Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Le Mans 1933
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This is one of the four long chassis works Le Mans cars which were different from the customer cars having a lighter chassis and magnesium engine castings instead of aluminum. We have been involved with the restorations of five of these famous cars (three of the works cars), this one is the ex Nuvolari Mille Miglia car.
Great attention to detail was paid to the method of construction which is typical of the great Italian coachbuilders of the time such as Zagato and Touring in this case.
The body frame is made from flat steel strip and angle, welded and riveted together with wood added to create the correct contours and to provide the medium by which the body panels are fixed in this case pinned on with small nails or panel pins.
The mudguard brackets are a major feature of these cars being very substantial to withstand the hammering that 24 hours of Le Mans delivers.
An interesting design feature is that the battery boxes form the front of the rear wing and also serve as a foot step into the rear seats. The door hinges are unusual in being flush fitting externally mounted and the spare wheel is concealed under the elegantly finned tail.