Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta

Alfa Romeo 158, 159, 159A, 159B, 159M
Alfa Romeo 159 Formula 1 car
1951 Alfa Romeo 159
CategoryVoiturette (1938–1947)
Formula One (1946–1951)
ConstructorAlfa Romeo
Designer(s)Gioacchino Colombo
PredecessorAlfa Romeo Tipo 512
Successor177
Technical specifications
ChassisSingle-seater, tubular frame
Suspension (front)Trailing arm, transverse leaf springs, hydraulic dampers
Suspension (rear)Swing axle*, transverse leaf spring, hydraulic dampers
*De-Dion-axle was one of the last modifications 1951.
EngineAlfa Romeo 158/159 1,479 cc (90.3 cu in), straight-8, Roots-type supercharger**, front mounted.
** 158: single stage – 190 bhp (142 kW) @ 6500 rpm (voit), 350 bhp (261 kW) @ 8500 rpm (F1); 159: two stage – 425 bhp (317 kW) @ 9300 rpm
TransmissionAlfa 5-speed manual
FuelShell (98.5% methanol, 1% Castor oil, 0.5% water)
TyresPirelli
Competition history
Notable entrantsAlfa Romeo SpA
Notable driversJean-Pierre Wimille
Giuseppe Farina
Juan Manuel Fangio
Luigi Fagioli
Debut1938 Coppa Ciano Junior (158)
1951 BRDC International Trophy (159)
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
41 (GP)
13 (F1)
37 (GP)
10 (F1)
10 (F1)13 (F1)
Constructors' ChampionshipsNot applicable before 1958
Drivers' Championships2 (1950Giuseppe Farina
1951Juan Manuel Fangio)
The 1.5L supercharged straight-8 159 engine.
Cockpit.
Alfa Romeo159 (1951)
Alfa Romeo Alfetta 159, Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese
Alfa Romeo 159 at Nürburgring.

The Alfa Romeo 158/159, also known as the Alfetta (Little Alfa in Italian[1]), is a Grand Prix racing car produced by Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo. It is one of the most successful racing cars ever; the 158 and its derivative, the 159, took 47 wins from 54 Grands Prix entered.[2] It was originally developed for the pre-World War II voiturette formula (1937) and has a 1.5-litre straight-8 supercharged engine. Following World War II, the car was eligible for the new Formula One introduced in 1947. In the hands of drivers such as Nino Farina, Juan Manuel Fangio and Luigi Fagioli, it dominated the first two seasons of the World Championship of Drivers.

  1. ^ "THE ORIGINS OF THE ALFA ROMEO 158/159". enzociliberto.it. Archived from the original (DOC) on 2006-01-18. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  2. ^ Sparrow, David; John Tipler (1996). Alfa Romeo Legends. ISBN 1-85532-646-9.