VIN: the works Alfa Romeo C52 chassis AR.1361.00011
History of chassis AR.1361.00011
Of the four C52s built, chassis 1361.00011 was uniquely completed with a three-litre straight six engine instead of the standard two-litre ‘four’. To accommodate the bigger motor, it was assembled around a special long wheelbase chassis.
A second long wheelbase three-litre C52 was partially completed on chassis 1361.00012, but when Alfa Romeo abandoned their plan to race the model, 00012 was dismantled and the chassis is understood to have been scrapped.
Alfa Romeo decided against a motor racing campaign with the C52 because the much heralded ‘Disco Volante’ body (styled by Touring of Milan) developed significant lift and proved unstable at high speed.
The four cars were instead used for testing and development. To this end, two had their bodies significantly modified. One was reconfigured as a short-tailed Spider with conventional narrow-hipped fenders (‘Fianchi Stretti’). The other was turned into a ‘Disco Volante’ Berlinetta.
Chassis 00011 was one of the two C52s (along with 00001) that retained its original body. It was tested extensively, including later with a prototype 3.5-litre engine as subsequently used in the 6C 3000 CM (Alfa Romeo’s replacement for the C52).
After Alfa Romeo closed their competition department at the end of 1953, chassis 00011 was donated to the Biscarretti museum in Turin (now the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile) where it remains today.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile - http://www.museoauto.it/website/en
