Alfa Romeo - Old Irish Racing Model Collection

ALFA ROMEO PRE-WW2 RACING AND PRODUCTION CARS I have always had a fondness for Alfa Romeo and appreciate the marque for its rich history of producing some of the best looking and technically interesting racing, sports cars and GT's ever made. While I have come close to purchasing one on a number of occasions, ownership of all but these miniatures has so far alluded me. As you can tell, I have a desire for the Giulia Sprint GTV and GTA's. Someday!

To view the Post-WW2 portion of our collection take this link to Post-WW2 Alfa Romeo
1920s

1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): The French Grand Prix of 1924 has been labeled as one of the greatest Grand Prix races ever run by Motor Sport magazine. The event held on the public roads surrounding Lyon and drew the largest number of entries (22) of any French Grand Prix in the 1920's. On race day, over 100,000 spectators gathered to watch over the next seven hours, a 35-lap race over the 14.38 mile (23.15 km) circuit. With many roads being unpaved at the time, the course was a combination of surfaces which transitioned from paved surface to gravel to dirt and back again. It was a true test of the endurance and stamina of both the machines and men driving them, both driver and riding mechanic. Before the race, the Alfa Romeo team goes about preparing their machines for the important race at Lyon, the XVIII Grand Prix de l'A.C.F., or French GP.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): Introduced by Alfa Romeo for the 1924 Grand Prix season, the P2 8C/2000 was the first creation by Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano. Six examples were built of the 2.0L (1,987 cc) straight-8 engined car with twin Roots superchargers ahead of the twin Memini carburetors. Power was delivered by a 4-speed manual gearbox and the P2 produced 140 bhp at the rear wheels during peak revs. As typical of the day, the P2 had a rigid front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs; while the rear had a live axle also with leaf springs. Both ends had friction shocks to cushion the ride over the bumpy racing surfaces of the day. The P2 in the hands of Antonio Ascari, won its first race at Cremona. Over the next six-years, the P2 would win 14 major Grand Prix's and take Alfa Romeo to the inaugural Automobile Championship in 1925. Its final triumph would be a win on the Targa Florio at the hands of Achille Varzi in 1930.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): In 1924 the P2 was the center point of the formidable Alfa Romeo team, with its principal drivers of Antonio Ascari, Giuseppe Campari. Louis Wagner, Ferdinando Minoia and Enzo Ferrari (whom you may have heard of). The team was led by Ascari, who began racing in 1919 and would join the Alfa Romeo team the following year. He would win four major Grand Prix's over his career, a career which was tragically cut short in July 1925 when while leading the French Grand Prix, his car overturned, severely injuring Ascari. He was 36 years old, the same age as his son Alberto who would be two-time World Champion in 1952 & '53; who ironically died behind the wheel of his race car at the age of 36. In 1924 however, fresh off the win at Circuit of Cremona, Ascari and the Alfa Romeo team were in force with four cars for the 1924 French Grand Prix.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): By Lap 20, Ascari driving the #3 Alfa Romeo P2 had retaken the lead of the 1924 French Grand Prix. With the failure of the second place Sunbeam, Alfa Romeo now held the top two places, with Campari and Ascari swapping the lead on Lap 27 and again the following lap. While Divo in the Delage was pushing hard, he was no immediate threat to the Italians. With the two Alfas vying for race supremacy, Seagrave was also moving up from his early race setbacks, setting fastest lap of the race on Lap 29. On Lap 32, the race gods frowned on Ascari and his car began to slow, requiring him to pit. Unable to restart the engine, Ascari's mechanic Ramponi attempted to push the car over the line, but collapsed, the Alfa Romeo was a non-finisher. Campari won the race in the #10 P2 by just over a minute over Divo, with Benoist in the other Delage in third. A great win for Alfa Romeo, but a bitter disappointment for Ascari in this car which led so brilliantly and who sadly lost his life in this race a year later.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43

1924 P2 8C/2000 (Italian Grand Prix, 1925 - WINNER): Coming into the 1925 Italian GP at Monza, Alfa Romeo and Duesenberg were tied with one win a piece for the inaugural World Manufacturers Championship (Automobile World Championship). Alfa had sent three cars to contest for the win. Slow pit stops by the Duesenberg team and the Alfa of Giuseppe Campari allowed Gastone Brilli-Peri to vault into the lead to win his first GP and the title for Alfa Romeo. Campari came in 2nd. Brilli-Peri was from a noble Florence family and 1925 was his first season with Alfa Romeo and the 2.0L supercharged P2's, having previously been a champion motorcycle and auto racer since just after WWI. His victory at Monza and Alfa winning the Championship resulted in the laurel wreath around the Alfa badge to this day. After winning two more GP's, unfortunately Brilli was killed in 1930 at the GP of Tripoli.
Model by ALFA ROMEO COLLECTION 1/43 1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): The French Grand Prix of 1924 has been labeled as one of the greatest Grand Prix races ever run by Motor Sport magazine. The event held on the public roads surrounding Lyon and drew the largest number of entries (22) of any French Grand Prix in the 1920's. On race day, over 100,000 spectators gathered to watch over the next seven hours, a 35-lap race over the 14.38 mile (23.15 km) circuit. With many roads being unpaved at the time, the course was a combination of surfaces which transitioned from paved surface to gravel to dirt and back again. It was a true test of the endurance and stamina of both the machines and men driving them, both driver and riding mechanic. Before the race, the Alfa Romeo team goes about preparing their machines for the important race at Lyon, the XVIII Grand Prix de l'A.C.F., or French GP.
Diorama by Old Irish Racing 1/43 1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): Entries at the French Grand Prix included the top makes and racing models of the day, including Bugatti, Delage, Fiat, Sunbeam, Miller and of course, the new Alfa Romeo P2. The cars were piloted by the best European drivers with the names of Segrave, Thomas, Nazzaro, Divo, Zborowski, Constantini and Benoist, among others. Alfa Romeo was there with four cars to be driven by Ascari, Campari, Wagner and Ferrari (who did not start the race due to illness.) Timed qualifying had not yet been invented and was done by a draw among the drivers instead for starting positions. Henry Seagrave drew pole position and was off at the start into the lead in one of the three Sunbeam's entered. Ascari (in this car) pushed through past Divo's Delage into second place at the start, with the first lap top five order being Seagrave, Ascari, Guinness (Sunbeam), Campari (Alfa), Bordino (Fiat). They were followed by Divo, Resta (Sunbeam), Pastore (Fiat), Benoist (Delage) and Thomas (Delage) rounding out the top ten. Bugatti, which had entered six T35's for the race was waiting for attrition at the top to advance their positions.
Diorama by Old Irish Racing 1/43

