Aston Martin DB2, 1950

Aston Martin DB2, 1950

 

 

The Aston Martin DB2 followed the 2-litre sports chassis design in many ways but was 9 inches shorter in the wheelbase. The body itself was the work of designer Frank Feeley and was built around a square section tube frame on which an aluminium body was attached. The new Aston Martin DB2 engine was designed under the guidance of the great W.O.Bentley.

The Aston Martin DB2 was available in both Coupe and Drophead Coupe. The engine had twin overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, a stroke of 90 mm and bore 78 mm giving a capacity of 2580 cc.

In standard form, power output was 105bhp. A 125bhp Vantage version was later offered. The Aston Martin DB2 is known for its superb chassis, great performance, and an immense amount of character.
The details of the Aston Martin DB2 were released to the Press on April 12, 1950 and was shown as a production car at the New York Motor Show on April 15-23.

Technical Specifications

• Engine: dohc I-6, 2580 cc, 105 bhp @ 5000 rpm, 125 lbs-ft @ 3000 rpm (Vantage: 125 bhp @ 5000 rpm, 144 lbs-ft @2400 rpm)
• Transmission: 4-speed manual
• Suspension: Front: trailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Rear: live axle, trailing links, Panhard rod, coil springs
• Brakes: front/rear drums
• Wheelbase: 8'3"
• Weight: 1111kg
• Top Speed: 117 mph
• 0-60 mph: 11.2 sec.

    * Price New: £ 1,915 (Saloon), £ 1,598 (Drophead Coupe)
    * Production Dates: May 1950 - April 1953

Aston Martin DB1, 1948

Aston Martin DB1, 1948

Aston Martin DB1, 1948

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Mille Miglia, 1938

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 (2309 cc) was designed by Vittorio Jano as a cheaper alternative to the Alfa Romeo 8C.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, 1931

Alfa Romeo 8C was a famed sports car of the 1930s. The name referred to the straight 8 cylinder engine. The Vittorio Jano-designed 8C was Alfa's primary sports model from its introduction in 1931 to its retirement in 1939.

The first models were the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, a reference to the car's 2.3 L (2300 cc) engine. The short wheelbase version of this car won the Targa Florio race in Sicily, but it was the Italian Grand Prix victory at Monza that gave it its nickname, "Monza".

The supercharged dual overhead cam straight-8 engine, also designed by Jano, was later enlarged to 2.6 L. In this guise, the Alfa Romeo 8C could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than 7 seconds and could eventually reach 135 mph (217 km/h).

The 8C name has been revived in with the introduction of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in 2006 and Alfa Romeo 8C Spider in 2008.

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport, 1928

Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport, 1928

The Alfa Romeo 6C name was used on road, race and sports cars made between 1925-1954 by Alfa Romeo. 6C refers to a straight 6 engine. Bodies to these cars were made by coachbuilders such as James Young, Zagato, Touring, Castagna, and Pininfarina. Starting from 1933 there was also a 6C version with a factory Alfa body, built in Portello.

In the mid-1920s, Alfa Romeo RL was considered too large and heavy, so a new development began. The Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 was introduced in 1925 at Milan, production started 1927, with the P2 Grand Prix car as starting point. Engine capacity was now 1487 cc, against the Alfa Romeo P2's 1987 cc, while supercharging was dropped. First versions were bodied by Young and Touring.

In 1928, a Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Sport was released, with a dual overhead camshafts engine. Its sport version won many races, including the 1928 Mille Miglia. Total production was 3000 (200 with DOHC engine). Ten copies of a supercharged (compressore, compressor) Super Sport variant were also made.