Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta, 1938

Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta, 1938

The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta (Little Alfa in Italian), is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. The Alfa Romeo 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula (1937) and has a 1.5 litre straight-8 supercharged engine. Following World War II, the car was eligible for the new Formula One introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers such as Nino Farina, Juan-Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, it dominated the first two seasons of the Formula One World Championship.

The first version of this successful racing car, the Alfa Romeo 158, was made during 1937/1938. The main responsibility for engineering was given to Gioacchino Colombo.

The car's name refers to its 1.5 litre engine and eight cylinders. The voiturette class was for racing cars with 1.5 litre engines, standing in the same relation to the top 'Grand Prix' formula (usually for 3 litre engines) as the GP2 series does to Formula One today. Alfa's 3 litre racing cars in 1938 and 1939 were the Tipo 308, 312 and 316.

The Alfa Romeo 158 debuted with the works Alfa Corse team at the Coppa Ciano Junior in August 1938 at Livorno, Italy, where Emilio Villoresi took the car's first victory. At that time the 1479 cc engine produced around 200 bhp (150 kW) at 7000 rpm. with the help of a single-stage Roots blower. More success came at the Coppa Acerbo, Coppa Ciano and Tripoli Grand Prix in May 1940. Soon World War II stopped development of the car for six years. After the war the engine was developed further to push out 254 bhp (189 kW) in 1946.

In 1947, the Alfetta became eligible for the newly-created Formula One. The new rules allowed 1500 cc supercharged and 4500 cc naturally aspirated engines. The Alfa Romeo 158 was modified again, this time to produce over 300 bhp (220 kW) and was denoted as Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/47. The car made a tragic debut in the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix where Achille Varzi lost control of his car and was killed. Another loss for the team came in practice for the 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where Jean-Pierre Wimille was killed in an accident (driving with Simca-Gordini).

The car won every race in which it competed during 1950; it was incredible that a car which had originated in 1938 was so victorious. The Alfa Romeo team included talented drivers such as Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, the latter of whom later won the World Drivers' Championship five times.

At the end of the 1950 season, a further updated version known as the Alfa Romeo 159 was produced.

Alfa Romeo RL, 1922

Alfa Romeo RL, 1922

Alfa Romeo RL was produced between 1922-1927, it was Alfa's first sport model after World War I. Car was designed in 1921 by Giuseppe Merosi. Car had straight-6 engine with overhead valves. Three different versions was made: Normale, Turismo and Sport. RLTF (Targa Florio) was race version of Alfa Romeo RL and it weighted half of normal versions, engine had seven main bearings instead of four and double carburetos. In 1923 Alfa race team had drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari, Giulio Masetti and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci's car had green cloverleaf symbol on white background and when he won Targa Florio 1923, that symbol was become Alfa's good luck token to the team.

 

Alfa Romeo RL total production was 2640.

Models
    * Normale, 2916 cc 56 bhp (1922-1925)
    * Turismo, 2996 cc 61 bhp (1925-1927)
    * Sport, 2996 cc 71 bhp (1922-1927)
    * Super Sport, 2996 cc 71 bhp (1922-1927)
    * Super Sport Castagna, 84 bhp
    * Super Sport Zagato, 89 bhp
    * Targa Florio, 3154 cc 95 bhp (1923)
    * Targa Florio, 2994 cc 90 bhp (1924)
    * Targa Florio, 3620 cc 125 bhp (1924)

Alfa Romeo P2, 1925

Alfa Romeo P2, 1925

The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.

Though 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924-1930 the Alfa Romeo P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio. It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920s, along with the Bugatti Type 35, and enabled Alfa Romeo, as world champions, to incorporate the laurel wreath into their logo.

