The ALFA 40/60 HP is a road car and race car made by Italian car manufacturer ALFA (later to become Alfa Romeo). This model was made between 1913 and 1922 and was designed by Giuseppe Merosi, as were all other Alfas at that time. The 40/60 HP has a 6082 cc straight-four engine with overhead valves, which produced 70 PS (51 kW) and its top speed was 125 km/h (78 mph). The 40-60 HP Corsa racing version had 73 PS (54 kW) and a top speed of 137 km/h (85 mph), and it also won its own category in the Parma-Berceto race.
40/60 HP production and development was interrupted by the
First World War, but resumed briefly afterwards. The 40-60 HP Corsa now had 82 PS (60 kW) and a top speed of around 150 km/h (93 mph). Giuseppe Campari won the 1920 and 1921 races at Mugello
with this car.
Specifications
The 40-60 HP was based on a
ladder chassis
of C-shaped stamped steel rails.
Its engine was a 6,082 cc or 371 cu in (bore and stroke 110 x 160 mm,
cylinder block and cylinder head were split in two groups of two cylinders, and made of cast iron; the crankcase was cast aluminium, incorporating the four engine mountings.[1]
The two in-block camshafts were driven by a gear train located at the front of the engine.[1]
The driveline comprised a dry multi-plate
propeller shaft, spinning inside a tube attached to the rear differential housing.[3]
At its open end, towards the gearbox, this tube forked out into two ends which, linked to the chassis, located the rear axle. The gearbox was positioned towards the middle of the chassis, almost underneath the driver, rather than in block with the engine—to which it was connected by a short prop shaft.
Front and rear
solid axles were sprung on longitudinal semi-elliptic leaf springs
Kerb weight was 1,100 kg (2,425 lb) versus 1,250 kg (2,756 lb).[1]
The racing-prepared engine was fitted with two carburettors and had a 5.50:1 compression ratio.
final drive ratio was 18/49 instead of the standard 17/49.[1]
The Sankey steel wheels were replaced by 6.0x20" knock-off wire wheels.[1] Fuel tank capacity was expanded from the standard 70 L (15 imp gal; 18 US gal) to 120 L (26 imp gal; 32 US gal).[1]
