Alfa Romeo 12C | |
---|---|
An Alfa Romeo 12C-36 | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Alfa Romeo |
Production | 1936-1937 |
Designer | Vittorio Jano |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Grand Prix 750 kg |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Roots supercharged 4.1 L 4064 cc 60° V12 370 bhp at 5800 rpm (12C-36) [1] Roots supercharged 4.5 L 4475 cc 60° V12 430 bhp at 5800 rpm (12C-37) |
Transmission | 4-speed manual transmission |
Dimensions | |
Curb weight | 818 kg (1804 lb) (12C-36) 808 kg (1782 lb) (12C-37) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Alfa Romeo 8C-35 |
Successor | Alfa Romeo Tipo 308 Alfa Romeo Tipo 312 Alfa Romeo Tipo 316 |
The Alfa Romeo 12C or Tipo C was a 12-cylinder Grand Prix car. The 12C-36 made its debut in Tripoli Grand Prix 1936, and the 12C-37 in Coppa Acerbo 1937. The 12C-36 was a Tipo C fitted with the new V12 instead of the 3.8 litre straight-eight of the 8C-35. The 12C-37 was a new car, with a lower chassis and an engine bored and stroked to 4475 cc, now with roller- instead of plain bearings and two smaller superchargers instead of a single large one. The car suffered poor handling, which could not be cured in time for the 1937 Italian GP, and thus was not successful. This is given as the reason for Vittorio Jano's resignation from Alfa Romeo at the end of 1937. [2] The 12C-36 used the existing six Tipo C chassis. Four examples of the 12C-37 were built, although only two were actually assembled for the 1937 Coppa Acerbo and Italian GP. Early in 1938, the Tipo C (8C-35, 12C-36) chassis were modified into 308s, with the straight-eight engine fitted lower in the chassis and a completely new body. The four 12C-37 chassis were instead assembled into 312 (V12 downsized to 3-litre) and 316 (V16 obtained from two 158 engines fitted to a common crankcase) formula race cars.
*All with 12C-36
The table below lists the main differences and similarities between the two versions.
Alfa Romeo 12C-36 | Alfa Romeo 12C-37 | |
---|---|---|
engine | 12 cylinder V 60º engine | |
displacement | 4064 cc / 248 cu in | 4495 cm³ / 274.3 cu in |
bore × stroke | 70mm × 88mm | 72mm × 92mm |
compression ratio | 7.1 : 1 | 7.3 : 1 |
Power at 1/min | 370 hp (276 kW) at 5800 | 430 hp (321 kW) at 5800 |
valve control | two overhead camshaftn / 2 valves per cylinder | |
mixture preparation | 2 Weber-50-DCO Carburetor, Roots blower | 2 Weber carburetors, dual Roots blower |
cooling | Water | |
transmission | 4 speed transmission, not synchronized (rear wheel drive) | |
brakes | Hydraulic drum braken on all wheels | |
Front suspension | Crank axle, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers | Cross arms, coil springs, hydraulic dampers |
rear suspension | pendulum axle, transverse leaf spring, friction and hydraulic dampers | pendulum axle, semi-elliptical transverse leaf springs, hydraulic telescopic dampers, friction dampers |
body and frame | Aluminum body on ladder frame | |
Wheelbase | 2750mm | 2800mm |
Track width front / rear | 1350mm / 1350mm | 1370mm / 1430mm |
front tire size | 6.5 × 18 | – |
Rear tire size | 6.5 × 19 | – |
Dimensions L × W × H | 4200mm × 1520mm × 1215mm | 4240mm × k. A × 1130 mm |
curb weight (without driver) | 820 kg | 810 kg |
tank capacity | 170 l | – |
fuel consumption | – | – |
top speed | 290 km/h (180 mph) | 310 km/h (193 mph) |
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