Alfa Romeo 160 GP project

Tubolare Zagato · #1 (**permalink**) 12-14-2003, 12:17 PM

Does anyone know about the secret project of Alfa Romeo, the 160 of 1954? It is said that it was 4WD and had a boxer 2.5lt 12cylinder engine. In this cigar-shaped device the driver would sit behind the rear differential, a seating position that was briefly tested by Consalvo Sanesi in an adapted 159.

Any clues?

Takis · #2 (**permalink**) 12-15-2003, 11:09 PM

From the information I could gather inside the books :
1.The Alfa Romeo tradition by Griffith Borgeson
2.Alfa Romeo the legend revived by David Styles
3.Alfa Romeo the spirit of Milan by David Styles
4.First among champions by David Venables
The project Tipo 160 was an idea for competing into the new (1952) 21/2lt formula,it went no further than the drawing board although 2 complete engines were prepared.
The driver sat behind the rear axle in the style of a sling-shot dragster the engine was a flat 12 68mmX57mm with a capacity of 2483cc and it had 4WD with the engine being within the axles.
As I said it went no further than the drawing board due to the fact that Alfa Romeo was occupied with the introduction of the Giulietta and the realization that if they introduced such an extraordinary machine and failed all the glory years of the Tipo 158/159 would evaporate at once.
The only picture I could find was that of the flat 12 engine with 12 single throat carbs....

Tubolare Zagato · #3 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 09:15 AM

Takis, thanks a lot!!!

Takis · #4 (**permalink**) 12-17-2003, 09:44 AM

From the information inside my Alfa Romeo library,which is constituted from 35 books so far,I could not find any picture regarding the TIPO 160 and as you can read in my reply the TIPO 160 only appeared on the drawing board it went no further.
Takis.

gtv2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-20-2004, 07:58 AM

The car was indeed completely designed, but as said before, only two engines and gearboxes were actually built. There's at least one pic of the engine united to its gearbox.
The picture here shows the engine displayed at the factory museum. The other should now be in private hands, because I remember very well my astonishment when I saw it lying on dusty ground at the Essen Tecnoclassica motorshow a few years ago. I had to convince myself it was not another, more "usual" flat-12. Unfortunately, I could not take a pic.
Of course there are no pics of the complete car since it was never built, but in Fusi's bible, there is a comprehensive set of technical drawings.

dretceterini · #6 (**permalink**) 10-20-2004, 09:23 AM

from everything I have, the actually car and some of the components were never completed, just two complete motors and about 80% of the stuff needed to build one car. Another oddball is the 158/159 GP car with the seat all the way at the rear, like an early slingshot dragster. One of these actually got built and was tested; by Sanesi, I think...but it never raced...

carlo · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2004, 02:14 PM

STUPID ME!!!! How could I miss this thread

Welcome gtv2000

About the Tipo 160...see attachment, I hope it will be recognizable.

Ciao Carlo

carlo · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2004, 06:27 AM

I found drawings of the Tipo 160 published in the book:

"60 vetture ai raggi X" by Giovanni Cavara 1967
(Out of print)

On pages 20 - 22 there are three technical drawings of details, as engine, transmission etc.

Ciao Carlo

dretceterini · #9 (**permalink**) 10-24-2004, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlo

I found drawings of the Tipo 160 published in the book:

"60 vetture ai raggi X" by Giovanni Cavara 1967
(Out of print)

On pages 20 - 22 there are three technical drawings of details, as engine, transmission etc.

Ciao Carlo

carlo · #10 (**permalink**) 10-25-2004, 07:58 AM

Thanks for your offer, Stu.

But I am a collector

Ciao Carlo