Alfa Romeo 12C

Motor vehicle
Alfa Romeo 12C
An Alfa Romeo 12C-36
Overview
ManufacturerAlfa Romeo
Production1936-1937
DesignerVittorio Jano
Body and chassis
ClassGrand Prix 750 kg
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
EngineRoots 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)
Transmission4-speed manual transmission
Dimensions
Curb weight818 kg (1804 lb) (12C-36)
808 kg (1782 lb) (12C-37)
Chronology
PredecessorAlfa Romeo 8C-35
SuccessorAlfa 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.

Main victories

Alfa Romeo 12C-37

*All with 12C-36

  • Alfa Romeo 12C-36
    Alfa Romeo 12C-36
  • Cockpit of an Alfa Romeo 12C-36
    Cockpit of an Alfa Romeo 12C-36
  • Alfa Romeo 12C-37
    Alfa Romeo 12C-37

Technical data

Technical data 8C-35 12C-36 12C-37
Engine:  8-cylinder in-line engine 12-cylinder 60° V-engine
displacement:  3822 cm³ 4064 cm³ 4495 cm³
Bore x stroke:  78 x 100 mm 70 x 88mm 72 x 92 mm
Max power:  330 hp 370 hp 430 hp
Valve control:  2 overhead camshafts per cylinder row, 2 valves per cylinder
Compression :  8.0:1 7.1:1 7.3:1
Upload:  Roots compressor
Gearbox:  4-speed manual, transaxle
suspension front:  Individual type Dubonnet, coil springs
suspension rear:  Pendulum axle, transverse leaf spring
Brakes:  Hydraulic drum brakes
Chassis & body:  Crate beam frame with aluminiumbody Fackverkframe with
aluminum body
Wheelbase:  275 cm 280 cm
Dry weight:  750 kg 820 kg 810 kg
Top speed:  275 km/h 290 km/h 310 km/h

References

  1. ^ Borgeson, Griffith (1990). The Alfa Romeo Tradition. ISBN 0-85429-875-4.
  2. ^ "CARS (PART 1) ALFA ROMEO". kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman. Archived from the original on 19 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
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Alfa Romeo car timeline, 1910s–1940s — next »
Ownership Ugo Stella & investors Nicola Romeo IRI
Type 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
4-cyl. 12 HP/15 HP 15-20 HP WWI [α] WWII
24 HP RM
20-30 HP [α] 20-30 ES
40-60 HP
6-cyl. G1
RL
6C 1500/1750/1900 6C 2300 6C 2500
8-cyl. 8C 2300 8C 2900
Grand Prix car GP P1 P2 Tipo A Tipo B (P3) 8C 35 158 158
308
Bi
motore 		12C 312 512
316 162
Notes [α] 105 A.L.F.A 15-20 HP and 20-30 HP started in 1915 were completed in 1920, after the war, as Alfa Romeo models.
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