Legendarische Alfa Romeo's

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First introduced in the 8C 2300, the Vittorio Jano designed eight cylinder engine scored at least one victory in every major race and championship. In its initial 1931 configuration, the engine displaced 2336 cc, it grew gradually to 2905 cc, primarily by increasing the stroke. The engine was created by mounting two alloy blocks of four cylinders on a single crankcase. On top of the two blocks an alloy head was installed, housing two camshafts. Aspiration was forced, through two Roots-type superchargers.

Although the engine increased in size throughout its career, its layout and auxiliaries remained very much similar to Jano's 1931 design. One of the best known racing cars powered by the 8 cylinder engine was the Tipo B or P3 of 1932, which is to date considered as one of the finest Grand Prix racers ever constructed. Run by Enzo Ferrari's Scuderia Ferrari, the Alfa Romeos were almost unbeatable.

From its 1931 introduction, the 8C 2300 took four straight victories in the 24 Hours of LeMans, driven by talented drivers like Tazio Nuvolari and Luigi Chinetti. Tazio Nuvolari's brilliance was even more visible when driving the P3, the first single seater racer ever. The P3 was unbeaten in 1933, but eventually succumbed to defeat by the greater budgets being spent by Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union.

With the rise of the German Grand Prix teams, Alfa Romeo focused more of its attention on sportscar and road racing. Designed specifically for Italy's most legendary road race, the Mille Miglia, was the 8C 2900. Much like the contemporary Grand Prix racers, the 8C 2900 featured all-round independent suspension, with wishbones at the front and swing-axles at the rear. Installed in the chassis was a 220 bhp version of the 2.9 litre eight cylinder engine.

A total of six of these road racers, later known as 8C 2900 A, were constructed. Three of these were entered in the 1936 running of the Mille Miglia. The new cars were immediately successful and occupied the first three places at the finish with the Brivio and Ongaro driven 8C on top. A year later a second victory was scored. With the winning cars as a base, a road going customer version was constructed. Dubbed 8C 2900 B, the road car featured a de-tuned engine, but other than that is very similar to the racer.

Two versions were available, the 2800 mm short wheelbase (Corto) and 3000 mm long wheelbase (Lungo) versions. Most of these were sent to Touring to be fitted with Berlinetta, Spyder and Roadster bodies. Of these, the featured Touring Berlinetta on the long chassis is considered one of the most beautiful cars ever constructed. With its competition chassis and high top speed it was faster and quicker than anything its competition had to offer. Due to its high price, only a very few of these supercars were constructed (10 Lungo and 20 Corto chassis).

Being very similar to the competition 8C 2900 A, it came as no surprise the 8C 2900 B was used as a racer as well. To suit this purpose Alfa Romeo constructed a further 13 8C 2900 B chassis fitted with the 220 bhp engine. Many of these were fitted with roadster bodies and were competed in road races like the Mille Miglia. After the two 8C 2900 A victories in 1936 and 1937, another two victories were scored by the 8C 2900 B in 1938 and 1947. No other Alfa Romeo has scored as many 'MM' victories as the 8C 2900.

The featured 8C 2900 B Lungo Touring Berlinetta is among the finest surviving 8C 2900 Bs, a fact underlined by multiple Concours victories. It is seen here taking part in the 2003 edition of the European Concours d'Elegance in the gardens of the Schwetzingen castle. It won both the best in class and and best in show award. Two well deserved prizes for one of the finest cars ever produced and one of the very first true supercars. WM

the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo Touring Berlinetta


General specifications
Record last updated Before 12 / 01 / 2004
Country of origin Italy
Years of production 1937 - 1939
Numbers built 10 (all bodies)
Body design Touring

Engine
Engine Straight 8
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Configuration alloy block and head
Displacement 2.905 liter / 177.3 cu in
Bore / Stroke 68.0 mm (2.7 in) / 100.0 mm (3.9 in)
Compression ratio 5.8:1
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed 2 Weber 42 BS1 Carburetors
Aspiration double Roots-type Superchargers

