![]() Today the original long-tailed spider and the coupé belong to the Alfa Romeo Museo Storico in Arese, Italy.Īccording to the vendor, in the mid-1950s a wealthy client from Milan commissioned Carrozzeria Corasco of Turin to build this copy of the famous Alfa Romeo Disco Volante around a tubular steel chassis clad with aluminium bodywork. Although one was entered for the 1952 Le Mans 24-Hour race, the Alfa Romeo team failed to show up and none of the Disco Volantes was ever raced. Three different body styles were used for the prototypes: long- and short-tailed two-seat spiders and a closed coupé. The engine was a tuned (158bhp) version of the 1900's four-cylinder unit, enlarged to a full 2.0 litres and fitted with an aluminium block. Representing a considerable advance on the ladder frames used hitherto, the chassis was a state-of-the-art tubular spaceframe that offered superior rigidity without the penalty of increased weight. The latter contributed its independent front suspension and live rear axle to the Disco Volante, though the rest of the design was completely new. This striking design was the work of Touring, the great Milanese carrozzeria, which had begun collaborating with Alfa Romeo in the late 1920s and would be responsible for Alfa's first all-new design of the post-war period: the 1900. Launched in 1952, Alfa's first effort in this new venture was the Tipo C52 'Disco Volante' (Flying Saucer) so called because of its aerodynamic bodywork that featured prominent overhangs. One can be yours within six months of donor car delivery, at a price of if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it.Having re-established itself at the forefront of Grand Prix racing, Alfa Romeo withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the 1951 season and switched its attention to sports cars. The company has sold three of the seven Disco Volante Spyders slated for production. For those of you not versed in metric, that's over 9.5 inches and 11 inches, respectively. The 20-inch forged aluminum wheels are wrapped in Pirelli PZero rubber, 245 millimeters in the front and 285 millimeters in the rear. ![]() The Disco Volante Spyder is wearing some pretty massive platform shoes as well. With a top speed of 181 miles per hour, 62 mph comes in 4.5 seconds. Power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gear box with paddle shifters. Whatever the weight, the chassis is powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine, knocking out 450 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Alfa's newer 4C, which is also full of the lightweight material, tips the scales at a more plausible 2500 pounds. The 8C Spider comes in at 3,700 pounds, which seems high for a car with so much carbon fiber. The representative would only tell me that it weighs about the same as the donor car, but with a lower center of gravity. The front bumper and grille, hood, side skirts, trunk lid, windshield frame, rear cross member and convertible roof are all made from the light stuff, but the brass over at Touring Superleggera are surprisingly cagey about the total weight. Josh Miller/Roadshowīuilt on the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider, the Disco Volante Spyder is a masterpiece in carbon fiber. This baby has a six-speed sequential automatic. The Disco Volante Spyder uses the Alfa Romeo 8C as a donor car. Italian bespoke carmaker Touring Superleggera shows us the first of seven hand-built Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder at the Geneva Motor Show this year and all I can say is, "Hand me the glitter ball and let's go for a drive. Do the hustle with the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder - Roadshowĭo the hustle with the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder
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