CMC Alfa-Romeo P3 Caracciola, winner GP Monza 1932, #6
Limited edition 1.000 pieces
The Alfa-Romeo Tipo B was the most successful single-seater Grand Prix racing car of its time. Alfa-Romeo built and fielded it between 1932 and 1936. Initially as an Alfa-Romeo works car, then later under the Scuderia Ferrari label after Alfa took over its racing activities. Designed by legendary designer Vittorio Jano, the car was based on the no less legendary Alfa-Romeo 8C models. The P3 was Alfa-Romeo’s second single-seater after the Tipo-A monoposto of 1931.
TECHNICAL DATA (ORIGINAL VEHICLE)
- 8-cylinder in-line engine with two Roots superchargers
Power: | 215 hp |
Displacement | 2,654 ccm |
Top speed: | 225 km/h |
Length: | 3.840 mm |
Width: | 1.375 mm |
Height: | 1.165 mm |
Wheelbase: | 2.642 mm |
Weight: | 700 kg |
HISTORY (ORIGINAL VEHICLE)
At the 1932 Monza Grand Prix, racing cars started without weight or engine capacity restrictions. The 10 km circuit of Monza consists of the famous 4.5 km long Pista di Velocita, an oval high-speed track and a 5.5 km asphalt track. The race mode with three races, rehabilitation (repêchage) and a final race was maintained. The participants were divided into three separate groups of nine cars each to compete in three separate heats. Each group had to complete 10 laps and thus 100 km.
The heats were similar to today’s qualifying sessions, with only the first through fourth place cars admitted to the final race. The repêchage, or habilitation, was a 5-lap, 50 km race in which drivers who did not make it past the qualifying sessions were given a second chance. Therefore, only the cars with the fifth to ninth place of each heat were admitted to the Repêchage. The top four drivers and the top four winners of each of the three races, i.e. the top 16 drivers, had to fight for 20 laps and 200 km in the final race. Alfa-Romeo sent Nuvolari, Campari, Borzacchini and Caracciola each in a new 2.6-liter P3 monoposto. Scuderia Ferrari brought Count Brivio and Taruffi each on the grid in Alfa-Romeo Monza cars. Bugatti named Varzi and Chiron on the 5-liter Type 54 model, while Maserati entered Fagioli, Ruggeri, Minozzi and Ernesto Maserati on the new 3000 cc front-wheel drive monoposti. In addition to Earl Howe’s Delage, Biondetti’s MB Special, Moradei’s 1.5-liter Talbot, to name a few, there were also privateer entrants on Alfa-Romeo, Maserati, Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz.
About 100,000 spectators watched the first race. The Prince and Princess of Piedmont were guests of honor. Only six of the nine drivers appeared at the start. Caracciola’s red Alfa-Romeo immediately shot away at incredible speed and had already established a clear lead after the first lap. None of the other competitors could really threaten the German. His time for the 10 laps was also a new record of 33m 24.2s.
The second run was especially interesting, where a heated battle between three strong drivers was expected: Nuvolari, Chiron and Fagioli, the Monza record holder in a 16-cylinder Maserati. After the start of the race, it seemed unclear for a long time whether Nuvolari or Fagioli would come out on top. Lap after lap, both cars passed the grandstands close together. On lap 6, Nuvolari slid off the track and received a new front wheel, dropping him to second. Race 3 saw a contest between Campari and Borzacchini, two Alfa-Romeo teammates. Campari took the lead from the start, which he maintained until the end of the race. Borzacchini finished second.
The final race was scheduled for 3:45 p.m., but the Alfa-Romeo P3 monoposti were not seen on the grid. It seemed that the Alfa-Romeo team was behind Nuvolari’s demand to penalize Fagioli for deliberate obstruction, which threw him off the track in the second race. But finally the Alfa Romeo team was reasonable, withdrew its protest and the race began. At the start, Nuvolari immediately took the lead, followed by Borzacchini, Caracciola and Fagioli. After five laps, Nuvolari led Caracciola by a razor-thin margin of two seconds. On lap six, Caracciola briefly managed to pass Nuvolari, but the Italian soon regained the lead. Between lap ten and lap nineteen, the two were so close that it was unclear who would win. At this critical time Nuvolari suffered a problem with fuel pressure, so he made a pit stop but was waved away by Vittorio Jano without refueling. This pit stop cost Nuvolari a lot of time and threw him back to third place. Rudolf Caracciola finished first with a new record ahead of Fagioli.
MODEL DESCRIPTION
- Hand-assembled precision model from 1,805 parts, including over 85% metal
- Authentic and true-to-scale monoposto body
- Precise stainless steel ladder frame
- Bonnet can be opened on both sides with spring fasteners
- Highly detailed eight-cylinder in-line engine with two Roots superchargers complete with ancillary units, routing, and wiring
- Hand-assembled wheels with aluminum rims and stainless-steel spokes mounted on base nipples
- Detachable wheels fastened by central locking nuts that feature side-dependent threads
- Detailed steering and brake linkage
- Functional petrol, water and oil filler caps
- Authentic cockpit with leather seat
- Originally designed dashboard with all gauges and controls
- Front and rear suspension faithfully reproduced with leaf springs and friction shock absorbers
- Removable floor pan after loosening the screws
Legal Disclaimer
The use of manufacturers’ names, symbols, type designations, and/or descriptions is solely for reference purposes. It does not imply that the CMC scale model is a product of any of these manufacturers.
The use of racing term and/or driver names, symbols, starting numbers, and/or descriptions is solely for reference purposes. Unless otherwise stated, it does not imply that the CMC scale model is a product of any of these racing teams/drivers or endorsed by any of them.
Related products
Products
Made with Love
Links
Media
Shop
Contact
between 9 am and 5 pm