Drivetrain
Chassis/body superleggera body on ladder-frame
Front suspension double wishbones, coil springs over dampers
Rear suspension swing axles, radius arms, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs, hydraulic and friction dampers
Steering worm-and-sector
Brakes aluminum drums, all-round
Gearbox 4 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive

Dimensions
Weight 1250 kilo / 2755.8 lbs
Length / Width / Height 4910 mm (193.3 in) / N/A / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) 3000 mm (118.1 in) / 1350 mm (53.1 in) / 1350 mm (53.1 in)

Performance figures
Power 180 bhp / 134 KW @ 5200 rpm
Torque N/A
BHP/Liter 62 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.14 bhp / kg
Top Speed 175 km/h / 109 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration N/A

quote:

In the early 1930s talented designer Vittorio Jano conceived what would become one of the most successful engines of the decade. 'His' 8 cylinder engine was made up of two four cylinder engines and featured twin overhead camshafts. The original engine displaced 2.3 litres and was installed in the Tipo B 'P3' Grand Prix racers and the 8C 2300 sportscars. The Tipo B racked up many Grand Prix wins and remains as one of the most successful Grand Prix racers ever. LeMans and the Mille Miglia were the favorite playgrounds for the 8C 2300, winning the 24 Hours race four years running from 1931 to 1934. Over the years displacement grew to a final size of just over 2.9 litres by 1935.

In 1935 Jano's 8 cylinder engine, in 2.9 litre form, was the base for an all new sportscar, the 8C 2900A. In Grand Prix tune the engine produced a hefty 255 bhp, for reliability reasons a lower compression 220bhp version was installed in the 8C 2900As. It proved very successful in racing, with as highlight a one-two-three in the 1936 Mille Miglia.

For 1937 Alfa Romeo announced the production of a limited number of 8Cs for road use. These were dubbed 8C 2900B and featured a 180 bhp version of the 8 cylinder engine. It was installed in a box-type chassis available in short and long wheel base configurations, both with all-round independent suspension. Most of the 33 8C 2900Bs built were fitted with lightweight Touring bodies, constructed following their patented Superleggera principal.

After parting ways with Enzo Ferrari in 1937 Alfa Romeo set up their own racing department, 'Alfa Corse', early in 1938. Alfa Corse entered five 8C 2900Bs for the 1938 LeMans. Four of them were fitted with Spider bodies, the other with a coupe body. This coupe was specially constructed by Touring to cut through the air as effeciently as possible on LeMans' long straights. Compression of its engine was increased and matched the performance of the 8C 2900A's powerplant.

Skillfully piloted by drivers Sommer and Biondetti, the LeMans coupe was in a class of its own in the race. The pairing was 11 laps, well over 100 miles, in the lead when a tire blew on the Mulsanne straight. One of the biggest leads ever in the grueling 24 Hours event. Sommer limped back to the pit and after the faltering tire was replaced he returned to the track, in the lead still. An hour before the finish bad luck struck again, a broken valve meant the end of the race for the Touring Coupe.

It was to be the only outing for the streamlined 8C 2900B. After the war it surfaced in the UK where it was brought back to running order. In the 1980s it was acquired by the Alfa Romeo Museum in exchange for an 158 'Alfetta' Grand Prix racer. The Museum restored to concours and running condition. Without a doubt it is one of most valuable pre-war cars, a priceless example of Alfa Romeo's racing heritage. It is seen here in the paddocks of the 2002 LeMans Classic and the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed. WM

the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B LeMans

General specifications
Record last updated Before 12 / 01 / 2004
Country of origin Italy
Produced in 1938
Numbers built one-off
Body design Touring

Engine
Engine Straight 8
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Configuration alloy block and head
Displacement 2.905 liter / 177.3 cu in
Bore / Stroke 68.0 mm (2.7 in) / 100.0 mm (3.9 in)
Compression ratio 6.3:1
Valvetrain 2 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed 2 Weber Carburetors
Aspiration Twin Roots-type Superchargers