The Alfa Romeo P2 was introduced by Alfa Romeo for the Circuit of Cremona in northern Italy in 1924, where Antonio Ascari won at over 158 km/h (98 mph), and then went on to win the speed trial at 195 km/h (121 mph). The car was the first creation of Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano who had been recruited from Fiat by Enzo Ferrari when Nicola Romeo scrapped the Alfa Romeo P1 after its poor performance in the 1923 Monza Grand Prix against Fiat. The Alfa Romeo P2 was powered by Alfa's first straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine with 2 carburettors placed after the compressor.

Alfa Romeo 158, 1947

Alfa Romeo 158, 1947

The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta (Little Alfa in Italian), is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. The Alfa Romeo 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula (1937) and has a 1.5 litre straight-8 supercharged engine. Following World War II, the car was eligible for the new Formula One introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers such as Nino Farina, Juan-Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, it dominated the first two seasons of the Formula One World Championship.

The first version of this successful racing car, the Alfa Romeo 158, was made during 1937/1938. The main responsibility for engineering was given to Gioacchino Colombo.

The car's name refers to its 1.5 litre engine and eight cylinders. The voiturette class was for racing cars with 1.5 litre engines, standing in the same relation to the top 'Grand Prix' formula (usually for 3 litre engines) as the GP2 series does to Formula One today. Alfa's 3 litre racing cars in 1938 and 1939 were the Tipo 308, 312 and 316.

The Alfa Romeo 158 debuted with the works Alfa Corse team at the Coppa Ciano Junior in August 1938 at Livorno, Italy, where Emilio Villoresi took the car's first victory. At that time the 1479 cc engine produced around 200 bhp (150 kW) at 7000 rpm. with the help of a single-stage Roots blower. More success came at the Coppa Acerbo, Coppa Ciano and Tripoli Grand Prix in May 1940. Soon World War II stopped development of the car for six years. After the war the engine was developed further to push out 254 bhp (189 kW) in 1946.

In 1947, the Alfetta became eligible for the newly-created Formula One. The new rules allowed 1500 cc supercharged and 4500 cc naturally aspirated engines. The Alfa Romeo 158 was modified again, this time to produce over 300 bhp (220 kW) and was denoted as Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/47. The car made a tragic debut in the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix where Achille Varzi lost control of his car and was killed. Another loss for the team came in practice for the 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where Jean-Pierre Wimille was killed in an accident (driving with Simca-Gordini).

The car won every race in which it competed during 1950; it was incredible that a car which had originated in 1938 was so victorious. The Alfa Romeo team included talented drivers such as Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, the latter of whom later won the World Drivers' Championship five times.

At the end of the 1950 season, a further updated version known as the Alfa Romeo 159 was produced.

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Villa DEste, 1946

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Villa DEste, 1946

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 (2309 cc) was designed by Vittorio Jano as a cheaper alternative to the Alfa Romeo 8C.

Alfa Romeo 412, 1939

Alfa Romeo 412, 1939

Alfa Romeo 412, 1939

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 (2309 cc) was designed by Vittorio Jano as a cheaper alternative to the Alfa Romeo 8C.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Alfa Romeo 8C was a famed sports car of the 1930s. The name referred to the straight 8 cylinder engine. The Vittorio Jano-designed 8C was Alfa's primary sports model from its introduction in 1931 to its retirement in 1939.

The first models were the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a reference to the car's 2.3 L (2300 cc) engine. The short wheelbase version of this car won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, but it was the Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza that gave it its nickname, "Monza".

The supercharged dual overhead cam straight-8 engine, also designed by Jano, was later enlarged to 2.6 L. In this guise, the Alfa Romeo 8C could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds and could eventually reach 135 mph (217 km/h).

The 8C name has been revived in with the introduction of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2006 and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in 2008.

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport, 1928

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport, 1928

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

In the mid-1920s, Alfa Romeo RL was considered too large and heavy, so a new development began. The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was introduced in 1925 at Milan, production started 1927, with the P2 Grand Prix car as starting point. Engine capacity was now 1487 cc, against the Alfa Romeo P2's 1987 cc, while supercharging was dropped. First versions were bodied by Young and Touring.

