Makes › Alfa Romeo › P2 · Factory competition · 1924–1930 Ultra Rare
Alfa Romeo
P2
Jano-designed supercharged straight-eight; won the first (1925) World Manufacturers' Championship
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 6 Built
- Years
- 1924–1930
- Engine
- Front-mounted longitudinal inline eight, twin-block with fixed steel heads · 1,987 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,987 cc
- Power
- 114 kW / 155 PSFactory: 155 PS
- Top speed
- 225 km/hFactory: 225 km/h
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Vittorio Jano
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- 2 (unknown)
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The P2 was Alfa Romeo's first Grand Prix car designed by Vittorio Jano and its first supercharged eight-cylinder. It was virtually unbeatable for several seasons, and won the first Grand Prix World Championship in 1925.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Alfa Romeo P2 (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo P2)
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alfa Romeo P2 (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo P2)
Photo: Brian Snelson · CC BY 2.0
Alfa Romeo P2 (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo P2)
Photo: Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England · CC BY 2.0
Alfa Romeo P2 (Wikimedia Commons: Alfa Romeo P2)
Photo: tomislav medak · CC BY-SA 2.0
02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model production"only two of these cars in existence" per a 2010 Goodwood report; a secondary source | about 23Reported by enthusiast sources – not verified. Know the real figure? Send us a source. | Surviving examples | Unknown |
| Total model productionP2 cars produced ("in all six were produced") | 61,2 | 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
Jano joined Alfa Romeo from Fiat in October 1923. The first P2 was assembled on 2 June 1924 and tested at Portello by Campari and Ascari, and a few days later it won its debut at the Circuito di Cremona at about 158 km/h average. The car then won the 1924 European Grand Prix at Lyons.
Its greatest late success was the 1930 Targa Florio, won by Varzi. The P2 raced for the last time at Brno on 28 September 1930.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard P2.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Front-mounted longitudinal inline eight, twin-block with fixed steel heads1 |
| Cylinders | 81 |
| Displacement | 1,987 cc / 2.0 LFactory: 1,987 cc1 |
| Bore | 61 mmFactory: 61 mm1 |
| Stroke | 85 mmFactory: 85 mm1 |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | 2 valves per cylinder, 2 overhead camshafts, gear drive1 |
| Fuel system | Two carburettors; magneto ignition1 |
| Induction | Roots-type lobe supercharger1 |
| Power | 114 kW / 155 PSFactory: 155 PS1Rating: manufacturerStated as CV (cavalli vapore) on the museum page; recorded as PS (metric horsepower). |
| Power at | 5,500 rpm1 |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Rear1 |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Steel sheet side members and cross members1 |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Rigid axle, semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf springs, friction dampers1 |
| Rear suspension | Rigid axle, oblique semi-elliptic leaf springs, friction dampers1 |
| Brakes | Mechanical drum brakes1 |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,630 mmFactory: 2,630 mm1 |
| Length | 3,950 mmFactory: 3,950 mm1Page text is cut off after the length figure ('coda a ...'). |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | 1,302 mmFactory: 1,302 mm4 Independently researchedSource lists "1,302 mm / 1,245 mm"; assumed front/rear. |
| Rear track | 1,245 mmFactory: 1,245 mm4 Independently researchedSee front. |
| Kerb weight | 750 kgFactory: 750 kg1Page says only 'Peso' (weight) without stating the condition. |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 225 km/hFactory: 225 km/h1 |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not 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.
The P2 is the 2-litre supercharged straight-eight designed by Vittorio Jano for 1924. The factory modified it for the 1930 season, when it won the Targa Florio with Achille Varzi, so a surviving car can show both original and 1930 features.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
GP Tipo P2 (1925) Level A Museo Storico Alfa Romeo
- Vetture Prodotte 6
- 8 cilindri in linea, biblocco e teste fisse in acciaio
- 8 cilindri
- 1987 cc (61x85 mm)
- 2 alberi a camme in testa con comando a ingranaggi
- Alimentazione a 2 carburatori, accensione a magnete
- compressore volumetrico a lobi
- 155 CV a 5500 giri/min.
- Trazione posteriore
- Longheroni e traverse in lamiera di acciaio
- assale rigido, balestre longitudinali semiellittiche
- balestre oblique semiellittiche
- A tamburo, meccanici
- Passo: 2630 mm
- lunghezza: 3950 mm
- Peso 750 kg
- Massima velocità 225 km/h
-
2
Alfa Romeo P2, Part I | VeloceToday Level C
- 6 P2 cars produced ("in all six were produced")
-
3
2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed Level D Ausmotive · 2010-07-01
- there are only two of these cars in existence
- 4
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