ALFA Grand Prix
| ALFA 40/60 GP | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | ALFA(1914) Alfa Romeo(1920-1921) |
| Also called | ALFA GP |
| Production | 1914 (1921) |
| Assembly | Italy |
| Designer | Giuseppe Merosi |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Racing car |
| Body style | 2-seater open wheeler |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.5 Lstraight fourtwin overhead cam |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 870 kg (1,920 lb) |
ALFA 40/60 GPorGP(Grand Prix) was a fully working early racing car prototype made by the company now calledAlfa Romeo.Only one example was built in 1914, which was later modified in 1921. This was the creation ofGiuseppe Merosiand was the first Alfa RomeoDOHCengine. It had four valves per cylinder, 90 degree valve angle and twin spark ignition. Usually Alfa Romeo DOHC engines are thought to beVittorio Jano's creations but the first one was Merosi's GP car. This kind of engine architecture was very new for the time, originating from 1912/1913Peugeotdesigned by Swiss engineerErnest Henry.The history of this engine architecture is unclear, but other cars with dual overhead camshafts were made bySunbeam,DelageandHumber.This 1914 GP car was intended to take part in theFrench Grand Prixof that year, but for reasons unknown this never happened. In 1921Giuseppe Camparitook part in the Gentlemen G.P. inBresciawith the modified GP car, but was forced to retire due to a leaking radiator.[1]
The GP engine had a displacement of 4.5 litres (4490 cc) and produced 88 bhp (66 kW) at 2950 rpm and after modifications in 1921 102 bhp (76 kW) at 3000 rpm. The top speed of this car was 88–93 mph (142–150 km/h). It was not until the 1920s when theseDOHCengines came to Alfa road cars like theAlfa Romeo 6C.
Notes
[edit]- ^"The Grand Prix from 1914".alfaromeo.com.au.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-02-19.Retrieved2007-04-26.
References
[edit]- VeloceToday.comRetrieved on 2007-04-26.
- Borgeson, Griffith (1990).The Alfa Romeo Tradition.City: Haynes (Foulis) Publishing Group Ltd. Somerset, UK.ISBN0-85429-875-4.
