June 26th, 2009 by admin

A.L.F.A. 12 HP
Alfa Romeo P2
Alfa Romeo arose indirectly from the French firm Darracq. Darracq had set up a factory in Italy to assemble their products, especially a kind of car that would be suitable as a taxi. The car was not a success and a group of Italian financiers stepped in to take over these interests. In 1910 the firm took on a new name : Anomina Lombarda Fabbrica Automobile (A.L.F.A.). The now wholly Italian design of the cars was carried out by Giuseppe Merosi who had been previously employed by Orio Marchand, Fiat and Bianchi.

The 24 HP was the first car in the new line. It appeared in 1911 and had a 1084 cc monobloc engine and enclosed shaft drive. The 12 HP, though less complex, was inspired by the 24 HP and it was with the 12 HP that A.L.F.A. began its racing career at the end of 1911. A car was entered in the first road race at Modena which was restricted to touring cars traveling 940 miles in five stages. The 12 HP was classed among the six equal, unpenalized entrants. The 12 HP’s engine developed 22 bhp at 2,100 revs and this was later raised to 25 bhp at 2,400 revs (series B), and to 28 bhp at 2,400 revs (series C). The maximum speed of the first series was 56 mph rising to 63 mph for series C. It was available in two versions: a torpedo and a limousine (the thorpedo’s dry weight being 2,030 pounds (920 kg)). The 12 HP remained in production from 1910 to 1915 and 330 were built.