Tazio Nuvolari did a two-way run that averaged 201mph on one of these. Apparently on one of the runs, he got caught in a big crosswind while doing 150+mph, the tire marks as the car skidded for hundreds of meters can be seen afterwards. But after the terrifying run , Nuvolari simply turned the car around and did another run!
I am so saddened to hear that Alan had passed. His videos were done the way all car related videos that describe their story should be, no music added!
For some years it was on show at the Donington Collection. Sadly it is no longer there and neither are a good many others which used to grace that Museum. Good to see Alan de Cadenet having a real go in it.
So nice to watch vintage cars sliding around corners without basting heavy metal screeching noise / music. It seems production values now demand as much noise as possible.
From reading other comments I found it, Speedvision, the Jaguar episode is called Victory by design. Here's a link for anybody who's interested. So glad I stumbled on this Alfa one as it's lead me to something I've searched for for years! ua-cam.com/video/bKmkQbDGd6Y/v-deo.html
This is just so cool. It would be better with fatter rubber on I believe. That's a big car for those skinny tires. You ought to race it at Bonneville. I'll bet you get a record set.
Maybe a 4wd layout Will be a good option, ferrari have access to advanced racing differentials to manage this and i dont think this added much weight because there are already too much prop shafts in this crazy car! We never know! Forza ferrari!
Even in 1935 - what were they thinking? I thought when they open the rear engine compartment that there would be a smaller much lighter engine. That's way too much weight to expect to manage any type of a curve. Should have put a tiny engine in, or the big engine they certainly should have used a dual axle two wheels on each side.
It was for all intents and purpose a crash project for Alfa Romeo in trying to compete with the ever more dominant German racing cars from Auto Union and Mercedes. The V12 Alfa was developing for the new car wasn't yet ready so they just cobbled together the bimotore hoping its straight line speed would be sufficient to overcome its lousy handling (even by 1935 standards). Even at AVUS - which basically just was two long parallel straights, a banked corner and a flat one - the Bimotore managed 2nd at best. The only advantage it ever had was a high top speed which is why it was best used as a record car on public roads. Sadly the "poorly handling" and "unsuccessful" parts seem to have completely flown over the heads of most of the commenters here. This was a development dead end which is why it was hastily retired.
A few questions here...had alfas in our family mostly two at a time since 1957. Enzo to my knowledge was an Apprentice back then to Alfa. Story doesn't add up to me. Enzo didnt compete in his own cars till early 50s
@@ianwilton4155 Enzo Ferrari started out as a test driver in the years after WW1, then landed a job as a test driver at Alfa Romeo in the early 1920s. He then became a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo at that time, being able to race when there an extra car available, and he's actually pretty good. But thanks to the deaths if his close friends, Alfa Romeo racing drivers Ugo Sivocci (the man who put the quadrifoglio symbols on Alfa Romeo) and Antonio Ascari (father of Alberto Ascari who later raced for Ferrari in the 1950s) caused him to basically lose interest in racing (he still continued to compete sporadically until 1931), focusing instead on the managerial side of the racing team.
This is product of Enzo like Mechanic sport leader of Alfa Romeo, this car is missing another logo, the front original logo was Alfa Romeo the sides logos are orifginal of the Enzo certified his effort and success...working with Alfa Romeo
It is the same car that ended up in New Zealand. Bought by Tom Wheatcroft (then owner of Donington Park), then restored back to its 1936 Bimotore specification, with the two engines (an owner removed the rear engine just before the war I think). Once the restoration was completed, they entered it in a historic race for Alfas at Donington, driven by known Alfista and historic racer Rodney Felton. As expected, the car proved a handful even for someone like Felton, yet he finished 5th...
Man you were pushing. What if you would have crashed it? Insurance, sure, but what a loss. Also I would have handled those bonnets way more carefully! Ok, don't mind, I'm just jealous...
this car could've been successful in the hands of nuvolari, the guy was too small to handle the wheel at slow speeds and so he was a master of drifting. over steer in this car would've made his life easier if anything
It could never be successful. Its too hard on both tyres and fuel, tyres only last for two laps when driven flat out. though the Bimotore is a land speed record holder, averaging more than 200 mph in Nuvolari's hands, on a very windy day in 1935!
How Nuvolari had the nerve to take that thing to those speeds is frightening…how those tires held together is another matter. Hats off. Thank you Alain.
