Apart from Tazio Nuvolari’s legendary performance in the 1935 German Grand Prix, it became clear by the middle of the year that Alfa Romeo’s esteemed Tipo B model was in need of a successor, especially considering the escalating competition from Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union. In response, Vittorio Jano undertook the design of a new car, known as the Tipo C. The initial iteration, named the 8C 35, featured a larger 3.8-liter engine with dual superchargers, each supplying a bank of four cylinders.
This powerhouse was coupled with a rear-mounted transaxle and housed within a brand-new, independently-sprung chassis. The 8C 35 made its debut at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza in September 1935, with Nuvolari joining Dreyfus to secure an encouraging second place, trailing behind Hans Stuck’s Auto Union.
Approximately twelve Tipo C chassis were reportedly completed. These chassis served as the foundation for both the 8C 35 and the later V-12-powered 12C 36, as they were designed to accommodate both Alfa Romeo’s eight- and twelve-cylinder engines interchangeably. Four fully assembled 8C 35s were eventually sold and designated as 50011-50014, although records indicate the existence of at least three additional 8C 35 engines (50015-50017).
In the case of the 12C 36 variant, Moore supplied seven of the 4-liter V-12 engines utilized in the Tipo C chassis. While not as triumphant as its predecessor, the Tipo B, the 8C 35 remained competitive in 1936, securing victories in Budapest, the Coppa Ciano, and Donington, while its twelve-cylinder counterpart emerged victorious in Barcelona, Milan, and Modena.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
