Alfa Romeo P3 Tipo B

Vehicle Overview

The Alfa Romeo Tipo B, commonly known as the P3, stands as one of the most significant automobiles in the early history of Grand Prix racing. Introduced in 1932 and designed by Vittorio Jano, the P3 was among the first true single-seat racing cars. It represented a decisive step in the evolution of racing design, emphasizing lightness, compactness, and mechanical efficiency. Originally developed by Alfa Romeo and raced under the Scuderia Ferrari banner, the P3 quickly established its dominance on circuits across Europe. This particular example, now preserved in the Auriga Collection in Germany, was awarded Best of Show at the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Flawlessly restored and meticulously maintained, it was presented on the shores of Lake Como as an exemplar of pre-war engineering and design excellence. The car wears the Scuderia Ferrari shields on its bonnet and is distinguished by coachwork executed by Carrozzeria Zagato in Milan. This body was created under the direction of Ugo Zagato, a pioneer of lightweight aerodynamic coachbuilding and grandfather of Andrea Zagato, the current head of the atelier that still bears the family name. Unlike later interpretations or rebodies, this P3 represents one of several examples originally commissioned by Scuderia Ferrari from Zagato during the early 1930s. These cars combined the technical supremacy of Jano’s engineering with Zagato’s mastery of aluminium form, producing competition machines that were both functionally advanced and stylistically distinct. The bodywork is characterized by its minimal overhangs, tapered tail, and signature lightweight construction—a deliberate departure from the heavier, more ornate bodies typical of the period. Long held in private hands, this chassis is notable not only for its provenance and originality, but also for the continuity of its documented history. Its presence at Villa d’Este in 2025 reaffirms its place in the canon of automotive heritage. As with many significant pre-war racing cars, the precise number of surviving Zagato-bodied Tipo Bs remains uncertain, though period photographs and Scuderia Ferrari archives support the existence of multiple such commissions. This surviving example serves as a rare witness to the synergy between technical innovation and coachbuilt artistry in the golden age of motorsport.