1930s

1924 P2 8C/2000 French Grand Prix, 1924 - WINNER: The P2 is along with the Bugatti T35, one of the iconic grand prix cars of the 1920's. Racing against contemporaries from Bugatti, Delage, Sunbeam and Fiat, the P2 won 14 Grand Prix events from its introduction in 1924, through 1930. The P2 was designed by Vittorio Jano and featured a 2.0L supercharged straight-eight engine producing 155hp. Alfa Romeo won the inaugural Automobile World Championship based on the racing success of the P2. In its inaugural season of 1924, this P2 was raced by Giuseppe Campari to victory in the French GP, which was designated as the European GP that year.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43 1930 6C 1750 GS (Mille Miglia, 1930 - WINNER): Tazio Nuvolari won the 1930 Mille Miglia in this car. Having started after his team-mate and rival Achille Varzi, Nuvolari was comfortably leading the race but was still behind Varzi on the road. In the early dawn Nuvolari tailed Varzi with his headlights off. Not being visible, he overtook Varzi on the straight roads approaching the finish at Brescia.
Model by METRO 1/43 1931 8C 2300 LM (LE MANS WINNER): Lord Howe and Sir Tim Birkin (from Bentley fame) drove Howe's 8C 2300 LM to victory at Le Mans in 1931. It would be the first of four consecutive victories for Alfa Romeo with the 8C 2300 LM. The '8C 2300 tipo Le Mans' was doing in sports car racing what the 8C 2300 was doing in Monoposto racing, winning!
Model by METRO 1/43 1932 6C 1750 GS: This is the touring car version of the 1750 roadsters. With its supercharged performance, and elegant coachwork, the 1750 could be described as the ancestor of every GT car ever made. All 6C 1750's had a 1752 cc, 6-cyl. super-charged, producing a whopping 95 hp for its time. Certainly beats a '32 Chevy in looks and performance!
Model by RIO 1/43

1932 6C 1750 GS: Scuderia Ferrari used this 6C 1750 GS as a support vehicle for the Alfa Romeos at sports car and grand prix events.
Model by RIO (modified) 1/43

1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): The 21st Targa Florio in 1930 was one of the most epic races around the island of Sicily in the history of the event. It was a battle for supremacy between Alfa Romeo, Maserati. Bugatti had dominated the event the past three years. It was also a battle within the Alfa Romeo team between Achille Varzi and Tazio Nuvolari, intense rivals that almost make the Senna and Prost rivalry sixty-years later look like kindergarten. The odds on favorite to win the race was Louis Chiron in his Bugatti Type 35B. To counter the Bugatti and new Maserati challengers, Alfa had modified a pair of older P2's for the race with a revised chassis and rear axles, which gave the powerful car a lower center of gravity.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): Before the race, one of the P2's was withdrawn and the rest of the Scuderia Ferrari team consisted of four 6C 1750 GS', including one piloted by Nuvolari. Varzi in his first TF set a blistering pace, opening up a minute and a half lead over Nuvolari and Chiron. Driving too hard to catch him, Nuvolari's car developed steering problems, which took him out of serious contention for the victory. Nuvolari was not the only one who developed problems however. Disaster struck when Varzi's spare wheel worked itself loose on the jarring mountain roads, puncturing the fuel tank. This caused Varzi to have to stop for fuel more often and his lead dwindled with Chiron in hot pursuit.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): By the time Varzi made his last pit stop for new tires and fuel, his lead was a slim 30 seconds. Knowing that they could not stop again for fuel, his riding mechanic grabbed a spare can of gas before they set off again. On the fifth and final 67 mile (108 Km) lap, refueling at speed, without the aid of a funnel, fuel spilled on the hot exhaust and started the car on fire. Knowing that if he stopped the car would be engulfed in flames, Varzi sped on, his mechanic trying to beat out the flames with his seat cushion.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43 1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): With victory in sight, as he could see Varzi's flaming car, that victory was taken from Chiron when he over compensated and hit a bridge trying to catch and overtake Varzi. He ended up finishing in second, over a minute and a half behind Varzi who just made it over the finish line. This gave Alfa Romeo an epic win on home soil, with three Alfa's in the top five, including Nuvolari in 5th. As much as they hated each other, Varzi and Nuvolari who had been teammates at Bugatti the year before, found themselves teammates again in 1931 at Maserati.
Model by FB MODELS 1/43

1932 8C 2300 Spider Corsa (Mille Miglia, 1932 - WINNER): Borzacchini and Bignami drove to a victory at the 1932 Mille Miglia, 2.3 L (2336 cc) Vitorio Jano designed supercharged straight eight engine, 165 hp produced the ultimate sports car of its day. Nuvolari drove to victory in the Targa Florio twice in one of these cars (1931 & 32) making three victories there in a row!.
Model by BRUMM 1/43 1932 8C 2300 LM (LE MANS, 1932 - WINNER): Raymond Sommer and Luigi Chinetti drove to a victory at Le Mans, to cap a great year for Alfa in 1932, with wins in the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Italian GP. This car entered by Sommer, beat the factory team car at Le Mans, which finished second. Sommer drove for over 20 hours of the race after Chinetti fell ill and could no longer race.
Model by IXO 1/43 1932 P3 (Italian GP, 1932 - WINNER): The Alfa Romeo P3, or Tipo B was designed by Vittorio Jano,based on the Alfa Romeo 8C. Designed to last longer race distances than its predessor the P2, the P3 was the first single seat grand prix car. The P3 was powered by a 2.7L straight-eight cylinder, super-charged engine. Tazio Nuvolari drove the P3 to victory in its first race, the Italian GP at Monza in 1932 and won the championship for Alfa that year.
Model by RIO 1/43 1933 8C 2300 MM-LM (LE MANS, 1933 - WINNER): An Alfa Romeo won Le Mans for the third consecutive year in 1933, with Raymond Sommer repeating as a winning driver from the prior year. Teamed with Sommer was Tazio Nuvolari, in what was the "Flying Mantuan's first and only victory at Le Mans. As Alfa concentrated on Grand Prix racing, all Alfa entries were private teams with eight 8C 2300's contesting the race. In an epic battle, it came down to the final lap of the race as Nuvolari had battled back from mechanical setbacks to reclaim the lead from Luigi Chinetti also in a Alfa. It stood as the closest Le Mans finish (401 meters) until 1969. Alfa's finished 1-2-3. Sommer and Nuvolari won despite a cracked exhaust box and radiator mount and badly fading brakes. Perhaps their biggest obstacle was a split in the petrol tank which was fixed by a chewing gum patch. Their crew furiously chewed gum during the last three hours of the race to regularly re-apply gum to the leak. Ingenuity!
Model by SPARK 1/43

