Re: Alfa 308 monoposto

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

Jorge's first post on the 308 (in ad7-1028) included a parenthetical "(John 
H. take note)" but I wasn't sure what I was supposed to take note of. His 
second post asked "did you guys not read my post or just ignored it?" and 
went on "Anybody knows anything about the car?" Italiacars responded "Yes, 
did read your post, seems that most of the people on the board really don't 
know much about Alfa's rich history."

Still not sure where the mystery is. If it is a diary of the provenance, who 
sold the car for how much on which date, and/or which provincial race it won 
at, there are undoubtedly some unknowns, but if it was about the car itself, 
far less. Fusi concisely describes it as "different from the 8C 2900 B 
roadster model due to major changes brought to the engine, clutch unit, frame 
(wheelbase reduced to 2.75 m), steering system (moved to the center of the 
car), control pedals, water radiator, and fuel and oil tanks." The ringer in 
that is that the 8C 2900 B Corto had had its wheelbase increased to 2.8 m 
from the 2.75 meters of the 8C 2900 A. The 8C 2900 A, a sports car built for 
the 1936 Mille Miglia, differed from the big 8C 1935 monoposto mainly in 
having its engine reduced from 3.8 liters to 2.9 liters and in having the 
steering and control pedals moved to the side for a biposto sportscar layout. 
The 308 was an expedient modification of the 8C 1935 for the new three liter 
formula while the three liter 12 was being developed; once the three-liter 
twelve was running, with 350 CV against the 308's 295 (but still not 
competitive), the 308s were decidedly second fiddle, suitable for shunting 
off to South America and/or Indianapolis.

Recapitulating the engines,, the 1934 Tipo B (or P3) had a 2905 cc engine (68 
x 100 mm) as did the 8C 2900 A and the 8C 2900 B; the 308 monoposto had a 
2991 cc version with a 69 mm bore x 100 stroke. The line had started as a 
2336 cc, 65 x 88 in the 8C 2300, gone to 2556 cc, 68 x 88 in the 2.6 Monza, 
then 2654 cc, 65 x 100 in the 1932 Tipo B, 2905 in the 1934 Tipo B, 3165 cc 
with 71 x 100 in the 1935 Tipo B and the Bimotore, and 3822 cc, 78 x 100 
(with different bore centers) in the 8c 1935, and back down to 2.9 for the 
sports cars and the 308.

Recapitulating the chassis, the 8C 1935 monoposto, 12C 1936, 8C 2900 A and B 
sports cars, 12C 1937, 308, 312 and 316 (with two 158 engines on a single 
crankcase) all had extremely similar chassis with swing axles, transverse 
leaf springs in the rear and essentially identical front suspensions closely 
related to those used on the 6C 2300 road cars, and essentially identical 
wheelbases and tracks, stretched slightly on the late monopostos and on the 
2900 B sports cars. As sports cars the 2900s did very well in the Mille 
Miglia (against very little opposition) and less well at Le Mans, altogether 
making a far less important run of victories than the 8C 2300 had earlier. As 
monopostos, the cars after the B had the misfortune of running against both 
Mercedes and Auto Union. On the concours and auction circuits the 308 (and 
other post-B, pre 159 monopostos) are rarer, but generally less beautiful, 
than the 8C 2900 road cars.

The 308 is covered, briefly, in Simon Moore's book on the 2.9s. It is not 
mentioned in "Le Alfa Romeo di Vittorio Jano", which is a sad indication of 
its modest place in Alfa Romeo's certainly rich history.

John H.
Raleigh, N.C. 

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End of alfa-digest V7 #1032
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