Alfa Romeo Tipo B ("P3") at GP d'Italia 5 June 1932
This car was also almost completely different from an 8C2300 Monza with nominally only the same few parts transferring over from the Monza with perhaps the brake drums being more directly suitable? I am not so intimately familiar with this configuration because almost all the 1932 cars (numbered 5001 - 5006) were modified to 1934 configuration when the rules changed. Many of the photos we have of those early cars show significant modification done over time. But, they were not all precisely like the 1934 model. So far as I know, we don't have any cars today in true 1932 guise to look at to give us a direct insight to what the car was. I have noted a few photo references but have not made an in-depth study of this car so there is almost certainly more to be found, perhaps with little effort?
As a start, the reporting of the day sometimes overtly announced the suppliers of parts in the car. This made for published results that listed things like: "Alfa Romeo - Dunlop" or "Alfa Romeo - Rudge" or "Alfa Romeo - Champion", etc. Because of this practice, we know that the car supposedly had Dunlop tires, Rudge-Whitworth wheels, Champion spark plugs, Bosch electrics and Solex carburetors. When it came to actual racing, there were times when parts were changed out for those from another manufacturer if it was thought to make the car faster, more suitable or more reliable ... or simply got it running after a failure. So we must be careful about what can be assumed from what was listed. that said, we should also not assume that parts were changed when there is no evidence to that effect.
Mechanically, the engine was listed at 2655cc so was not yet what we think of as the "definitive" 2.9 or 3.2. There would not have been much difference externally but there may have been small details? Again, not like a Monza 2.3 or 2.6, although a bit of work might fool the casual observer and a moulding of the engine would probably provide a decent departure point. There were crankcase changes to accomodate the twin blowers and a bit more length to allow for the enlarged displacement. The blowers on this early car may have been a bit smaller than what we are used to seeing today? The Solex carburetors were not used for long (being replaced by Weber) and we would have to research which Solex carb was used ... if I don't already have a note of that somewhere. I do have a note that the Tipo B (5005) in the Alfa Museum has Solex carbs on it. But, were they the ones in use in 1932 at Monza? It would be easy to make an assumption that might not be correct.
The gearbox might have been even more like the Monza as it may have been 4-speed at this time rather than the 3-speed version (wider gears and altered shift gate) used almost certainly at the Nurburburgring in 1935. But then, the 4-speed had already begn to prove a bit weak in the Monza 2.6 cars so it may be that the first Tipo B raced already had a 3-speed? There were occasions when a 4-speed was used in a Tipo B but ... was this one of them?
The oil piping along the chassis and bodywork are different from the 1932 cars to the later cars, both distinctive features. Front and rear suspension details changed from the Monza and during the development of the Tipo B but it may be that the rear leaf springs from an 8C Monza model could be used (with mods) for a model of this car? I have never thought to check if the dimensions might be nominally the same even though the location/suspension configuration is different.
Again, I don't have a lot of photos listed, but here is a start. At a minimum, I believe that these photos are a bit more detailed than the known Nurburgring '35 photos listed previously.
La Scuderia Ferrari (1979, Orsini & Zagari) page 166 and the same photo appears in the large-format Tazio Nuvolari book by Franco Zagari on page 104
Tazio Nuvolari (1992, large format by Zagari) pages 104, 105, 106
Le Grandi Alfa Romeo (1969, Fusi) page 70
Alfa Romeo Gli Uomini (magazine) anno 1 No. 3 page 19 may show a photo of this car? At the moment, I cannot recall anything whatsoever about this magazine and my note implies the photo was not identified or captioned but that the Tipo B wore race #8. Giorgio Nuvolari was in the car and Tazio and Alberto Nuvolari were looking on so it is a rare image showing Nuvolari with both of his sons.
As an aside, there is a show going on for a short time (September to November?) currently in Italy that is displaying photographs taken by Tazio Nuvolari as well as a portion of the show devoted to some of his racing exploits and memorabilia. It is being held in Mantova at the Palazzo Te and is called "Quando Scatta Nuvolari" which is a cute play on Italian language idiom. A pun, in fact. "Scatta" has two meanings in this context, having to do with taking a photo and starting a race rather spiritedly. I've seen only a preview of the show and hope to find a way to go see it although this is currently seeming unlikely ... unless you'd like to pay me to show you the way? I'm sure you can learn more and find your own way if you google the name of the show.
Alfa Romeo La Storia mensile (magazine) n. 1 page 16 shows Mussolini sitting in an early Tipo B that is likely to be this car after the Monza victory. Nuvolari and a group of others are looking on. Mussolini was an enthusiast but it is also an obvious propaganda moment. I would think that other photos might have appeared in contemporary press, not just automotive. Again, I don't know if I have this copied in my files but can check.
When you have settled on what you want to do in the way of a model, I can suggest some ways of finding additional information but I have to warn you that I am not really into models, although appreciatng good ones very much. It may not be much of a priority for most car guys I know but we can ask around for further references. You will undoubtedly have to do some research yourself and I do suggest that you try to see some cars. And, Simon Moore's upcoming book will undoubtedly be a "must-buy" if you are serious.
It would be reasonable to think that the "first" car that won at Monza was either 5001 or 5002 but this might not be correct. Both exist today but neither are in the 1932 form although 5001 is perhaps a bit closer? 5001 has had a two-seater body since 1935 ... when it won the Mille Miglia. Parts on the car come from other Tipo B cars with some of the parts-swapping done most likely at Alfa Romeo early on and then by Scuderia Ferrari before it was sold off and then perhaps some more by Scuderia Ferrari while they maintained and prepared the car for the new owner(s). It is simply the way of the times ... which continue today in real racing.
5002 exists in later form
5003 was modified into later form, then into a British special called "Multi-Union" and then returned more recently to Tipo B configuration but I haven't checked to see in which form it was brought back to. I saw it in England while some work was being done early on in the "restoration".
5004 exists only as an engine at the Alfa Museum with non-matching Weber carbs.
5005 may be the only car that exists nominally in 1932 form although it is clear that some parts have been changed. Although I have seen it a few times, I have not inspected it closely to see how good a yardstick it might be.
5006 was modified to 1934 rules but a subsequent restoration has returned it to 1932 appearance ... if enough research was done to determine which car it was in 1932.
Best of luck.
John