1934 8C 2300 MM-LM (LE MANS, 1934 - WINNER): Luigi Chinetti, who would go on to give Ferrari its first win at Le Mans in 1949 and found the North American Racing Team (NART), won at Le Mans in 1934 again driving an Alfa (first win 1932) with co-driver/owner Phiippe Etacelin. Their 2.4L inline eight-cylinder, supercharged 8C 2300 was based on the newer short chassis MM. After the Alfa 2300 LM eneterd by Lord Howe and co-driven by Tim Rose-Richards dropped out, they coasted to a comfortable 13 lap lead at the checkered flag. It was not without drama however. A hole in their fuel tank was patched with chewing gum and more gum was applied at each pit stop to keep the leak in check.
Model by SPARK 1/43 1934 8C 2300 LM (Le Mans, 1934): Earl Francis Howe bought this conventional long-wheelbase 8C 2300 in 1933 to contest Le Mans, but had to withdraw due to an eye injury. At Le Mans in 1934 Howe entered the car again, to be co-driven by Tim Rose-Richards. The car had been fitted with a Touring body and was distinguished by the small fin on its tail section. Rose-Richards led the race at the start, with Howe regaining the lead in the early evening after dropping to second after pitting to have the shock absorbers tightened. Not long after, the car lost its electrics on the Mulsanne straight, but Rose-Richards was able to get it going again, but lost an hour in the pits. After working their way back to 6th place, the car's electrics failed again, got going again, but then retired after 1 am with a terminal clutch problem on Lap 85.
Model by SPARK 1/43 1936 Alfa Romeo Tipo C (12C-36) (Vanderbuilt Cup, 1936 - WINNER): The 12C-36 made its debut at the Tripoli Grand Prix, fitted with the new V12 instead of the 3.8 litre straight-eight of the 8C-35. The supercharged 4.1L V12 engine produced 370 bhp. Designed to compete with the might of the German Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union, the Alfa was competitive, but scored victory in only two major Grand Prix races in 1936, the Vanderbuilt Cup and at Barcelona. This is the car that Tazio Nulovari drove to victory at the Vanderbuilt Cup races.
Model by FDS 1/43

1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: One of the most elegant and proven supercars to arise out of the 1930s was the 8C, which was produced from 1931-39 in three different straight-eight engine displacements (2.3L, 2.6L, 2.9L) .This 2.9L example bodied by Touring, was perhaps influenced by Alfa Romeo's 1-2-3 sweep of the Mille Miglia in 2900A roadsters.
Model by SPARK 1/43 1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: The 8C designates 8 cylinders, and the 2900 designates the 2.9L straight-eight, twin supercharged engine which powered the top of the line touring cars Alfa Romeo produced beginning in 1935. It used a de-tuned Grand Prix engine, which produced 220 BHP, a substantial figure for its day. The 8C 2900 was originally designed to compete in sports car races, the Mille Miglia in particular.
Model by FB MODELLI 1/43 1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: The first 2900A was introduced at the London Motor Show in 1935 and Alfa Romeo produced nine more 2900A chassis (five in 1935 and five in 1936), which were sent to various coachbuilders for custom body work. This car features a two-seat spider body by Touring in the traditional deep red (maroon) Alfa Romeo racing color of the day.
Model by FB MODELLI 1/43

1936 8C 2900A Coupe: Six 8C 2900A's were built for racing, basically cycle fendered Grand Prix cars. This car is chassis number 412004, but it was not the first 8C 2900A to have this chassis number. It was originally issued to one of the three Scuderia Ferrari cars entered in the 1936 Mille Miglia and in fact was the winning car. At the end of the season, the car was rebodied with a road car (spyder) body. For reasons only known to Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, that car was assigned a new chassis number (412006) as was sold on as a "new" car; despite its known life as a competition car.
Model by KLAXON 1/43 1936 8C 2900A Coupe: For the Mille Miglia in 1937, Scuderia Ferrari again brought three cars and this car, now with the chassis number of the 1936 winner was one of the three entered. It was driven by Carlo Pintacuda and Pande Mambelli to first place. The car was subsequently sold, and was rebodied as a spyder bodied road car by Pininfarina. In 1947, its owner for whatever reason had the car rebodied again by the Swiss coachbuilder Martin as a coupe, which closely resembles the Lungo 2900B's. It was subsequently purchased by the Schlumph's for their collection, where the car still resides today.
Model by KLAXON 1/43 1936 8C 2900A Coupe: Alfa Romeo produced the 8C 2900A for racing and they were campaigned by Enzo Ferrari's Scuderia on the behalf of Alfa Romeo. All 2900A's were originally clad in two-seater, grand prix bodies and were powered by a 2.9L straight-eight cylinder engine with twin superchargers and could produce 220 hp; good for a top speed of 110 mph. Success of the 2900A, notably 1-2-3 finishes at both the 1936 and 1937 Mille Miglia, encouraged Alfa Romeo to produce road going versions of the 2900A, with a slightly detuned engine. Those cars were designated the 2900B and came in two chassis sizes. 2900B's would also see competition work, notably at Le Mans in the "Lungo" or long wheel base version.
Model by KLAXON 1/43

1937 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring (Mille Miglia, 1937): The 1937 Mille Miglia was a very nationalistic affair, with most entries being that of Italian cars. However French cars from Delahaye, Talbot, Bugatti and Delage also entered the 1,000 mile race to challenge the Alfa Romeo domination of the race. Not to disappoint the partisan crowds, an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A of Scuderia Ferrari won the very wet race and Alfas were in nine of the top ten finishers, a lone Delahaye 135CS finishing third. Finishing 4th overall and 1st in its class, was this Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring entered by Scuderia Ferrari for its notorious owner, Benito 'Il Duce' Mussolini.
Model by REMEI MODELS 1/43 1937 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring (Mille Miglia, 1937): The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Berlinetta with its Touring Superleggera body work was introduced just prior to the Mille Miglia. 107 were built on a short 6C chassis, it was powered by a 2.3L six-cylinder engine, which gave the elegant two-door saloon 105 hp and a top speed of almost 100 MPH. For the Mille Miglia the car was co-driven by lead Alfa Romeo test driver Giovanni Guidotti and Ercole Boratto, Mussolinis chauffer. Even though Guidotti did all the driving, in fascist Italy, he knew to let Boratto take all the credit and glory for their fine finish and class win.
Model by REMEI MODELS 1/43

1938 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa (Targa Abruzzi, 1938 - Winner): Alfa Romeo introduced the 6C, the lower cost alternative to the 8C, in 1934 at the Milan Auto Show. The 6C 2300B was introduced the following year with its improved chassis and suspension. In 1938, Touring built for Count Lurani and his Scuderia Ambrosiana a special 6C to compete in the Italian Sports Car Championship, which would be driven by Italian ace Franco Cortese. Cortese won seven of the eight rounds, including a class win on the Mille Miglia in 1938. The seventh round of the Championship was the Targa Abruzzi held on the brutal Pescara Circuit, which was held on open roads totaling 16 miles (25.8 Km) per lap. Cortese , with co-driver Pietro Ghersi won this prestigious race covering 416 miles (669 Km) at an average speed of 111.5 mph. This is the car in its Targa Abruzzi livery.
Model by BBR 1/43 1938 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa (Targa Abruzzi, 1938 - Winner): The 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa was powered by the 6C's 2.3L straight-six DOHC engine. This particular car had its engine tuned to produce 105 bhp. Touring used the first MM chassis (#815001) to body this special spyder. After its competition life, it was rebodied after WWII by Pinin Farina into a cabriolet. Purchased by John Coombs (of Jaguar fame) in the 1970's, it was rebodied to its original Touring body style. The car exists today in its MM livery and has been a regular concours winner, as well as used in the Mille Miglia retro and other vintage motorsport events.
Model by BBR 1/43 1938 6C 2900B Lungo Touring Berlinetta: Only ten 8C 2900B's were fitted with Touring's Superleggera Berlinetta bodywork from 1937-38, on the long-wheelbase (Lungo) chassis. The lightweight body kept the weight down so that the big car only weighed 2,889 lbs. (1250 Kg). The chassis with a wheelbase of 118.1" (3,000 mm) contained a detuned 2.9L DOHC eight-cylinder competition engine with twin superchargers, produced 180 hp and propelled the car to a top speed of 110 mph (175 kph). Designed by Vittorio Jano, these elegant touring cars were well suited for continental touring by their lucky owners. This car resides in the Alfa Romeo Museum.
Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43

