Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931
Alfa Romeo 8C was a famed sports car of the 1930s. The name referred to the straight 8 cylinder engine. The Vittorio Jano-designed 8C was Alfa's primary sports model from its introduction in 1931 to its retirement in 1939.
The first models were the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a reference to the car's 2.3 L (2300 cc) engine. The short wheelbase version of this car won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, but it was the Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza that gave it its nickname, "Monza".
The supercharged dual overhead cam straight-8 engine, also designed by Jano, was later enlarged to 2.6 L. In this guise, the Alfa Romeo 8C could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds and could eventually reach 135 mph (217 km/h).
The 8C name has been revived in with the introduction of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2006 and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in 2008.
The first models were the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a reference to the car's 2.3 L (2300 cc) engine. The short wheelbase version of this car won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, but it was the Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza that gave it its nickname, "Monza".
The supercharged dual overhead cam straight-8 engine, also designed by Jano, was later enlarged to 2.6 L. In this guise, the Alfa Romeo 8C could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds and could eventually reach 135 mph (217 km/h).
The 8C name has been revived in with the introduction of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2006 and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in 2008.
