HISTORY OF 1935 ALFA ROMEO TIPO C 8C-35 #50013 (SCUDERIA FERRARI #65)

A Scuderia Ferrari works car, 50013 was raced at Monza, Modena, Brno, Tunis, Monaco (twice), Budapest, Nurburgring (three times), The Coppa Cieno (Livorno, Leghorn), Lucca, etc.

Perhaps 50013's greatest success was when it was driven by the great Nuvolari to a miracuulous victory at The Coppa Cieno. Contemporarily described as his finest drive ever, Nuvolari retired his Alfa Romeo Tipo C 12C-36 after only two laps with a broken transaxle. Nuvolari arrived back at the pits on foot and had Pintacuda in his works 8C-35 (50013) pulled in. By the time Nuvolari got away in a car which did not fit him at all well, he was seven laps down on the entire field. Driving like a man possessed, Nuvolari overtook all of his team mates, and the rest of the opposition, including the entire Auto Union team, to an unbelievable win.                         
Other major Tipo C successes include the Tripoli Grand Prix (first place Nuvolari), the Hungarian Grand Prix (first place Nuvolari), and Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix (first place Pintacuda), The Vanderbilt Cup (first place Nuvolari).

In the autumn of 1936, 50013 was acquired by Swiss privateer, Hans Ruesch, who campaigned the car at Shelsley Walsh, Donnington GP (first place and new lap record with co-driver Richard (Dick) Seaman), South Africa (Rand Grand Prix, fastest lap), Chimay (first place), Finland (first place and fastest lap at 110.520 kph), Bucharest (first place), Monaco, Brooklands (first and second places in the Mountain Championships successive years, plus new class record Campbell Circuit), Crystal Palace (first place, Sydenham Trophy), Bremgarten GP (first place), Milan, Eifel GP, and GP des Frontieres (first place, 130.90 kph), etc.

In April 1938, Ruesch loaned 50013 to R.E.L. (Buddy) Featherstonehaugh to run at Crystal Palace: he managed to roll it!

The next owner of 50013 was Robert Arbuthnot, Brooklands (Campbell Trophy, new class lap record).

In 1947, the new owner of 50013-Dennis Poore - won the first British post-war race (139 kph) at Grandsden Lodge, and subsequently campaigned the car at Bo'Ness (new record beating the old record by 4 seconds despite a roll over accident in practice!), Rest and Be Thankful (new record), Shelsley Walsh (under 38 seconds), Prescott (FTD 45.3 seconds), Merston (FTD), Poole (2nd place), Brighton Speed Trials, Gamston, Ibsley (first place), Snetterton, Boreham (held circuit record which was never broken), Bouley Bay (FTD), Val des Terres (FTD), Silverstone, Goodwood (1 st, Woodcote Cup), Luton Hoo, Douglas Isle of Man (2nd, Castletown Trophy), Charterhall, Bristol, etc.

In 1951, 50013 still in the hands of Dennis Poore, won the British Hillclimb Championship, subsequently winning no less than three VSCC Seaman Trophies. The car was retired in 1955.

After a lengthy, complicated restoration 50013 is racing again, after over 40 years of hibernation.

Engine:

Twin cam, 78mm x 100 mm; 3.8 liters developing (claimed on methanol) 330 bhp at 5400 rpm Two monoblocks of 4 cylinders
90 degree overhead valves with mushroom tappets
Valves seat directly on to the alloy
Magnesium crankcase accommodating a 2-piece counterbalanced crankshaft
Induction via 2 separate Alfa Romeo Rootes type superchargers fed by 2xWeber 48 carbs
Bosch ignition

4-speed (plus reverse) transaxle (a first for Alfa)
Independent (double trailing arms) front suspension (a first for Alfa)
Rear suspension independent via swing axles (a first for Alfa)
Streamlined all enveloping body (a first for Alfa)
Weight with all fluids: 955 Kg

The video below shows an interview by Channel 11 with Peter at the Monterey Historic Races. (Click on the arrow to start the video)

Peter in Alfa Romeo Tipo C #50013 at Monaco, 1997, photo by Francois Haase, F'Autodelta

Alfa Romeo Tipo C #50013 at Coronado Speed Festival, photo by Mick Walsh

Judy warms up Alfa Romeo Tipo C #50013 at the New York International Auto Show, April 2003. Unbelievably,
the fire marshal allowed it! The photo was taken by Judy and Peter's good friend, ace photographer Chris McNeil.

Peter in #50013 at speed, Sebring, Florida, 1999. Photo by Mike Sims.

Alfa 8C35 #50013 poses at Lime Rock Raceway. June 1999, photo by Mike Sims.

Peter and Judy (with the help of Alfa Romeo Tipo C
8C35 #50013) won first place at the famed
Louis Vuitton Concours in New York. (The next
weekend #50013 was earning her keep at the Coronado
Speed Festival at San Diego!)

Dennis Poore races #50013 in 1952.

Peter in #50013 races past a Talbot Lago at the start, Monterey Historics, 2001.

Mike preps #50013 for the race, Portland International Raceway, 1999. Photo by Bart Reid.