1937 8C 2900B Spyder: The 2900B used a twin-supercharged 2.9L straight-eight cylinder engine (180 HP/120 MPH), which sat behind the front axle for better weight distribution. Intended for racing, the 2900B The 2900B design made some concessions to comfort and reliability, but arrival in one of the most beautiful cars of its time must have been worth it! It was also one of the worlds fastest cars at the time, adding to its appeal.
Model by Metal 43 1/43 1938 8C 2900B Le Mans Speciale (Le Mans, 1938): While leading the 1938 Le Mans race by over 100 miles, this car driven by Raymond Sommer and Clemente Biondetti was forced to retire due to a dropped valve, which had been preceded by a punctured tire. This streamlined coupe was unique among Le Mans race cars, because in 1938 most race cars were still open. The body had designed by Touring proved to have a very low drag coefficient, allowing the coupe to achieve greater speeds on the Mulsanne Straight and allow the drivers better protection from the unpredictable Le Mans weather. Owned by the Alfa Romeo museum, it is dispalyed today at many concours and historic racing events.
Model by TSM 1/43 1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder: The 2900B was Alfa Romeo's most prestigious grand touring car and was based on their successful motor sport engineering. Touring of Milan was responsible for almost the entire production of 2900B bodies and his flowing designs on the 2900B were his masterworks.Engine is a twin-supercharged, 180 hp, 2.9L. This car (Ch. #412041) was sent to Brazil after WWII, where the chassis was shortened and a Chevy V8 engine added for racing. Restored in 1997, it was reunited with its original body and engine.
Model by ALTAYA/IXO 1/43 1939 6C 2500S: Introduced in 1938, the 2500 (2.5L six-cylinder) was the last 6C road car, with the last 6C being produced in 1952. It was replaced by the 1900. The "S" stands for Sport and this car is an early Pinninfarina Cabriolet fitted on a Sport chassis. Breaking with the tradition of delivering rolling chassis for coachbuilders to body, the Pinninfarina Sport Cabriolet was offered as a complete car by Alfa Romeo.
Model by ALTAYA/IXO 1/43

1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder: The 8C 2900B was the road going variant of the 2900A competition cars. All seven long chassis (Lungo) spyders were built and bodied by Touring of Milan. While the cars had soft tops, there were no side curtains or other weather protection. This car (Ch. #412026) was delivered new to England, where it had several enthusiastic British owners. Brought to the United States, the car was owned by American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti for many years. Restored in the mid-1980's, it has been shown at many prestigious shows, including Pebble Beach twice.
Model by IXO MUSEUM 1/43 1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder:
Model by IXO MUSEUM 1/43 1939-42 6C 2500 SS Spider (Tipo 256): The 6C 2500 SS was produced from 1939-1940 in a variety of body styles and wheelbase configurations, most being custom bodied with the Berlinettas usually being bodied by Touring and the Spiders by Pinin Farina. The SS had the Jano designed 2.4L six-cylinder DOHC engine with triple carburetors and produced 120 BHP, up 4 BHP from the standard engine. It was capable of 106 mph. The steel ladder framed chassis was clothed in aluminum coachwork. It was one of the most expensive cars of its time.
Model by SPARK 1/43 1939-42 6C 2500 SS Spider (tipo 256): The Tipo 256 was built in 1939 and 1940 to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia, was the final collaboration between Scuderia Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. This car (Chassis #915.515) was one of the twenty Tipo 256 cars built, its original body and history is unknown. One of the cars earliest known owners was noted Italian collector Corrado Cupellini, who had the car rebodied in the style of an earlier Alfa 6C 2300. The car passed through a pair of owners hands before undergoing a complete restoration in 1994-97 and subsequently several prestigious awards. It sold in for $555,000 at auction in 2018.
Model by SPARK 1/43

Pre-War Replicas

1968 Spider 4R Zagato Quattroroute: It could be described as a factory kit car, or a modern reminiscence of a prewar Alfa jewel, the 6C 1750 from the 30's. Based on the Giulia floor plan and mechanicals, it sports a body built by Zagato in the old manner. Only 92 were produced from 1966 to 1968.
Model by POLITOYS 1/43 :
1968 Spider 4R Zagato Quattroroute: These are the two color variations this model came in. It was unique in its day as being the only diecast car with working rack and pinion steering, especially in 1/43 scale!
Model by POLITOYS 1/43

To view the Post-WW2 portion of our collection take this link to Post-WW2 Alfa Romeo

To continue to another section of the Old Irish Racing Collection, select one of the following:

THE SIGNATURE PROJECT & RACING DIORAMAS
RACING TRANSPORTERS, SUPPORT VEHICLES AND OTHER TRUCKS Pt.1
RACING TRANSPORTERS, SUPPORT VEHICLES AND OTHER TRUCKS Pt.2

JAGUAR RACING CARS:
To 1959 1960 - 1979 1980 - 1989 1990's - Present
ECURIE ECOSSE - JAGUAR and MORE!
GROUP 44, Inc., JAGUAR & TRIUMPH
JAGUAR AT LE MANS
JAGUAR AUTOMOBILIA
JAGUAR PRODUCTION CARS:
1926 to 1959 1960 to 1968 1969-1987 1988 - Present
JAGUAR CONCEPT, PROTOTYPE & SPECIAL EDITION CARS
EACH JAGUAR MODEL FROM 1935 IN PRODUCTION ORDER
FERRARI RACING CARS:
1940 - 1959 1960 - 1969 1970 - 1979 1980 - Present
FERRARI FORMULA ONE
FERRARI PRODUCTION SPORTS, GT CARS & PROTOTYPES
PORSCHE RACING & PRODUCTION CARS:
1950 - 1969 1970 - 1979 1980 - 1989 1990 - Present
BRUMOS RACING TEAM
PORSCHE PRODUCTION CARS
GRAND PRIX, FORMULA 1 & INDY CARS:
1900 - 1959
1960 - 1969
1970 - 1979
1980 - PRESENT
World F1 Champions 1950 - PRESENT
ALFA ROMEO RACING & PRODUCTION CARS:
Pre-WW2
1Post WW2

GREAT AUTOMOTIVE MAKES & RACING TEAMS:

AMERICAN:
CHAPARRAL
CHEVROLET & GM POWERED RACE CARS
COBRAS & DAYTONAS - SHELBY CARS
CUNNINGHAM EQUIPE - THE CARS OF BRIGGS CUNNINGHAM
FORD POWER: GT40's, MUSTANGS & MORE
MISC. AMERICAN MADE

