Alfa Romeo has a racing history – that no car manufacturer can match. Not even Ferrari.
In fact Ferrari’s racing history started with Alfa Romeo. Let me explain. Before Ferrari even existed, Enzo Ferrari was racing for Alfa Romeo. Not only did Enzo Ferrari race for Alfa Romeo, he also later led and managed Alfa Romeo’s racing team before starting a joint venture between Alfa Romeo and Scuderia Ferrari. Luigi Chinetti, who was besides Enzo Ferrari, the most important man in building up Ferrari, and was responsible for the US market – also raced for Alfa Romeo (and won the 24hr of Le Mans twice with Alfa Romeo in the 1930s). Without Alfa Romeo – there simply would have never been Ferrari the company.
That is a pretty cool history to have.
What people today also forget is that Alfa Romeo dominated racing in the 1930s like other brand. They won everything there was to win. Targa Florio 6x in a row. Mille Miglia every single year from 1928-1938 (except one year). Le Mans numerous times. Italian Grand Prix. The best racing drivers in the world drove for Alfa. Nuvolari (who was according to Enzo Ferrari the greatest racing driver that ever lived) drove for Alfa and won Le Mans twice, as did Fangio who became world champion in 1951 driving an Alfetta. For a long time Alfa Romeo had the best racing drivers race for them (something Ferrari would copy in the 1950s and 1960s).
Simply put: Alfa Romeo was a powerhouse in racing in the 1930s and 1940s before the war. Racing was part of their blood like no other manufacturer.
(Picture shows Alfa Romeo racing pits in 1932 at the Coppa die Messina. Credit: Alfa Romeo Centenary Book, Giorgio Nada Editore).
Lets look at some legendary cars.
Before getting to the race car section – you had to go down some stairs. I will never forget this marvellous view.
If I am not mistaken the car below in red is one of Alfa’s most famous racing cars: The 8C 2300 Monza from 1931. It would win the Le Sarthe 24 hours numerous times as well as Italian Grand Prix at Monza with Nuvolari driving.
Once you walk down the stairs – your greeted with cars that almost seem surreal. The red contrasting with the black is just perfect. Below some race cars from the 1930s. The first one is Tipo A from 1931. The red bordeaux car in the front background won Le Mans in 1938 and is the 8C 2900B Speciale ‘Le Mans’.
Here is the proof of the collaboration of Ferrari with Alfa Romeo.
The car below is a GP ‘Bimotore’ from 1935. Yes this car had two engines. Both producing an incredible 270hp. The car only weighed 1070kg so its max speed as 325 km/h. We are talking about 1935 here! Just incredible. Only two cars were ever made of this type.
Fangio’s Alfetta 159 below – a car which would earn him one of five world championship titles and his fist one.
The next car is an earlier car – a Alfa Grand Premio Typo B from 1932. Nuvolari won the Grand Prix in Italy with this in 1932. This car weighed only 700kg – light as a feather – and thus capable of 232 km/h according to Alfa Romeo.
Lets move on to another room where some brutal machines await us. We start off with the legendary Tipo 33 Stradale. For many this is the most beautiful race/ road car Alfa Romeo ever produced. Its lines are beautiful. Only 18 were made. This car was made in 1967.
On the very top of collectors wish list – is this car. Looking at – I fully understand why. Especially when you step back and look at it from the front. The 33 Stradale was based on a V8 producing 230 hp and weighed only 700kg.
An even more dramatic version is the Tipo 33 Daytona which essentially is the racing version made for the US market.
I am not sure which version I like better. The car won the 24hr at Daytona (hence its name) and also Le Mans. Only 30 of these machines were made. The car on the left (white and red) is a Tipo 33 /3 made in 1970 and won the Targa Florio.
The next car should also need no introduction. It is the legendary 1965 Alfa Giulia TZ 2 and was developed by Ferrari engineer Carlo Chiti. Weighing only 650 kg the car was extremely light and fast.
No surprise then that it won the Targa Florio, Sebring 12hrs and also Nürburgring 1000km all in 1965. The car was built by Zagato – the legendary designer. The car in the background is a 6C 300CM made in 1953.
The back of the car is even more dramatic than the front. The back of the 1956 6C 3000 looks a little like the 250 Testarossa from Ferrari.
Lets look at the TZ 2 from further away to get a better idea of the proportions. What a dream car.
Wherever I looked there was a sea of red. I was really at peace in this room. It was visual ecstasy!
Some of the cars in front which I did not have time to photograph properly include the 1970s Tipo 33 which were also important for Alfa Romeo and secured it another world championship win in 1975. If I am not mistaken the car right in front is a 1970 1750 GT.
I wanted to stay in this room but it was time to go. I am sorry to have not described more cars that I saw. Next time.
On our way out of the museum I was reminded by the legendary 8C 2300 (right car – responsible for many key victories for Alfa) what a tremendous history Alfa has in racing and car manufacturing.
The visit was overwhelming and I plan to go back very soon.
My sincere congratulations to Alfa Romeo for this museum. It is world class. Perhaps the best in the world right now.
For more information on Part 1 of Alfa and their history please see post here.
