Pete05
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- 7,078
- Melbourne, Australia
The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening race at Montlhery.
After 1925 brought drastic changes of regulations, from 1924-1930 the P2 was victorious in 14 Grands Prix and major events including the Targa Florio. It was one of the iconic Grand Prix cars of the 1920's, along with the Bugatti Type 35, and enabled Alfa Romeo, as world champions, to incorporate the laurel wreath into their logo.
The P2 was introduced by Alfa Romeo for the Circuit of Cremona in northern Italy in 1924, where Antonio Ascari won at over 158 km/h (98 mph), and then went on to win the speed trial at 195 km/h (121 mph). The car was the first creation of Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano who had been recruited from Fiat by Enzo Ferrari when Nicola Romeo scrapped the P1 after it's poor performance in the 1923 Monza Grand Prix against Fiat. The P2 was powered by Alfa's first straight-8 cylinder supercharged engine with 2 Carburettors placed after the compressor.
Only 2 of the 6 original models survive, and they can been seen in the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and the Turin Automobile Museum. The P2 had two body styles using either the cut off or long rear.
ENGINE
Configuration
Straight 8
Location
Front, longitudinally mounted
Construction
Cast-iron block and head
Displacement
1987 cc / 121.3 cu in
Bore / Stroke
61 mm (2.4") x 85 mm (3.3")
Compression
6.0:1
Valvetrain
2 valves per cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed
2 x Memini carburettors
Aspiration
Naturally Aspirated
Power
155 bhp / 116 kW @ 5500 rpm
DRIVETRAIN
Body
Aluminium body
Chassis
Steel ladder frame
Suspension
Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, Hartford friction dampers
Steering
Worm and sector
Brakes
Drums, cable operated all round
Gearbox
4 speed manual
Gear ratios
2.88:1, 1.91:1, 1.27:1, 1.00:1
Top speed
223.7 km/h (139 mph)
DIMENSIONS
Weight
750 kg / 1653.5 lbs
Length
3950 mm / 155.5"
Width
1550 mm / 61"
Height
1180 mm / 46.5"
Wheelbase
2624 mm / 103.3"
Front track
1302 mm / 51.3"
Rear track
1245 mm / 49"
Front tyres
29" x 4"
Rear tyres
29" x 5"
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6347/Alfa-Romeo-P2.aspx
http://www.supercars.net/cars/36.html
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/1006/Alfa-Romeo-P2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_P2
