP (1935) on track! Off- and on-track recordings from 2013 on YouTube . Accessed May 30th. 2020
Individual evidence
- ↑ "Alfa 8C 35". Classic and Sportscar : March 75, 1997. ISSN 0263-3183
- ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 - Images, Specifications and Information. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
- ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 - Images, Specifications and Information. Accessed May 31, 2020 .
- ↑ Kai Klauder: Goodwood Revival Meeting 2013: Pre-war Alfa with Nuvolari history. August 29, 2013, accessed May 30, 2020 .
- ↑ Most Expensive Alfa Romero Ever - 1935 Tipo C 8 Ex-Scuderia Ferrari. In: Car Sales Statistics. September 15, 2013, Retrieved May 30, 2020 (American English).
- ↑ L'Alfa di Nuvolari Venduta All'asta by 7 milioni di euro. Retrieved May 30, 2020 (Italian).
- ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 Specifications. Accessed May 31, 2020 .