BRITISH:
ASTON MARTIN RACE & PRODUCTION
AUSTIN HEALEY & HEALEY
BRABHAM F1 & SPORTS CARS
BRM F1 & SPORTS CARS
LOLA SPORTS RACING CARS
LOTUS F1, RACE & PRODUCTION
McLAREN RACING & PRODUCTION CARS
MG CARS - RACING & PRODUCTION
TRIUMPH RACE & PRODUCTION CARS
MISC. BRITISH MADE

FRENCH:
BUGATTI
FRENCH MADE

GERMAN & SWEDISH:
AUDI RACING
BMW RACE & PRODUCTION
MERCEDES BENZ RACE & PRODUCTION
MISC. GERMAN & SWEDISH MADE

ITALIAN & SPANISH:
ABARTH RACING
LANCIA RACE & PRODUCTION
MASERATI RACE & PRODUCTION
MISC. ITALIAN & SPANISH MADE

ASIAN & AUSTRALIAN:
DATSUN/NISSAN RACING
TOYOTA RACE & PRODUCTION CARS
MISC. JAPAN, ASIAN & AUSTRALIAN MADE

VETERAN, CLASSIC & SPECIAL INTEREST CARS All MARQUES

LAND SPEED AND ENDURANCE RECORD CARS

LE MANS THE PINACLE OF ENDURANCE RACES:
THE 24 HOURS of LE MANS 100 YEARS - 1923-2023

HALL OF FAME DRIVER TRIBUTES:
THE OLD IRISH RACING HALL OF FAME

PLAY BALL! - IT'S BASEBALL TIME:
A TRIBUTE TO BOYHOOD HEROES AND MY DAD

For copies of images, questions or comments about the collection to: OLD IRISH RACING

Back to: OLD IRISH RACING MODELS INDEX Home Page

Back to: OLD IRISH RACING Home Page

Legal stuff: Content and images on this website unless stated, are the property and content of Old Irish Racing and may not be used without permission. Old Irish Racing is not affiliated with, or represent any other entity past or present.
All pages and content on this website (unless noted) are owned and the copyrighted and may not be reproduced or redistributed without the consent of Old Irish Racing. This is a private collection, unless noted, pieces are not for sale!

PLEASE NOTE: From 1968 into the 1990's tobacco companies sponsored many significant race cars. We don't promote tobacco use, rather we stronly discourage it. However, we do promote historical accuracy, Old Irish Racing chooses to display models in our collection as historically accurate as possible. While seeing a tobacco advert on a car gives me no more desire to go smoke than seeing a car makes me want to go suck on its exhaust pipe. If tobacco (or alcohol) adverts on race cars offend you, please go look at nice pictures of bunnies and kittens on another site. Thank you!


1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): The French Grand Prix of 1924 has been labeled as one of the greatest Grand Prix races ever run by Motor Sport magazine. The event held on the public roads surrounding Lyon and drew the largest number of entries (22) of any French Grand Prix in the 1920's. On race day, over 100,000 spectators gathered to watch over the next seven hours, a 35-lap race over the 14.38 mile (23.15 km) circuit. With many roads being unpaved at the time, the course was a combination of surfaces which transitioned from paved surface to gravel to dirt and back again. It was a true test of the endurance and stamina of both the machines and men driving them, both driver and riding mechanic. Before the race, the Alfa Romeo team goes about preparing their machines for the important race at Lyon, the XVIII Grand Prix de l'A.C.F., or French GP. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): Introduced by Alfa Romeo for the 1924 Grand Prix season, the P2 8C/2000 was the first creation by Alfa's new designer Vittorio Jano. Six examples were built of the 2.0L (1,987 cc) straight-8 engined car with twin Roots superchargers ahead of the twin Memini carburetors. Power was delivered by a 4-speed manual gearbox and the P2 produced 140 bhp at the rear wheels during peak revs. As typical of the day, the P2 had a rigid front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs; while the rear had a live axle also with leaf springs. Both ends had friction shocks to cushion the ride over the bumpy racing surfaces of the day. The P2 in the hands of Antonio Ascari, won its first race at Cremona. Over the next six-years, the P2 would win 14 major Grand Prix's and take Alfa Romeo to the inaugural Automobile Championship in 1925. Its final triumph would be a win on the Targa Florio at the hands of Achille Varzi in 1930. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): In 1924 the P2 was the center point of the formidable Alfa Romeo team, with its principal drivers of Antonio Ascari, Giuseppe Campari. Louis Wagner, Ferdinando Minoia and Enzo Ferrari (whom you may have heard of). The team was led by Ascari, who began racing in 1919 and would join the Alfa Romeo team the following year. He would win four major Grand Prix's over his career, a career which was tragically cut short in July 1925 when while leading the French Grand Prix, his car overturned, severely injuring Ascari. He was 36 years old, the same age as his son Alberto who would be two-time World Champion in 1952 & '53; who ironically died behind the wheel of his race car at the age of 36. In 1924 however, fresh off the win at Circuit of Cremona, Ascari and the Alfa Romeo team were in force with four cars for the 1924 French Grand Prix. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): By Lap 20, Ascari driving the #3 Alfa Romeo P2 had retaken the lead of the 1924 French Grand Prix. With the failure of the second place Sunbeam, Alfa Romeo now held the top two places, with Campari and Ascari swapping the lead on Lap 27 and again the following lap. While Divo in the Delage was pushing hard, he was no immediate threat to the Italians. With the two Alfas vying for race supremacy, Seagrave was also moving up from his early race setbacks, setting fastest lap of the race on Lap 29. On Lap 32, the race gods frowned on Ascari and his car began to slow, requiring him to pit. Unable to restart the engine, Ascari's mechanic Ramponi attempted to push the car over the line, but collapsed, the Alfa Romeo was a non-finisher. Campari won the race in the #10 P2 by just over a minute over Divo, with Benoist in the other Delage in third. A great win for Alfa Romeo, but a bitter disappointment for Ascari in this car which led so brilliantly and who sadly lost his life in this race a year later. Model by FB MODELS 1/43


