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StarLight Garage presents today a very special racing car, actually the first Ferrari racing car the Alfa Romeo Bimotore. Bimotore means two engines and this car had in 1935 two engines and more high technical new features.
And this car was an absolute rocket in his years and even now it a ridiculous speed for such a car. This is official and believed or not the car reaches 321 km/h .... yes correct, 199 mph.
Car spotted by CostaDrifter.
In 1935, to compete with Mercedes Benz and Auto Union, Enzo Ferrari (Race team manager) and Luigi Bazzi (Designer) built a racer with two 3.2 (3.165-litre) engines, one in the front and one in the rear, giving 6.3 litres and an incredible 540 bhp (403 kW). Actually the Bimotore was commissioned by Scuderia Ferrari, that's why the prancing horse emblem is on the racing car.
The drivetrain layout was unusual. The two engines were connected by separate driveshaft to a gearbox with two input shafts, and two angled output shafts, so each of the rear wheels had its own driveshaft.
It could never quite succeed against the Mercedes W25 B of Rudolf Caracciola, and was hard on fuel and tyres. The gain in speed was offset by increased pit times.
On May 12, 1935, two were entered in the Tripoli Grand Prix driven by Nuvolari and Chiron who finished fourth and fifth. Chiron managed a second at the following 1935 Avus race.
On June 16, 1935 Nuvolari drove a specially prepared Bimotore from Florence to Livorno (79 km / 49 miles) and set a new speed record 364 km/h (226 mph) with an average speed of over 323 km/h (201 mph).
After that it was sidelined in favour of the Tipo C. It was the first racer to use the Dubonnet independent trailing arm front suspension. The V12 was under development, but was not race ready. Except the independent suspension it had also central steering.
It was noticed that the Bimotore had a traction advantage on rough ground, so a version of the Bimotore chassis with the independent Dubonnet front end, and a new independent rear with swing axles with radius rods and a transverse leaf spring was used for the Tipo C 3.8s.
It was a racing car to be used on the faster tracks and fast it was but the tires couldn't handle the immense power and weight of the car.
After a while the program was cancelled, because incredible tire wear prevented it to challenge the 'Silver Arrows'. But another legend was born, Scuderia Ferrari!
Specifications
Country of origin: Italy
Produced in: 1935
Numbers built: 2
Engine (2x)
Configuration: Straight 8
Location: Front and rear, longitudinally mounted
Displacement: 3.165 liter / 193.1 cu in
Bore / Stroke: 71.0 mm (2.8 in) / 100.0 mm (3.9 in)
Compression: 7.0:1
Valvetrain: 2 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed: 2 Weber Carburettors
Aspiration: Twin Roots-Type Superchargers
Power: 270 bhp / 201 KW @ 5400 rpm
BHP/Liter: 85 bhp / liter
Drivetrain
Chassis: Body on ladder frame
Front suspension: Live axle, trailing arms, transverse arms, coil springs
Rear suspension: Live axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs
Steering: Worm-and-sector
Brakes: Drums, all-round
Gearbox: 3 speed Manual
Drive: Rear wheel drive
Dimensions
Weight: 1030 kg (2270.8 lbs)
Length: 4200 mm (165.4 in)
Width: 1510 mm (59.4 in)
Height: 1290 mm (50.8 in)
Wheelbase: 2800 mm (110.2 in)
Track (fr/r): 1380 mm (54.3 in) / 1380 mm (54.3 in)
Performance figures
Combined Power: 540 bhp / 403 KW
Power to weight: 0.52 bhp / kg
Top Speed: 321 km/h (199 mph)
THE OTHER ALFAS ARE HERE:
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