In 1928, a Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport was released, with a dual overhead camshafts engine. Its sport version won many races, including the 1928 Mille Miglia. Total production was 3000 (200 with DOHC engine). Ten copies of a supercharged (compressore, compressor) Super Sport variant were also made.

Alfa Romeo RM Sport, 1923

Alfa Romeo RM Sport, 1923

The Alfa Romeo RM was produced between 1923-1925, it was based of RL model. Car was introduced first time in 1923 Paris Motor Show and total production was around 500 cars. Alfa Romeo RM had 2.0 L straight-4 engine, which produced between 40 bhp to 48 bhp. As most of Alfa Romeo cars this was also used in racing purpose. 3 versions was made: Normal, Alfa Romeo RM Sport and Unificato. Sport had raised compression ratio and Unificato had longer wheelbase and slightly bigger engine. RM top speed was around 90 km/h (56 mph).

Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta, 1938

Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Alfetta, 1938

The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta (Little Alfa in Italian), is one of the most successful racing cars ever produced. The Alfa Romeo 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered. It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula (1937) and has a 1.5 litre straight-8 supercharged engine.
Following World War II, the car was eligible for the new Formula One introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers such as Nino Farina, Juan-Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, it dominated the first two seasons of the Formula One World Championship.

The first version of this successful racing car, the Alfa Romeo 158, was made during 1937/1938. The main responsibility for engineering was given to Gioacchino Colombo.

The car's name refers to its 1.5 litre engine and eight cylinders. The voiturette class was for racing cars with 1.5 litre engines, standing in the same relation to the top 'Grand Prix' formula (usually for 3 litre engines) as the GP2 series does to Formula One today. Alfa's 3 litre racing cars in 1938 and 1939 were the Tipo 308, 312 and 316.

The Alfa Romeo 158 debuted with the works Alfa Corse team at the Coppa Ciano Junior in August 1938 at Livorno, Italy, where Emilio Villoresi took the car's first victory. At that time the 1479 cc engine produced around 200 bhp (150 kW) at 7000 rpm. with the help of a single-stage Roots blower. More success came at the Coppa Acerbo, Coppa Ciano and Tripoli Grand Prix in May 1940. Soon World War II stopped development of the car for six years. After the war the engine was developed further to push out 254 bhp (189 kW) in 1946.

In 1947, the Alfetta became eligible for the newly-created Formula One. The new rules allowed 1500 cc supercharged and 4500 cc naturally aspirated engines. The Alfa Romeo 158 was modified again, this time to produce over 300 bhp (220 kW) and was denoted as Alfa Romeo Tipo 158/47. The car made a tragic debut in the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix where Achille Varzi lost control of his car and was killed. Another loss for the team came in practice for the 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix, where Jean-Pierre Wimille was killed in an accident (driving with Simca-Gordini).

The car won every race in which it competed during 1950; it was incredible that a car which had originated in 1938 was so victorious. The Alfa Romeo team included talented drivers such as Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, the latter of whom later won the World Drivers' Championship five times.

At the end of the 1950 season, a further updated version known as the Alfa Romeo 159 was produced.

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine.

Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina.
Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 (2309 cc) was designed by Vittorio Jano as a cheaper alternative to the Alfa Romeo 8C.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Alfa Romeo 8C was a famed sports car of the 1930s. The name referred to the straight 8 cylinder engine. The Vittorio Jano-designed 8C was Alfa's primary sports model from its introduction in 1931 to its retirement in 1939.

The first models were the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a reference to the car's 2.3 L (2300 cc) engine. The short wheelbase version of this car won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, but it was the Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza that gave it its nickname, "Monza".

The supercharged dual overhead cam straight-8 engine, also designed by Jano, was later enlarged to 2.6 L. In this guise, the Alfa Romeo 8C could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds and could eventually reach 135 mph (217 km/h).

The 8C name has been revived in with the introduction of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2006 and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in 2008.