Motorsports Mundial (Euro), dream car garage and Motorvision (Euro).I'm biased to Euro motorsports but they utterly ruined it.And I knew it was gonna happen as soon as they bought it in 2004.Pissed me off that more suits wanted to make a buck at the expense of a great channel.And predictably,went with what was popular.now,it's not even a shadow of what it once was.just nascar and reality tv. typical.wish someone who shares our sentiment would bring it back to its glory days from the 90's.
It's the only one that survived. They originally built two, one with 2x2.9liter engine usually driven by Louis Chiron, and one with 2x3.2liter engine usually driven by Tazio Nuvolari. The one in the video is the 2x2.9 liter version, which could easily do about 200mph even back in 1935.
It's not cheating! The car is built to race in Formula Libre events. Formula Libre means of course that anything fast enough could race. Formula Libre events back in those days include Tripoli GP in Libya(using the fastest road course in the world) and AVUS in Berlin(the fastest race track ever built, consist of two straights around 5 miles long)
"Cheating"? There was no rule stating the car could have had only one engine. They could have put ten of them for what's worth. It's like saying that Auto Union cheated because they put the engine back.
What a BS, this a true Italian Alfa Romeo NOT a ferrari...ferrari was a charlatan opportunistic manager who cheated all the time. He had no enginneering or driving talent, just an opportunistic cheating business man who took advantage of others to get ahead. Please don't insult ALFA ROMEO, the real heart and soul of Italy.
I remind you that at the Nurburgrin in the German Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo had the Tricolore hoisted on a higher flagpole, three Italian cars won against the German squad!
@@aldolamberti3855 - Absolutely one of the biggest embarrassments to the Third Reich in its short, unsuccessful history! One of my favorite historical racing examples. The Germans didn't even have a copy of the Italian National Anthem to play as they were convinced it wouldn't be needed! Fortunately, Tazio brought his own so the grand moment was saved. Then, to add insult to injury, the Germans hired Nuvolari to drive the mighty Auto Unions. You just have to love this bit of motor racing history! 🏁
NONE of the race cars of that era, and for the next 30 years could corner for shit. They, for some ungodly reason, had no concept of "contact patch". Several decades ago, at the age of three, I asked my Grandpa, an engineer, why they didn't have wider tires for better grip. He shrugged and laughed.
@aaardvarkkk - You're right that the skinny tires of the time did not have good handling characteristics. It was not due to manufacturers not understanding "contact patch", but was limited to the standard bias ply tires of the time. Not until technology caught up with radial ply tires were wide ones produced.
going 200 mph in the 1930s that too on those skinny tires - shows much balls of steel race drivers of those days had.
Tazio Nuvolari did a two-way run that averaged 201mph on one of these. Apparently on one of the runs, he got caught in a big crosswind while doing 150+mph, the tire marks as the car skidded for hundreds of meters can be seen afterwards. But after the terrifying run , Nuvolari simply turned the car around and did another run!
I am so saddened to hear that Alan had passed. His videos were done the way all car related videos that describe their story should be, no music added!
He was perhaps the best. Though he never ran out of words, he somehow managed to be economical with them.
Missed indeed.
I love Alan De Cadenet Automobile reviews. Full of class. Wish more quality shows like this air.
Rip
This was the best program on the Speed Channel before it changed to all Nascar coverage. Programming for the masses....what a shame.
Alain de Cadenet is THE MAN ... this show - Victory by Design was the best (well before UA-cam)
One thing of note. The car behind the Bimotore is the Maserati 8CM Serial No. 3018, a car OWNED, and raced by Tazio Nuvolari for the 1934 season.
Nice engine!
Ferrari: There is another
XDD
For some years it was on show at the Donington Collection. Sadly it is no longer there and neither are a good many others which used to grace that Museum. Good to see Alan de Cadenet having a real go in it.
This show was amazing
So nice to watch vintage cars sliding around corners without basting heavy metal screeching noise / music. It seems production values now demand as much noise as possible.
Fantastic idea of Enzo Ferrari ! Love this car, this a Dream AlfaRomeo to all time ever made !
God bless Enzo!
Enzo was a cheater. God bless ALFA, without Alfa Romeo, ferrari would be nothing.
Well, that fast back then. I'm impressed.
agreed. I own this video and the Porsche video of the series. I absolutely love them. I miss Speedvision.
listen to that sound!!
RIP Alain de Cadenet.
