Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Tipo C.

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Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Tipo C.

Constructor: Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Vittorio Jano
Predecessor: Alfa Romeo Tipo B ("P3")
Successor: Alfa Romeo 12C-36
Technical specifications
Chassis: conventional lead frame
Engine: 8-cylinder in- line engine ,
3822 cm³
Length: 4300 mm
Width: 1520 mm
Height: 1321 mm
Wheelbase: 2750 mm
Weight: 735 kg
Tires: Pirelli
Petrol: petrol
statistics
Driver: Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Tazio Nuvolari Jean-Pierre Wimille Carlo Maria Pintacuda
FranceFrance 
Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) 
First start: 1935 Italian Grand Prix
Starts Victories Poles SR
tba tba tba tba
World Cup points: -
Podiums: -
Leadership laps: k. A. / tba
Template: Infobox racing car / maintenance / old parameters

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

  • Starting grid of the Deauville GP 1936, two Alfa Romeo 8C-35s in the front row

  • 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.

  • The 8-cylinder engine of a type B P3 (predecessor), the two compressors and the two carburettors on the inlet side are clearly visible

  • Replica of a "16C Bimotore"

Technical information

Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Type C (Monoposto)
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

Commons : Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Tipo C  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ "Alfa 8C 35". Classic and Sportscar : March 75, 1997. ISSN 0263-3183
  2. ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 - Images, Specifications and Information. Retrieved May 30, 2020 .
  3. ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 - Images, Specifications and Information. Accessed May 31, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Kai Klauder: Goodwood Revival Meeting 2013: Pre-war Alfa with Nuvolari history. August 29, 2013, accessed May 30, 2020 .
  5. ↑ 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).
  6. ↑ L'Alfa di Nuvolari Venduta All'asta by 7 milioni di euro. Retrieved May 30, 2020 (Italian).
  7. ↑ 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C 35 Specifications. Accessed May 31, 2020 .