Alfa Romeo 12C

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. 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

File:Alfa Romeo 159 Goodwood.jpg

Alfa Romeo 12C-37

• 1936 Penya Rhin Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari
• 1936 Milan Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari
• 1936 Modena Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari
• 1936 Vanderbilt Cup, Tazio Nuvolari
• 1937 Milan Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari
• 1937 Valentino Grand Prix, Antonio Brivio
• 1937 Circuito di Napoli, Giuseppe Farina
• 1937 Genova Grand Prix, Carlo Felice Trossi

*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

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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