Nouvolari probably Just heard the engines and agreed..
Please somebody put the series Victory by Design in HD 1080 or 4K 😊
Was this the Arthur Dobson Alfa?
As far as I've read, yes, it is the only surviving Bimotore.
El presente se lo debemos al pasado mejorando el futuro.
What a lucky bastard...
What is this program? I once watched the same host drive Jaguars with the same format in the same place and have been unable to find it ever since.
From reading other comments I found it, Speedvision, the Jaguar episode is called Victory by design. Here's a link for anybody who's interested. So glad I stumbled on this Alfa one as it's lead me to something I've searched for for years! ua-cam.com/video/bKmkQbDGd6Y/v-deo.html
It is called Victory by Design.
This is just so cool. It would be better with fatter rubber on I believe. That's a big car for those skinny tires. You ought to race it at Bonneville. I'll bet you get a record set.
Maybe a 4wd layout Will be a good option, ferrari have access to advanced racing differentials to manage this and i dont think this added much weight because there are already too much prop shafts in this crazy car! We never know! Forza ferrari!
They actually do a record attempt and almost killed Nuvolari because Mussolini want impress the Germans, this is the story
gorgeous. prego
Even in 1935 - what were they thinking? I thought when they open the rear engine compartment that there would be a smaller much lighter engine. That's way too much weight to expect to manage any type of a curve. Should have put a tiny engine in, or the big engine they certainly should have used a dual axle two wheels on each side.
It was for all intents and purpose a crash project for Alfa Romeo in trying to compete with the ever more dominant German racing cars from Auto Union and Mercedes. The V12 Alfa was developing for the new car wasn't yet ready so they just cobbled together the bimotore hoping its straight line speed would be sufficient to overcome its lousy handling (even by 1935 standards). Even at AVUS - which basically just was two long parallel straights, a banked corner and a flat one - the Bimotore managed 2nd at best.
The only advantage it ever had was a high top speed which is why it was best used as a record car on public roads.
Sadly the "poorly handling" and "unsuccessful" parts seem to have completely flown over the heads of most of the commenters here. This was a development dead end which is why it was hastily retired.
A few questions here...had alfas in our family mostly two at a time since 1957. Enzo to my knowledge was an Apprentice back then to Alfa. Story doesn't add up to me. Enzo didnt compete in his own cars till early 50s
@@ianwilton4155 Enzo Ferrari started out as a test driver in the years after WW1, then landed a job as a test driver at Alfa Romeo in the early 1920s. He then became a reserve driver for Alfa Romeo at that time, being able to race when there an extra car available, and he's actually pretty good. But thanks to the deaths if his close friends, Alfa Romeo racing drivers Ugo Sivocci (the man who put the quadrifoglio symbols on Alfa Romeo) and Antonio Ascari (father of Alberto Ascari who later raced for Ferrari in the 1950s) caused him to basically lose interest in racing (he still continued to compete sporadically until 1931), focusing instead on the managerial side of the racing team.
This is product of Enzo like Mechanic sport leader of Alfa Romeo, this car is missing another logo, the front original logo was Alfa Romeo the sides logos are orifginal of the Enzo certified his effort and success...working with Alfa Romeo
If this is the original it spent the 1950s in New Zealand
It is the same car that ended up in New Zealand. Bought by Tom Wheatcroft (then owner of Donington Park), then restored back to its 1936 Bimotore specification, with the two engines (an owner removed the rear engine just before the war I think). Once the restoration was completed, they entered it in a historic race for Alfas at Donington, driven by known Alfista and historic racer Rodney Felton. As expected, the car proved a handful even for someone like Felton, yet he finished 5th...
so how come I have never seen this for sale at Barret Jackson?
Who would ever sell it?
Something this unique and valuable would likely be sold privately - maybe not, but I think it is more likely than Barrett Jackson.
He looks like Mike Oldfield,isnt he?
Man you were pushing. What if you would have crashed it? Insurance, sure, but what a loss. Also I would have handled those bonnets way more carefully!
Ok, don't mind, I'm just jealous...
@mellilore - There is no insurance available for cars while racing!
Enzo Ferrari Mr Engine Power
Carroll Shelby Mr. Engine Power! 🤠
this car could've been successful in the hands of nuvolari, the guy was too small to handle the wheel at slow speeds and so he was a master of drifting. over steer in this car would've made his life easier if anything
It could never be successful. Its too hard on both tyres and fuel, tyres only last for two laps when driven flat out. though the Bimotore is a land speed record holder, averaging more than 200 mph in Nuvolari's hands, on a very windy day in 1935!
