Alfa Romeo 512 Race car

Constructor	Alfa Romeo
Designer(s)	Gioacchino Colombo
Chassis	Single-seater, tubular frame
Suspension (front)	front, independent by wishbones, torsion bars, dampers
Suspension (rear)	rear, de Dion axle, radius arms, torsion bars, dampers.
Engine	flat 12 of 1488 cc with twin stage supercharger four overhead camshafts
Transmission	Alfa 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	96.5 in (245 cm)
Max power	335 bhp at 8600 rpm.

The Alfa Romeo 512, is a formula Grand Prix racing car produced in 1940.

History

This was a rear-engine voiturette designed by Giaocchino Colombo under the direction of Wilfredo Ricart and was the result of the influence of the Porsche-designed Auto Union.

The engine was a flat 12 of 1488 cc (54 x 54 mm) with twin stage super- charger and four overhead camshafts. Power output was 340 bhp at 9000 rpm. Transmission was by a 5-speed. gearbox mounted behind the rear axle. The tubular ladder-type frame had front suspension by double wish-bones, and at the rear there was a de Dion axle located by a Watts linkage and radius arms.

The Grand Prix formula promulgated to come into effect in 1941 with 1 litre voiturette regulations, and Alfa Romeo was
confident its Alfa Corse racing arm was well equipped with the 158 that was until the pre-war Mercedes sprang a surprise producing two cars for the 1939 Tripoli GP, and winning it. Alfa needed to build a more advanced car to keep up with these new German race cars, which was run in development tests
through to 1943, when as Italy surrendered, it was hidden from the Germans, in a cheese factory with also the 158s.

With Mid-engine Design the engine was ahead of the rear axle line director Wilfredo Ricart was not of the calibre of Jano, but at least his staff included Gioacchino Colombo. Broadly, Auto Union lines were followed in the 512. with a large fuel tank between the engine and the cockpit. In bench tests the light
supercharged flat-12 produced an output figure of 335 bhp, which was reckoned to be competitive with German engines, and higher readings promised more to come as Ferrari's challenge to the 138 in the post-war GPs gathered strength there were tumours that the design might be overhauled and raced. The two cars were not completed until 1943. They handled atrociously and veteran Alfa Romeo driver Attilio Marinoni was killed while testing one. The design was not proceeded with in the post-war days because of the success of the 158. But it never was to be, this was the third Grand Prix Alfa never to be raced.