1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider

8C 2900B Touring Spider image

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The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider 1937 is a marvel of automotive engineering from the pre-war era. It is an exceptional combination of artistry and power, wrapped in a picturesque body designed by Touring. This car redefines the limits of what can be achieved with internal combustion engines, with its twin-cam, straight-eight supercharged engine delivering an astonishing 180 horsepower.

The engine is a 2.9-liter inline eight-cylinder unit, which came in two variations – normally aspirated and supercharged. The powerful supercharged version comes with a Roots-type supercharger bolted to the front of the engine, which compresses the air/fuel mix and delivers it to the engine's eight cylinders. This was an advanced design for its time and made the 8C 2900B Touring Spider one of the fastest cars of its era. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 110 mph, an impressive feat for a car from the late 1930s.

The engine is paired with a four-speed, all-synchromesh manual gearbox that delivers the engine's tremendous power to the rear wheels. This refined gearbox can hold a maximum torque of over 300 lb-ft and has no issues handling the power delivered by the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B's engine. The car's suspension is a combination of independent-wheel suspension at the front and a live axle at the rear. The front suspension is a double-wishbone setup with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, while the rear utilizes leaf springs and a rigid axle.

The car's braking system makes use of hydraulic drums, which are an innovative technology of the time. These hydraulically-actuated brakes provide a lot more precision than the mechanical brakes available in other sports cars of the era. Steering is handled by a worm-and-roller setup with friction dampers, which provides a precise and accurate feel while driving.

The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider's body is designed by famous car designer and coachbuilder Touring. The body is made of lightweight aluminum, which helps to improve the car's overall performance by minimizing weight. The vehicle's aerodynamic design combines six-in-line headlights with a long, streamlined hood to create an elegant, sporty appearance.

Overall, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider 1937 is an exceptional piece of automotive history. It is a testament to the engineering and design expertise of its era and remains one of the most beautiful and exclusive sports cars ever built. It is a true collector's item and a significant part of automotive history.

Milestones

- Introduced in 1937 as a limited production model - Featured a twin-cam straight-eight engine with supercharger, producing 180 horsepower - Top speed was around 110 mph (177 km/h) - Only 32 examples were produced by the Italian coachbuilder, Carrozzeria Touring - Won several races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 and the Mille Miglia in 1938 and 1947 - Considered one of the most beautiful and iconic sports cars ever made - Highly sought after by collectors and regularly fetches millions of dollars at auction - Regarded as one of the most important and influential cars in automotive history.


Technical

- Engine: 2.9-liter supercharged inline-eight - Power: 220 horsepower - Transmission: Four-speed manual - Max speed: 105 mph - Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds - Wheelbase: 2,750 mm (108.3 in) - Length: 4,300 mm (169.3 in) - Height: 1,320 mm (52 in) - Top: Soft top convertible - Weight: 1,300 kg (2,866 lb) - Suspension: Independent front with live rear axle - Brakes: Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes - Tyres: 6.50-18 front and rear - Fuel tank capacity: 100 liters (26.4 gallons) - Production: Only 33 units have been produced.
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