How Nuvolari had the nerve to take that thing to those speeds is frightening…how those tires held together is another matter.
Hats off.
Thank you Alain.
Salut my friend super car super video subscribe subscribe .
360 km/h
It has to be a hell of a ride! o.o
Motorsports Mundial (Euro), dream car garage and Motorvision (Euro).I'm biased to Euro motorsports but they utterly ruined it.And I knew it was gonna happen as soon as they bought it in 2004.Pissed me off that more suits wanted to make a buck at the expense of a great channel.And predictably,went with what was popular.now,it's not even a shadow of what it once was.just nascar and reality tv. typical.wish someone who shares our sentiment would bring it back to its glory days from the 90's.
Es así, perdió su esencia!
such amazing wonderful psychosis
Nice boots - lol
Price tag? more then your life...
amazing car! i would kill to have it sitting in my living room on day
What's this car worth ?
It's the only one that survived. They originally built two, one with 2x2.9liter engine usually driven by Louis Chiron, and one with 2x3.2liter engine usually driven by Tazio Nuvolari. The one in the video is the 2x2.9 liter version, which could easily do about 200mph even back in 1935.
Someone's trying to avoid the stedicam.
Beautiful car. Curses to modernism, bring back the style.
Thx for reppin Turtle house! Free Penny Lane Ippolito from DHS in Fort Collins Colorado! Xxam shop with me. Yt Short 🛸🐢♥️,,
255 subs? Since 2010! Do you remember ever saying anything about politics? ! Weird...
Gotta love it. Ferrari's "First race car" And they already tried cheating by giving it two engines. lol.
Race cars are built to regulations. They do not say how you achieve that compliance. Your accusation of cheating is ill-informed.
Okay fine, they "Rewrote the rulebook" because it wasnt deemed cheating yet.
It's not cheating! The car is built to race in Formula Libre events. Formula Libre means of course that anything fast enough could race. Formula Libre events back in those days include Tripoli GP in Libya(using the fastest road course in the world) and AVUS in Berlin(the fastest race track ever built, consist of two straights around 5 miles long)
"Cheating"? There was no rule stating the car could have had only one engine. They could have put ten of them for what's worth. It's like saying that Auto Union cheated because they put the engine back.
It is owned by Ralph Lauren
No, not by Ralph Lauren, fortunately. Owned for a long time by Tom Wheatcroft, the former owner of Donington Park...
What a BS, this a true Italian Alfa Romeo NOT a ferrari...ferrari was a charlatan opportunistic manager who cheated all the time. He had no enginneering or driving talent, just an opportunistic cheating business man who took advantage of others to get ahead. Please don't insult ALFA ROMEO, the real heart and soul of Italy.
Thank goodness Alain de Cadenet presented this program, not you...
Get screwed I never knew alfa fans were so disrespectful.
@@noobsaibot7006 true Alfisti weren't disrespectful, so I don't know where to put this one...
I can't decide what would be better; to be reincarnated as Alaine or Scarlett Johansens kid.
Beautiful piece of art, unfortunately was not good enough to even touch the Germans ...
I remind you that at the Nurburgrin in the German Grand Prix, Tazio Nuvolari at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo had the Tricolore hoisted on a higher flagpole, three Italian cars won against the German squad!
@@aldolamberti3855 - Absolutely one of the biggest embarrassments to the Third Reich in its short, unsuccessful history! One of my favorite historical racing examples. The Germans didn't even have a copy of the Italian National Anthem to play as they were convinced it wouldn't be needed! Fortunately, Tazio brought his own so the grand moment was saved. Then, to add insult to injury, the Germans hired Nuvolari to drive the mighty Auto Unions. You just have to love this bit of motor racing history! 🏁
NONE of the race cars of that era, and for the next 30 years could corner for shit. They, for some ungodly reason, had no concept of "contact patch". Several decades ago, at the age of three, I asked my Grandpa, an engineer, why they didn't have wider tires for better grip. He shrugged and laughed.
@aaardvarkkk - You're right that the skinny tires of the time did not have good handling characteristics. It was not due to manufacturers not understanding "contact patch", but was limited to the standard bias ply tires of the time. Not until technology caught up with radial ply tires were wide ones produced.