1924 P2 8C/2000 (Italian Grand Prix, 1925 - WINNER): Coming into the 1925 Italian GP at Monza, Alfa Romeo and Duesenberg were tied with one win a piece for the inaugural World Manufacturers Championship (Automobile World Championship). Alfa had sent three cars to contest for the win. Slow pit stops by the Duesenberg team and the Alfa of Giuseppe Campari allowed Gastone Brilli-Peri to vault into the lead to win his first GP and the title for Alfa Romeo. Campari came in 2nd. Brilli-Peri was from a noble Florence family and 1925 was his first season with Alfa Romeo and the 2.0L supercharged P2's, having previously been a champion motorcycle and auto racer since just after WWI. His victory at Monza and Alfa winning the Championship resulted in the laurel wreath around the Alfa badge to this day. After winning two more GP's, unfortunately Brilli was killed in 1930 at the GP of Tripoli. Model by ALFA ROMEO COLLECTION 1/43	1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): The French Grand Prix of 1924 has been labeled as one of the greatest Grand Prix races ever run by Motor Sport magazine. The event held on the public roads surrounding Lyon and drew the largest number of entries (22) of any French Grand Prix in the 1920's. On race day, over 100,000 spectators gathered to watch over the next seven hours, a 35-lap race over the 14.38 mile (23.15 km) circuit. With many roads being unpaved at the time, the course was a combination of surfaces which transitioned from paved surface to gravel to dirt and back again. It was a true test of the endurance and stamina of both the machines and men driving them, both driver and riding mechanic. Before the race, the Alfa Romeo team goes about preparing their machines for the important race at Lyon, the XVIII Grand Prix de l'A.C.F., or French GP. Diorama by Old Irish Racing 1/43	1924 P2 8C/2000 (French Grand Prix, 1924): Entries at the French Grand Prix included the top makes and racing models of the day, including Bugatti, Delage, Fiat, Sunbeam, Miller and of course, the new Alfa Romeo P2. The cars were piloted by the best European drivers with the names of Segrave, Thomas, Nazzaro, Divo, Zborowski, Constantini and Benoist, among others. Alfa Romeo was there with four cars to be driven by Ascari, Campari, Wagner and Ferrari (who did not start the race due to illness.) Timed qualifying had not yet been invented and was done by a draw among the drivers instead for starting positions. Henry Seagrave drew pole position and was off at the start into the lead in one of the three Sunbeam's entered. Ascari (in this car) pushed through past Divo's Delage into second place at the start, with the first lap top five order being Seagrave, Ascari, Guinness (Sunbeam), Campari (Alfa), Bordino (Fiat). They were followed by Divo, Resta (Sunbeam), Pastore (Fiat), Benoist (Delage) and Thomas (Delage) rounding out the top ten. Bugatti, which had entered six T35's for the race was waiting for attrition at the top to advance their positions. Diorama by Old Irish Racing 1/43


1924 P2 8C/2000 French Grand Prix, 1924 - WINNER: The P2 is along with the Bugatti T35, one of the iconic grand prix cars of the 1920's. Racing against contemporaries from Bugatti, Delage, Sunbeam and Fiat, the P2 won 14 Grand Prix events from its introduction in 1924, through 1930. The P2 was designed by Vittorio Jano and featured a 2.0L supercharged straight-eight engine producing 155hp. Alfa Romeo won the inaugural Automobile World Championship based on the racing success of the P2. In its inaugural season of 1924, this P2 was raced by Giuseppe Campari to victory in the French GP, which was designated as the European GP that year. Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43	1930 6C 1750 GS (Mille Miglia, 1930 - WINNER): Tazio Nuvolari won the 1930 Mille Miglia in this car. Having started after his team-mate and rival Achille Varzi, Nuvolari was comfortably leading the race but was still behind Varzi on the road. In the early dawn Nuvolari tailed Varzi with his headlights off. Not being visible, he overtook Varzi on the straight roads approaching the finish at Brescia. Model by METRO 1/43	1931 8C 2300 LM (LE MANS WINNER): Lord Howe and Sir Tim Birkin (from Bentley fame) drove Howe's 8C 2300 LM to victory at Le Mans in 1931. It would be the first of four consecutive victories for Alfa Romeo with the 8C 2300 LM. The '8C 2300 tipo Le Mans' was doing in sports car racing what the 8C 2300 was doing in Monoposto racing, winning! Model by METRO 1/43	1932 6C 1750 GS: This is the touring car version of the 1750 roadsters. With its supercharged performance, and elegant coachwork, the 1750 could be described as the ancestor of every GT car ever made. All 6C 1750's had a 1752 cc, 6-cyl. super-charged, producing a whopping 95 hp for its time. Certainly beats a '32 Chevy in looks and performance! Model by RIO 1/43


1932 6C 1750 GS: Scuderia Ferrari used this 6C 1750 GS as a support vehicle for the Alfa Romeos at sports car and grand prix events. Model by RIO (modified) 1/43


1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): The 21st Targa Florio in 1930 was one of the most epic races around the island of Sicily in the history of the event. It was a battle for supremacy between Alfa Romeo, Maserati. Bugatti had dominated the event the past three years. It was also a battle within the Alfa Romeo team between Achille Varzi and Tazio Nuvolari, intense rivals that almost make the Senna and Prost rivalry sixty-years later look like kindergarten. The odds on favorite to win the race was Louis Chiron in his Bugatti Type 35B. To counter the Bugatti and new Maserati challengers, Alfa had modified a pair of older P2's for the race with a revised chassis and rear axles, which gave the powerful car a lower center of gravity. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): Before the race, one of the P2's was withdrawn and the rest of the Scuderia Ferrari team consisted of four 6C 1750 GS', including one piloted by Nuvolari. Varzi in his first TF set a blistering pace, opening up a minute and a half lead over Nuvolari and Chiron. Driving too hard to catch him, Nuvolari's car developed steering problems, which took him out of serious contention for the victory. Nuvolari was not the only one who developed problems however. Disaster struck when Varzi's spare wheel worked itself loose on the jarring mountain roads, puncturing the fuel tank. This caused Varzi to have to stop for fuel more often and his lead dwindled with Chiron in hot pursuit. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): By the time Varzi made his last pit stop for new tires and fuel, his lead was a slim 30 seconds. Knowing that they could not stop again for fuel, his riding mechanic grabbed a spare can of gas before they set off again. On the fifth and final 67 mile (108 Km) lap, refueling at speed, without the aid of a funnel, fuel spilled on the hot exhaust and started the car on fire. Knowing that if he stopped the car would be engulfed in flames, Varzi sped on, his mechanic trying to beat out the flames with his seat cushion. Model by FB MODELS 1/43	1930 P2 (Targa Florio, 1930 - Winner): With victory in sight, as he could see Varzi's flaming car, that victory was taken from Chiron when he over compensated and hit a bridge trying to catch and overtake Varzi. He ended up finishing in second, over a minute and a half behind Varzi who just made it over the finish line. This gave Alfa Romeo an epic win on home soil, with three Alfa's in the top five, including Nuvolari in 5th. As much as they hated each other, Varzi and Nuvolari who had been teammates at Bugatti the year before, found themselves teammates again in 1931 at Maserati. Model by FB MODELS 1/43