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport, 1928

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

In the mid-1920s, Alfa Romeo RL was considered too large and heavy, so a new development began. The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was introduced in 1925 at Milan, production started 1927, with the P2 Grand Prix car as starting point. Engine capacity was now 1487 cc, against the Alfa Romeo P2's 1987 cc, while supercharging was dropped. First versions were bodied by Young and Touring.

In 1928, a Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport was released, with a dual overhead camshafts engine. Its sport version won many races, including the 1928 Mille Miglia. Total production was 3000 (200 with DOHC engine). Ten copies of a supercharged (compressore, compressor) Super Sport variant were also made.

Alfa Romeo P2

Alfa Romeo P2, 1925

The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.

Though 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924-1930 the Alfa Romeo P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio. It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920s, along with the Bugatti Type 35, and enabled Alfa Romeo, as world champions, to incorporate the laurel wreath into their logo.

The Alfa Romeo P2 was introduced by Alfa Romeo for the Circuit of Cremona in northern Italy in 1924, where Antonio Ascari won at over 158 km/h (98 mph), and then went on to win the speed trial at 195 km/h (121 mph). The car was the first creation of Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano who had been recruited from Fiat by Enzo Ferrari when Nicola Romeo scrapped the Alfa Romeo P1 after its poor performance in the 1923 Monza Grand Prix against Fiat. The Alfa Romeo P2 was powered by Alfa's first straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine with 2 carburettors placed after the compressor.

Only 2 of the 6 original models survive, and they can be seen in the Alfa Romeo museum in Arese and the Turin Automobile Museum. The Alfa Romeo P2 had two body styles using either a cut off or long rear.

Alfa Romeo RM Sport

Alfa Romeo RM Sport, 1923

Alfa Romeo RM Sport, 1923

The Alfa Romeo RM was produced between 1923-1925, it was based of RL model. Car was introduced first time in 1923 Paris Motor Show and total production was around 500 cars. Alfa Romeo RM had 2.0 L straight-4 engine, which produced between 40 bhp to 48 bhp.
As most of Alfa Romeo cars this was also used in racing purpose.
Three versions was made:
Normal, Alfa Romeo RM Sport and Unificato. Sport had raised compression ratio and Unificato had longer wheelbase and slightly bigger engine. RM top speed was around 90 km/h (56 mph).

Models

• Alfa Romeo RM Normal, 1944 cc 40 bhp (1923)
• Alfa Romeo RM Sport, 1944 cc 44 bhp (1924)
• Alfa Romeo RM Unificato, 1996 cc 48 bhp (1925)

Alfa Romeo RL

Alfa Romeo RL, 1922

The Alfa Romeo RL was produced between 1922-1927, it was Alfa's first sport model after World War I. Car was designed in 1921 by Giuseppe Merosi. Car had straight-6 engine with overhead valves. Three different versions was made: Normale, Turismo and Sport. RLTF (Targa Florio) was race version of Alfa Romeo RL and it weighted half of normal versions, engine had seven main bearings instead of four and double carburetos.
In 1923 Alfa race team had drivers like Ugo Sivocci, Antonio Ascari, Giulio Masetti and Enzo Ferrari. Sivocci's car had green cloverleaf symbol on white background and when he won Targa Florio 1923, that symbol was become Alfa's good luck token to the team.

Alfa Romeo RL total production was 2640.

Models

• Normale, 2916 cc 56 bhp (1922-1925)
• Turismo, 2996 cc 61 bhp (1925-1927)
• Sport, 2996 cc 71 bhp (1922-1927)
• Super Sport, 2996 cc 71 bhp (1922-1927)
• Super Sport Castagna, 84 bhp
• Super Sport Zagato, 89 bhp
• Targa Florio, 3154 cc 95 bhp (1923)
• Targa Florio, 2994 cc 90 bhp (1924)
• Targa Florio, 3620 cc 125 bhp (1924)