Rare Car Archive

Makes › Alfa Romeo Italy › Tipo › Tipo B (P3) Monoposto · Factory competition · 1932–1935 Ultra Rare

Alfa Romeo
Tipo B (P3) Monoposto

Jano-designed first true single-seat GP car; works/Scuderia Ferrari cars

Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3) Monoposto (Wikimedia Commons search)
Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3) Monoposto (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: David Merrett from Daventry, England · CC BY 2.0
6BuiltFactory 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
6 Built
Years
1932–1935
Engine
Front-mounted longitudinal supercharged straight-eight, DOHC · 2,654 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,654 cc
Power
160 kW / 218 PSFactory: 215 hp · converted
Top speed
232 km/hFactory: 232 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Vittorio Jano
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

Vittorio Jano's Tipo B was the first single-seater in regular Grand Prix use and dominated the 1932 season. In Scuderia Ferrari hands it kept winning into 1935, including Nuvolari's famous German Grand Prix victory over the Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union teams.

How rare is it?

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

Model rarityUltra Rare 6 · 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.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionTipo B cars as stated on the museum page (which describes the 2,654 cc 1932 specification) 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

Built for the 1932 Grand Prix formula, the P3 used a bifurcated drive with two propshafts in a triangle either side of the seat, allowing a lower driving position. Nuvolari and Caracciola won almost everywhere in 1932. After sitting idle in early 1933 the cars passed to Scuderia Ferrari, and for 1934 they received wider bodies and a 2,905 cc engine. A further enlarged engine was fitted in 1935, when Nuvolari beat eight German cars at the Nürburgring.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Tipo B (P3) Monoposto.

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

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutFront-mounted longitudinal supercharged straight-eight, DOHC3 Independently researched
Cylinders81
Displacement 2,654 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,654 cc3 Independently researched
Bore 65 mmFactory: 65 mm1
Stroke 100 mmFactory: 100 mm1
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Valvetrain2 valves per cylinder, 2 overhead camshafts, gear drive; twin-block with fixed light-alloy head1
Fuel systemTwo carburettors; magneto ignition1
InductionTwin Roots-type superchargers3 Independently researched
Power 160 kW / 218 PSFactory: 215 hp · converted3 Independently researchedSource states bhp (brake horsepower, mechanical).
Power at 5,600 rpm3 Independently researched
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFour-speed manual, rear-wheel drive3 Independently researched
Gears34 Independently researchedStated for 1934 chassis 50006 (second series); the museum page does not give the gear count.
Driven wheelsRear1

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSteel sheet side members and cross members1
Front suspensionRigid axle, semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf springs, friction dampers1Museum description of the standard car. S2: three second-series cars including 50006 had Dubonnet independent front suspension.
Rear suspensionRigid axle, semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf springs, friction dampers1Museum description of the standard car. S2: 50006 has reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs at the rear.
BrakesMechanical drum brakes1
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,642 mmFactory: 2,642 mm4 Independently researchedStated for chassis 50006 (1934 second series). The museum page prints 3840 mm for both wheelbase and length, which looks like a duplicated entry, so it was not used.
Length 3,840 mmFactory: 3,840 mm1The museum also prints 3840 mm as the wheelbase; treat with caution.
Width 1,380 mmFactory: 1,380 mm1
Height 1,165 mmFactory: 1,165 mm1
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weight 700 kgFactory: 700 kg1Page says only 'Peso'; S2 says 'weighing just 701 kilograms'.

Performance

Maximum speed 232 km/hFactory: 232 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.

Being verified against factory or registry sources before it is published. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Gran Premio Tipo B (collection page) Level A Museo Storico Alfa Romeo
    • Vetture Prodotte 6
    • 8 cilindri
    • 2654 cc (65x100 mm)
    • 2 alberi a camme in testa con comando a ingranaggi
    • Alimentazione a 2 carburatori e 2 compressori volumetrici, accensione a magnete
    • Trazione posteriore
    • Longheroni e traverse in lamiera di acciaio
    • assale rigido, balestre longitudinali semiellittiche
    • balestre longitudinali semiellittiche
    • A tamburo, meccanici
    • lunghezza: 3840 mm
    • larghezza: 1380 mm
    • altezza: 1165 mm
    • Peso 700 Kg
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    1932 - 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Monoposto Specifications - Ultimatecarpage.com Level C
    • 15 per-year figures 1932: 6, 1934: 9
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  3. 3
    Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Monoposto – specifications Level C Ultimatecarpage.com
    • Straight 8, front-mounted, longitudinal
    • 2,654 cc (162 cu in)
    • Twin Roots-Type Superchargers
    • 215 bhp (160 kW) at 5,600 rpm
    • 215 bhp at 5,600 rpm
    • Four-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive
    • 232 km/h (144 mph)
    Accessed 2026-11-11
  4. 4
    1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3, chassis 50006, Paris 2017 Level C RM Sotheby's
    • three-speed manual transmission
    • Wheelbase: 2,642 mm
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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