1932 8C 2300 Spider Corsa (Mille Miglia, 1932 - WINNER): Borzacchini and Bignami drove to a victory at the 1932 Mille Miglia, 2.3 L (2336 cc) Vitorio Jano designed supercharged straight eight engine, 165 hp produced the ultimate sports car of its day. Nuvolari drove to victory in the Targa Florio twice in one of these cars (1931 & 32) making three victories there in a row!. Model by BRUMM 1/43	1932 8C 2300 LM (LE MANS, 1932 - WINNER): Raymond Sommer and Luigi Chinetti drove to a victory at Le Mans, to cap a great year for Alfa in 1932, with wins in the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Italian GP. This car entered by Sommer, beat the factory team car at Le Mans, which finished second. Sommer drove for over 20 hours of the race after Chinetti fell ill and could no longer race. Model by IXO 1/43	1932 P3 (Italian GP, 1932 - WINNER): The Alfa Romeo P3, or Tipo B was designed by Vittorio Jano,based on the Alfa Romeo 8C. Designed to last longer race distances than its predessor the P2, the P3 was the first single seat grand prix car. The P3 was powered by a 2.7L straight-eight cylinder, super-charged engine. Tazio Nuvolari drove the P3 to victory in its first race, the Italian GP at Monza in 1932 and won the championship for Alfa that year. Model by RIO 1/43	1933 8C 2300 MM-LM (LE MANS, 1933 - WINNER): An Alfa Romeo won Le Mans for the third consecutive year in 1933, with Raymond Sommer repeating as a winning driver from the prior year. Teamed with Sommer was Tazio Nuvolari, in what was the "Flying Mantuan's first and only victory at Le Mans. As Alfa concentrated on Grand Prix racing, all Alfa entries were private teams with eight 8C 2300's contesting the race. In an epic battle, it came down to the final lap of the race as Nuvolari had battled back from mechanical setbacks to reclaim the lead from Luigi Chinetti also in a Alfa. It stood as the closest Le Mans finish (401 meters) until 1969. Alfa's finished 1-2-3. Sommer and Nuvolari won despite a cracked exhaust box and radiator mount and badly fading brakes. Perhaps their biggest obstacle was a split in the petrol tank which was fixed by a chewing gum patch. Their crew furiously chewed gum during the last three hours of the race to regularly re-apply gum to the leak. Ingenuity! Model by SPARK 1/43


1934 8C 2300 MM-LM (LE MANS, 1934 - WINNER): Luigi Chinetti, who would go on to give Ferrari its first win at Le Mans in 1949 and found the North American Racing Team (NART), won at Le Mans in 1934 again driving an Alfa (first win 1932) with co-driver/owner Phiippe Etacelin. Their 2.4L inline eight-cylinder, supercharged 8C 2300 was based on the newer short chassis MM. After the Alfa 2300 LM eneterd by Lord Howe and co-driven by Tim Rose-Richards dropped out, they coasted to a comfortable 13 lap lead at the checkered flag. It was not without drama however. A hole in their fuel tank was patched with chewing gum and more gum was applied at each pit stop to keep the leak in check. Model by SPARK 1/43	1934 8C 2300 LM (Le Mans, 1934): Earl Francis Howe bought this conventional long-wheelbase 8C 2300 in 1933 to contest Le Mans, but had to withdraw due to an eye injury. At Le Mans in 1934 Howe entered the car again, to be co-driven by Tim Rose-Richards. The car had been fitted with a Touring body and was distinguished by the small fin on its tail section. Rose-Richards led the race at the start, with Howe regaining the lead in the early evening after dropping to second after pitting to have the shock absorbers tightened. Not long after, the car lost its electrics on the Mulsanne straight, but Rose-Richards was able to get it going again, but lost an hour in the pits. After working their way back to 6th place, the car's electrics failed again, got going again, but then retired after 1 am with a terminal clutch problem on Lap 85. Model by SPARK 1/43	1936 Alfa Romeo Tipo C (12C-36) (Vanderbuilt Cup, 1936 - WINNER): The 12C-36 made its debut at the Tripoli Grand Prix, fitted with the new V12 instead of the 3.8 litre straight-eight of the 8C-35. The supercharged 4.1L V12 engine produced 370 bhp. Designed to compete with the might of the German Silver Arrows of Mercedes and Auto Union, the Alfa was competitive, but scored victory in only two major Grand Prix races in 1936, the Vanderbuilt Cup and at Barcelona. This is the car that Tazio Nulovari drove to victory at the Vanderbuilt Cup races. Model by FDS 1/43


1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: One of the most elegant and proven supercars to arise out of the 1930s was the 8C, which was produced from 1931-39 in three different straight-eight engine displacements (2.3L, 2.6L, 2.9L) .This 2.9L example bodied by Touring, was perhaps influenced by Alfa Romeo's 1-2-3 sweep of the Mille Miglia in 2900A roadsters. Model by SPARK 1/43	1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: The 8C designates 8 cylinders, and the 2900 designates the 2.9L straight-eight, twin supercharged engine which powered the top of the line touring cars Alfa Romeo produced beginning in 1935. It used a de-tuned Grand Prix engine, which produced 220 BHP, a substantial figure for its day. The 8C 2900 was originally designed to compete in sports car races, the Mille Miglia in particular. Model by FB MODELLI 1/43	1936 8C 2900A Touring Spider: The first 2900A was introduced at the London Motor Show in 1935 and Alfa Romeo produced nine more 2900A chassis (five in 1935 and five in 1936), which were sent to various coachbuilders for custom body work. This car features a two-seat spider body by Touring in the traditional deep red (maroon) Alfa Romeo racing color of the day. Model by FB MODELLI 1/43


1936 8C 2900A Coupe: Six 8C 2900A's were built for racing, basically cycle fendered Grand Prix cars. This car is chassis number 412004, but it was not the first 8C 2900A to have this chassis number. It was originally issued to one of the three Scuderia Ferrari cars entered in the 1936 Mille Miglia and in fact was the winning car. At the end of the season, the car was rebodied with a road car (spyder) body. For reasons only known to Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, that car was assigned a new chassis number (412006) as was sold on as a "new" car; despite its known life as a competition car. Model by KLAXON 1/43	1936 8C 2900A Coupe: For the Mille Miglia in 1937, Scuderia Ferrari again brought three cars and this car, now with the chassis number of the 1936 winner was one of the three entered. It was driven by Carlo Pintacuda and Pande Mambelli to first place. The car was subsequently sold, and was rebodied as a spyder bodied road car by Pininfarina. In 1947, its owner for whatever reason had the car rebodied again by the Swiss coachbuilder Martin as a coupe, which closely resembles the Lungo 2900B's. It was subsequently purchased by the Schlumph's for their collection, where the car still resides today. Model by KLAXON 1/43	1936 8C 2900A Coupe: Alfa Romeo produced the 8C 2900A for racing and they were campaigned by Enzo Ferrari's Scuderia on the behalf of Alfa Romeo. All 2900A's were originally clad in two-seater, grand prix bodies and were powered by a 2.9L straight-eight cylinder engine with twin superchargers and could produce 220 hp; good for a top speed of 110 mph. Success of the 2900A, notably 1-2-3 finishes at both the 1936 and 1937 Mille Miglia, encouraged Alfa Romeo to produce road going versions of the 2900A, with a slightly detuned engine. Those cars were designated the 2900B and came in two chassis sizes. 2900B's would also see competition work, notably at Le Mans in the "Lungo" or long wheel base version. Model by KLAXON 1/43


1937 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring (Mille Miglia, 1937): The 1937 Mille Miglia was a very nationalistic affair, with most entries being that of Italian cars. However French cars from Delahaye, Talbot, Bugatti and Delage also entered the 1,000 mile race to challenge the Alfa Romeo domination of the race. Not to disappoint the partisan crowds, an Alfa Romeo 8C 2900A of Scuderia Ferrari won the very wet race and Alfas were in nine of the top ten finishers, a lone Delahaye 135CS finishing third. Finishing 4th overall and 1st in its class, was this Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring entered by Scuderia Ferrari for its notorious owner, Benito 'Il Duce' Mussolini. Model by REMEI MODELS 1/43	1937 6C 2300B Berlinetta Touring (Mille Miglia, 1937): The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Berlinetta with its Touring Superleggera body work was introduced just prior to the Mille Miglia. 107 were built on a short 6C chassis, it was powered by a 2.3L six-cylinder engine, which gave the elegant two-door saloon 105 hp and a top speed of almost 100 MPH. For the Mille Miglia the car was co-driven by lead Alfa Romeo test driver Giovanni Guidotti and Ercole Boratto, Mussolinis chauffer. Even though Guidotti did all the driving, in fascist Italy, he knew to let Boratto take all the credit and glory for their fine finish and class win. Model by REMEI MODELS 1/43


