Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta

Vehicle Overview

The starting point was the chassis of the 8C 2900 A suitably tamed for road traffic. The chassis was lengthened and strengthened by welding a sheet metal inside the “C” of stamped steel, thus creating a sort of boxed side member. The power of the twin-block twin-block engine in light alloy 2905 cm³ (bore x stroke: 68 x 100 mm) was reduced to 180 hp at 5200 rpm. Multi-plate clutch, 4-speed gearbox, suspension, brakes and steering all borrowed from the 8C 2900 A. The 8C 2900 B was available in two versions, “Corto” and “Lungo”, distinguished by the wheelbase length of 2800 and 3000 mm respectively. Regarding the beauty of the line and the elegance of the interiors, the two versions were equivalent but on the “Lungo” version the weight of 1050 kg increased to 1150 kg while the top speed dropped from 185 to 180 km / h. One of the rare Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Corto Spider Touring from 1938, note the “spats” covering the rear wheels

In particular, Touring Superleggera created a series of beautiful berlinettas and cabriolets, with a sinuous and elegant line, both on “Corto” and “Lungo” chassis. The sinuous line was characterized by a sloping tail, a small cabin, a long bonnet and a large sloping grille that emphasized the power of the 8-cylinder engine. The spoked wheels were faired with smooth “copponi” and the rear ones even incorporated into the bodywork with “spats” similar to those of the later Jaguar XK120 but even open. The elongated mudguards followed the latest developments in the aerodynamic field and incorporate the headlights and horns. The Milanese coachbuilder uses the patented “Superleggera” method to “dress” his specimens, making them some of the first entirely metal custom-built cars in the world. According to their mottoː “Weight is the enemy, air resistance the obstacle”, thin aluminum sheets modeled according to the latest aerodynamic solutions are applied to a light latticework of chromium-molybdenum steel. Pininfarina also tried his hand at two 8C 2900B chassis, creating two very elegant spiders in 1937 and 1939, the second of which already had retractable headlights. Zagato and Stabilimenti Farina built a frame each, the first very sporty and the second very luxurious. Chassis 412035 won the “Best of Show” prize at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and 2009 Villa d’Este Show.