Drivetrain
Chassis/body aluminum body on a welded light-gauge box-section frame
Front suspension trailing arms, coil springs, tubular shock absorbers
Rear suspension swing axles, radius arms, transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs, tubular shock absorbers
Steering worm-and-sector
Brakes hydraulic drums, all-round
Gearbox 4 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive

Dimensions
Weight 1100 kilo / 2425.1 lbs
Length / Width / Height N/A / N/A / N/A
Wheelbase / Track (fr/r) 2799 mm (110.2 in) / 1349 mm (53.1 in) / 1349 mm (53.1 in)

Performance figures
Power 220 bhp / 164 KW @ 5800 rpm
Torque N/A
BHP/Liter 76 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.2 bhp / kg
Top Speed 245 km/h / 152 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration N/A

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Op zondag 8 januari 2006 23:04 schreef Hyperdude het volgende:
Hoort die niet te vliegen?

[afbeelding]

Dat DTM-avontuu heeft ze trouwens een behoorlijke cent gekost, en erg weinig opgeleverd denk ik. Maar dat is nogal off-topic

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One of the most elegant and proven supercars to arise out of the 1930's was the 2900B. It was and still is Alfa Romeo's most prestigious grand touring car.

The 2900 competition chassis benefited from a decade of Alfa Romeo sports car engineering. As such, these were the most successful cars of their day: a trio of 2900As placed first-second-third at the 1936 Mille Miglia, while three specially built 2900MMs accomplished the same feat at the 1938 edition.

The decision to make a road-going variant of the 2900 must have been easy. Alfa Romeo prepared around thirty slightly detuned chassis which received some of the best Italian bodies. Both a 2800 mm short wheelbase (Corto) and 3000 mm long wheelbase (Lungo) were made available.

Touring of Milan was responsible for most of the production bodies, and his Corto Spyder and Lungo Coupe were exceptional. Around 20 Spyders and 10 Coupes were constructed by Touring, while a unique grey cabriolet was designed by Pinin Farina as one of his first projects.

Because of its high price, only 30 examples of the 2900B were completed for road use. After the war broke out, and settled down, Alfa Romeo had a hard time living up to its glorious pre-war years.

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Op dinsdag 10 januari 2006 17:11 schreef Googolplexian het volgende:

[..]

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Op dinsdag 10 januari 2006 17:33 schreef Alexxxxx het volgende:

[..]
Deze beter?

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The arrival of the Giulietta Sprint in 1954 marked Alfa Romeo's entrance into a new market sector - the medium sized car. Launched at the Turin Motor Show of that year, the Giulietta, available in Sprint, Spider and Berlina forms remained on the Alfa Romeo price list until 1965. The car was a racing triumph too, notching up successes in the Coupe des Alpes, the Daytona 3 Hours, the Sebring 12 Hours and the Targa Florio, collecting 500 wins along the way.

its cylinder capacity and dimensions were small, this Alfa deserves a place in the Alfa Romeo sports hall of fame for its combination of uncluttered, appealing lines reminiscent of a coupe, state-of-the-art mechanicals, good power-to-weight ratio and strong roadholding.

engine Inline-4
position Front Engine
valvetrain DOHC 3 Valves per Cyl
displacement 1290 cc / 78.7 cu in
power 59.7 kw / 80 bhp @ 6300 rpm
hp per litre 62.02 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 91.12 bhp per weight
drive wheels RWD
front brakes Finned Drums
rear brakes Drums
steering Worm & Roller
f suspension Wishbones w/Telescopic Dampers, Coil Springs, Anti-Roll Bar
r suspension Rigid Axle w/Telescopic Dampers, Coil Springs
weight 878 kg / 1936 lbs
wheelbase 2250 mm / 88.6 in
front track 1292 mm / 50.9 in
rear track 1270 mm / 50.0 in
transmission 4-Speed Manual
top speed 165 kph / 102.5 mph