1938 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa (Targa Abruzzi, 1938 - Winner): Alfa Romeo introduced the 6C, the lower cost alternative to the 8C, in 1934 at the Milan Auto Show. The 6C 2300B was introduced the following year with its improved chassis and suspension. In 1938, Touring built for Count Lurani and his Scuderia Ambrosiana a special 6C to compete in the Italian Sports Car Championship, which would be driven by Italian ace Franco Cortese. Cortese won seven of the eight rounds, including a class win on the Mille Miglia in 1938. The seventh round of the Championship was the Targa Abruzzi held on the brutal Pescara Circuit, which was held on open roads totaling 16 miles (25.8 Km) per lap. Cortese , with co-driver Pietro Ghersi won this prestigious race covering 416 miles (669 Km) at an average speed of 111.5 mph. This is the car in its Targa Abruzzi livery. Model by BBR 1/43	1938 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa (Targa Abruzzi, 1938 - Winner): The 6C 2300B MM Spyder Corsa was powered by the 6C's 2.3L straight-six DOHC engine. This particular car had its engine tuned to produce 105 bhp. Touring used the first MM chassis (#815001) to body this special spyder. After its competition life, it was rebodied after WWII by Pinin Farina into a cabriolet. Purchased by John Coombs (of Jaguar fame) in the 1970's, it was rebodied to its original Touring body style. The car exists today in its MM livery and has been a regular concours winner, as well as used in the Mille Miglia retro and other vintage motorsport events. Model by BBR 1/43	1938 6C 2900B Lungo Touring Berlinetta: Only ten 8C 2900B's were fitted with Touring's Superleggera Berlinetta bodywork from 1937-38, on the long-wheelbase (Lungo) chassis. The lightweight body kept the weight down so that the big car only weighed 2,889 lbs. (1250 Kg). The chassis with a wheelbase of 118.1" (3,000 mm) contained a detuned 2.9L DOHC eight-cylinder competition engine with twin superchargers, produced 180 hp and propelled the car to a top speed of 110 mph (175 kph). Designed by Vittorio Jano, these elegant touring cars were well suited for continental touring by their lucky owners. This car resides in the Alfa Romeo Museum. Model by MINICHAMPS 1/43


1937 8C 2900B Spyder: The 2900B used a twin-supercharged 2.9L straight-eight cylinder engine (180 HP/120 MPH), which sat behind the front axle for better weight distribution. Intended for racing, the 2900B The 2900B design made some concessions to comfort and reliability, but arrival in one of the most beautiful cars of its time must have been worth it! It was also one of the worlds fastest cars at the time, adding to its appeal. Model by Metal 43 1/43	1938 8C 2900B Le Mans Speciale (Le Mans, 1938): While leading the 1938 Le Mans race by over 100 miles, this car driven by Raymond Sommer and Clemente Biondetti was forced to retire due to a dropped valve, which had been preceded by a punctured tire. This streamlined coupe was unique among Le Mans race cars, because in 1938 most race cars were still open. The body had designed by Touring proved to have a very low drag coefficient, allowing the coupe to achieve greater speeds on the Mulsanne Straight and allow the drivers better protection from the unpredictable Le Mans weather. Owned by the Alfa Romeo museum, it is dispalyed today at many concours and historic racing events. Model by TSM 1/43	1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder: The 2900B was Alfa Romeo's most prestigious grand touring car and was based on their successful motor sport engineering. Touring of Milan was responsible for almost the entire production of 2900B bodies and his flowing designs on the 2900B were his masterworks.Engine is a twin-supercharged, 180 hp, 2.9L. This car (Ch. #412041) was sent to Brazil after WWII, where the chassis was shortened and a Chevy V8 engine added for racing. Restored in 1997, it was reunited with its original body and engine. Model by ALTAYA/IXO 1/43	1939 6C 2500S: Introduced in 1938, the 2500 (2.5L six-cylinder) was the last 6C road car, with the last 6C being produced in 1952. It was replaced by the 1900. The "S" stands for Sport and this car is an early Pinninfarina Cabriolet fitted on a Sport chassis. Breaking with the tradition of delivering rolling chassis for coachbuilders to body, the Pinninfarina Sport Cabriolet was offered as a complete car by Alfa Romeo. Model by ALTAYA/IXO 1/43


1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder: The 8C 2900B was the road going variant of the 2900A competition cars. All seven long chassis (Lungo) spyders were built and bodied by Touring of Milan. While the cars had soft tops, there were no side curtains or other weather protection. This car (Ch. #412026) was delivered new to England, where it had several enthusiastic British owners. Brought to the United States, the car was owned by American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti for many years. Restored in the mid-1980's, it has been shown at many prestigious shows, including Pebble Beach twice. Model by IXO MUSEUM 1/43	1938 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spyder: Model by IXO MUSEUM 1/43	1939-42 6C 2500 SS Spider (Tipo 256): The 6C 2500 SS was produced from 1939-1940 in a variety of body styles and wheelbase configurations, most being custom bodied with the Berlinettas usually being bodied by Touring and the Spiders by Pinin Farina. The SS had the Jano designed 2.4L six-cylinder DOHC engine with triple carburetors and produced 120 BHP, up 4 BHP from the standard engine. It was capable of 106 mph. The steel ladder framed chassis was clothed in aluminum coachwork. It was one of the most expensive cars of its time. Model by SPARK 1/43	1939-42 6C 2500 SS Spider (tipo 256): The Tipo 256 was built in 1939 and 1940 to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia, was the final collaboration between Scuderia Ferrari and Alfa Romeo. This car (Chassis #915.515) was one of the twenty Tipo 256 cars built, its original body and history is unknown. One of the cars earliest known owners was noted Italian collector Corrado Cupellini, who had the car rebodied in the style of an earlier Alfa 6C 2300. The car passed through a pair of owners hands before undergoing a complete restoration in 1994-97 and subsequently several prestigious awards. It sold in for $555,000 at auction in 2018. Model by SPARK 1/43


1968 Spider 4R Zagato Quattroroute: It could be described as a factory kit car, or a modern reminiscence of a prewar Alfa jewel, the 6C 1750 from the 30's. Based on the Giulia floor plan and mechanicals, it sports a body built by Zagato in the old manner. Only 92 were produced from 1966 to 1968. Model by POLITOYS 1/43	:	1968 Spider 4R Zagato Quattroroute: These are the two color variations this model came in. It was unique in its day as being the only diecast car with working rack and pinion steering, especially in 1/43 scale! Model by POLITOYS 1/43