CMC Alfa-Romeo P3 Caracciola, winner Klausenrennen 1932, #95
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 raced 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. The car, designed by the legendary constructor Vittorio Jano, 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)
The Klausen Race, also known as the “Grand Mountain Prize of Switzerland”, is a true classic among mountain sprints. Between 1922 and 1934, the best racers took part in this event in the Alps of central Switzerland. The Klausen race was one of the ten races that made up the first European Mountain Championship in 1930. On the 21.5 km long gravel road leading from Linthal to the Klausen Pass, the racing cars had to overcome 156 serpentine curves and an altitude of 1,237 metres on the way up. Spectators from all over the world followed the spectacle directly from the roadside. Whoever conquered the brutal Klausen Pass as the winner was allowed to count himself among the greatest racers at the time.
In August 1932, a fine troupe of pioneering racing cars and drivers competed here. Auto Union, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa-Romeo named as factory teams. Privateers such as Burggaller, Steinweg, Zanelli, Rey, Chambost, Strazza, Tuffanelli, Maag, Stuber, Rüschen, Sojka and Hans Kessler also entered. English drivers included H. C. Hamilton driving a Magnette for the Whitney Straight Syndicate, Cormack with his supercharged Alta and Miss Ellison with her Bugatti, and Penn Hughes.
Like the adventurous racers, the Klausen spectators were very tough and spared nothing. The sound of water could be heard everywhere and all the streams were full to the brim. I wonder what would have happened if a river had burst its banks? And even in August, heavy snowfall was possible. Boulders thundered down from Kilchenstock mountain every now and then, even in fine weather. In winter, the Klausen Pass was closed due to avalanche danger, especially between Linthal and Urnerboden, where the bumpy road opened up into a 5 km long plateau on one side and a granite wall on the other.
1932 was a spectacular year at the Klausen Race. The first sports cars raced up on 7 August. Tazio Nuvolari had a good drive with an Alfa-Romeo 8C in the 3,000 cc class, but first place went to Hans Stuck on a Mercedes-Benz SSKL. In the open race car class, Bugatti had its three-time winner Louis Chiron and Achille Varzi on the Bugatti T53 compete against Rudolf Caracciola in an Alfa-Romeo P3 Monoposto with starting number 95. The Bugatti drivers were always close on Caracciola’s heels, but remained winless. It was Caracciola’s day, he set a new record time for 15m50s. In 1934, two years later, he improved his record to 15:22 minutes when he drove Mercedes-Benz.
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
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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.
