Rare Car Archive

Makes › Alfa Romeo Italy › Bimotore · Factory competition · 1935 Ultra Rare

Alfa Romeo
Bimotore

Scuderia Ferrari GP/record car with two supercharged straight-eights (front and rear)

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Alfa Romeo Bimotore (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo Bimotore)
Alfa Romeo Bimotore (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo Bimotore)
Photo: thievingjoker · CC BY-SA 2.0
2BuiltFactory reported
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
2 Built
Years
1935
Engine
Two supercharged straight-eights, one front- and one rear-mounted, longitudinal · 3,165 cc / 3.2 LFactory: 3,165 cc
Power
403 kW / 547 PSFactory: 540 hp · converted
Top speed
321 km/hFactory: 321 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Bimotore was Scuderia Ferrari's radical attempt to beat the German Silver Arrows by fitting two supercharged straight-eight engines, one ahead of and one behind the driver. Only two were built, and while it set a speed record of 327 km/h, its tyre wear kept it from becoming a competitive Grand Prix car.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityUltra Rare 2 · Built1,2
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productioncars built 21,2 Factory production Factory reported

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Commissioned by Scuderia Ferrari in 1935 to counter Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, the Bimotore used two engines driving the rear wheels, with central steering and independent suspension, and was intended for fast circuits. The combined output of around 540 bhp gave a speed record of 327 km/h, but the tyres of the day could not cope with the power and weight. Severe tyre wear led to the programme's cancellation.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Bimotore.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutTwo supercharged straight-eights, one front- and one rear-mounted, longitudinal3 Independently researched
Cylinders21
Displacement 3,165 cc / 3.2 LFactory: 3,165 cc3 Independently researched
Bore 71 mmFactory: 71 mm1
Stroke 100 mmFactory: 100 mm1
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Valvetrain2 valves per cylinder, 2 gear-driven overhead camshafts per engine1
Fuel system2 carburettors per engine1
InductionTwin Roots-type superchargers per engine3 Independently researched
Power 403 kW / 547 PSFactory: 540 hp · converted3 Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at 5,400 rpm1
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxThree-speed manual, rear-wheel drive3 Independently researched
Gears31
Driven wheelsRear1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel sheet side members and cross members1
Front suspensionIndependent, longitudinal and transverse arms, coil springs, hydraulic and friction dampers1
Rear suspensionIndependent, semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring, twin friction dampers1
BrakesHydraulic drum brakes1
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,800 mmFactory: 2,800 mm1
Length 4,200 mmFactory: 4,200 mm1
Width 1,510 mmFactory: 1,510 mm1
Height 1,290 mmFactory: 1,290 mm1
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,030 kgFactory: 1,030 kg1The museum lists "Peso" without saying whether dry or kerb weight.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 321 km/hFactory: 321 km/h3 Independently researched
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Bimotore Level A Museo Storico Alfa Romeo
    • Vetture Prodotte 2
    • 1 anteriore e 1 posteriore ... 8 cilindri in linea (Dettagli vettura)
    • 2 x 3165 cc (71x100 mm) (Dettagli vettura)
    • 2 valvole per cilindro, 2 alberi a camme in testa con comando a ingranaggi (Dettagli vettura)
    • 2 carburatori e 2 compressori volumetrici cad. (Dettagli vettura)
    • 540 (2 x 270 CV) a 5400 giri/min. (Dettagli vettura)
    • 3 marce + RM (Dettagli vettura)
    • Trazione posteriore (Dettagli vettura)
    • Longheroni e traverse in lamiera di acciaio (Dettagli vettura)
    • ruote indipendenti, braccio longitudinale, braccio trasversale molle elicoidali (Dettagli vettura)
    • ruote indipendenti, balestra longitudinale semiellittica (Dettagli vettura)
    • A tamburo, idraulici (Dettagli vettura)
    • Passo: 2800 mm (Dettagli vettura)
    • lunghezza: 4200 mm (Dettagli vettura)
    • larghezza: 1510 mm (Dettagli vettura)
    • altezza: 1290 mm (Dettagli vettura)
    • Peso 1030 kg (Dettagli vettura)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    1935 Alfa Romeo Bimotore Specifications - Ultimatecarpage.com Level C
    • 2 cars built
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    Alfa Romeo Bimotore – specifications Level C Ultimatecarpage.com
    • Two straight-8 units, one front and one rear
    • 3,165 cc each engine
    • Twin Roots-Type Superchargers
    • 270 bhp per engine; combined 540 bhp
    • 3-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
    • 321 km/h (199 mph)
    Accessed 2026-11-11

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