The Alfa Romeo Tipo 162 was a planned Grand Prix racing car designed by Wifredo Ricart for the Alfa Romeo racing division, intended for the 1941 racing season. Although a significant design effort was invested, the Tipo 162 was never fully constructed or raced due to the outbreak and intensification of World War II. It represents one of the highly ambitious "what if" projects from the golden age of pre-war Grand Prix racing.
Development and Design
The Tipo 162 was an evolution of the earlier Alfa Romeo Tipo 160, another advanced but unbuilt Grand Prix design from 1939-1940. Following the 1939 season, the international racing formulas were in flux, with discussions around new regulations, possibly favoring smaller engines or different weight classes for the post-1940 period. Wifredo Ricart, a Spanish engineer who headed Alfa Romeo's special projects department (Servizio Studi Speciali) from 1936 to 1946, was at the forefront of these developments.
Ricart's design philosophy for the Tipo 162 was characterized by advanced engineering, lightweight construction, and sophisticated aerodynamics. It built upon the knowledge gained from the Tipo 158 Alfetta (which raced successfully in the 1.5-liter voiturette class) and the more ambitious Grand Prix designs like the Tipo 160.
Technical Specifications (Planned)
While no complete car was built, the detailed design drawings and specifications reveal the ambitious nature of the Tipo 162:
- Engine: The heart of the Tipo 162 was intended to be a highly complex and powerful V16 engine. This was a departure from the straight-eight or straight-six engines common in Alfa Romeo's earlier Grand Prix cars. The V16 configuration aimed to provide exceptional power output within a relatively compact footprint.
- Configuration: 16-cylinder, V-arrangement.
- Displacement: Specific displacement figures vary in historical accounts, but it was generally envisioned for a Grand Prix formula, possibly around 3.0 to 4.5 liters, or a supercharged 1.5-liter for a proposed voiturette championship (though a V16 for 1.5L would be exceptionally complex). Some sources suggest a 3.0-liter supercharged version for a proposed new GP formula.
- Supercharging: It was almost certainly planned to be supercharged, a standard practice for high-performance racing engines of the era, likely employing multiple Roots-type superchargers.
- Power Output: While speculative, estimated power figures would have been in the region of 450-500 hp, positioning it competitively with other top Grand Prix cars of the early 1940s.
- Chassis:
- Type: Likely a lightweight tubular steel spaceframe chassis, a common advanced design for the period, offering high rigidity.
- Suspension: Independent suspension on all four wheels would have been a given for a top-tier Grand Prix car, likely using torsion bars or coil springs with hydraulic dampers.
- Aerodynamics: Ricart was known for his attention to aerodynamics, so the bodywork would have been sleek and streamlined, although perhaps less radical than some later designs due to the engine packaging.
- Transmission: A multi-speed manual gearbox, likely mounted transaxle style for better weight distribution, driving the rear wheels.
Fate and Legacy
The development of the Alfa Romeo Tipo 162 was curtailed by World War II. As Italy became increasingly involved in the conflict, resources were diverted away from motorsport, and the focus shifted to military production. The design, along with the Tipo 160, remained on paper, a testament to Alfa Romeo's engineering ambition that was never realized on the racetrack.
The Tipo 162 remains an intriguing "what if" in motor racing history, representing the direction Alfa Romeo's Grand Prix efforts might have taken had the war not intervened. Its advanced V16 engine concept, though never raced, highlights the era's relentless pursuit of power and innovation. While the Tipo 162 itself never raced, Alfa Romeo would eventually return to Grand Prix racing after the war with great success, notably with the Tipo 158/159 Alfetta, which dominated the early years of the Formula One World Championship in 1950 and 1951.