Alfa Romeo 8C

The Alfa Romeo 8C is a range of road, race and sports cars that Alfa Romeo built in the 1930s around a straight eight cylinder engine, the 8C standing for eight cylinders. The engine was designed by Vittorio Jano and was the firm primary racing engine from its introduction in 1931 until its retirement in 1939. Besides the two seater sports cars it powered the Monoposto Tipo B, also called the P3, the first genuine single seat Grand Prix car, as well as the twin engined 1935 Bimotore and the 8C 35 Type C. Two models reached road customers as chassis for Italian coachbuilders, the 8C 2300 of 1931 to 1935 and the rarer 8C 2900 of 1936 to 1941. This entry covers the 1930s family; the later V8 coupe that reused the name is a separate entry.