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One of the most original stylistic offerings form Alfa Romeo, the 'Disco Volante' (Flying Saucer) is a highly streamlined spider that was designed by Touring to participate in Sport Category races. Its name comes in part from science fiction, and in part from the descriptions of the first UFOs that feature highly in the collective imagination during this period. But it is also a way of describing an uncommon car, a low spider with rounded forms that does in fact owe a great deal to aerodynamic design, which was fundamental to Alfa Romeo. The convex body is described as the "ornamental model" for its aerodynamic characteristics, which give the car great penetration characteristics even in a side-wind. It was also created with two other types of bodywork, including a coupe and a slab sided model, but none of the cars got past the experimental stage.

engine Inline-6
position Front Longitudinal
displacement 1997 cc / 121.9 cu in
power 117.8 kw / 158 bhp @ 6500 rpm
hp per litre 76.79 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 306.67 bhp per tonne
drive wheels RWD
body / frame Aluminum over Steel Space Frame
weight 750 kg / 1653 lbs
top speed 225 kph / 139.8 mph

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Alfa Romeo's birth certificate reads: Milan, 24 June 1910.That was the day a group of entrepreneurs and businessmen took over the Italian Darracq automobile company (based in Portello on the outskirts of Milan) from its French parent company, and called it Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. The 24 hp was the first car prodcued by the company. The mechanical components, performance and driving satisfaction that proved so popular on Alfa's first car are all features for which the brand was to become famous. The following year it made its racing debut, and it was set to win the Targa Florio when forced to withdraw due to a minor accident when the driver was temporarily blinded by mud.

displacement 4100 cc / 250.2 cu in
power 17.9 kw / 24 bhp
hp per litre 5.85 bhp per litre
top speed 99.8 kph / 62.0 mph

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MOTORE
Sistemazione: anteriore longitudinale.
Numero cilindri e disposizione: 4 in linea Monoblocco in ghisa e testa in lega leggera.
Cilindrata: 1997 cm3
Alesaggio x Corsa: 85 x 68 mm
Rapporto di compressione: 9 : 1
Potenza max: 138 CV e 6500 giri/min
Distribuzione: valvole a V in testa. Due assi a camme in lesta, catena e ingranaggi.
Accensione: a spinterogeno.
Raffreddamento: ad acqua circolazione forzata con ventola meccanica (capacitą circuito
10,5 litri).
Alimentazione: pompa meccanica, carburatore (2 doppio corpo orizzontali).
Serbatoio carburante: posteriore, dietro i sedili (capacitą: 80 litri).
Lubrificazione: forzata (capacitą serbatoio: 8 litri).

TRASMISSIONE
Trazione: posteriore.
Frizione: monodisco a secco.
Cambio meccanico a 5 marce + R.M. Comando a leva centrale.
Riduzione finale: coppia conica (rapp. 8/37).

SOSPENSIONI
Anteriore: a ruote indipendenti, bracci trasversali, molla elicoidale.
Posteriore: ad assale rigido (schema De Dion), braccio obliquo e bielle trasversali (parallelogramma di Watt), molla elicoidale.
Ammortizzatori: idraulici telescopici.

RUOTE
A raggi, con cerchi in lega leggera. Pneumatici: 6,00 x 16.

FRENI
A pedale: impianto idraulico, anteriori a tamburo, posteriori a tamburo sospesi.
A mano: meccanico sulle ruote posteriori.

STERZO
A vite e rullo.

IMP. ELETTRICO
Tensione: 72 V

STRUTTURA
Telaio a traliccio tubolare in lamiera d’acciaio.

DIMENSIONI
Passo: 2,200 m
Carreggiate: ant. 1,270 m, post. 1,310 m
Lunghezza: 3,600 m

PESO
In ordine di marcia: 915 kg

PRESTAZIONI
Velocitą massima: 220 km/h
Portata: 2 persone.