Guide: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale Pininfarina 33/2 Coupe Speciale
Background
Alfa Romeo’s failure to sell as many Tipo 33 Stradales as they had hoped left the firm with a surplus of naked chassis.
It was originally anticipated that 50 Stradales would be built to qualify for the Group 4 Sports car class. Unfortunately, the wickedly expensive machine was a commercial flop and, by the time it was discontinued in early 1969, only 13 Stradale road cars had been completed, two of which were prototypes.
Between 1968 and 1971, five Stradale chassis were dispatched to Italy’s premier design studios where they were equipped with unique state-of-the-art bodies. A sixth and final car followed five years later in 1976.
First of the special-bodied 33 Stradales to arrive was the seminal Bertone Carabo which broke cover at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968.
Next was the P33 Roadster unveiled by Pininfarina four weeks later at the Turin Motor Show.
The third example was also the work of Pininfarina. Dubbed the 33/2 Coupe Speciale, it was presented at the Paris Motor Show on October 1st 1969 and caused a real stir. However, for those with an eye for detail, there were considerable similarities between this latest creation and the Ferrari 250 P5 that Pininfarina unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968.
Ferrari 250 P5
The 250 P5 was based on a unique Ferrari chassis that had been built to contest the 1968 European Hillclimb Championship. It started life as a standard Dino 206 S frame that was modified to accommodate a Flat 12 engine.
When Ferrari decided to abandon the idea to compete with the car in 1968, the naked and engine-less chassis was loaned to Pininfarina who used it as the basis for the P5.
Pininfarina returned the chassis to Ferrari later in the year after which the P5 body was extensively modified to appear on the chassis supplied by Alfa Romeo (number 750.33.115).
Conversion to Alfa Romeo 33/2 Coupe Speciale
At 2350mm, the Stradale wheelbase was just 10mm longer than the modified Ferrari frame which made the transfer a relatively straightforward affair.
Several significant features from the P5 were discarded in its transition to 33/2 Coupe Speciale trim. The P5’s inboard row of headlights mounted underneath an etched Plexiglas panel were replaced with retractable pods on each front fender. At the back, the distinctive wraparound slats were removed as were the ones located within the sculpted engine cooling ducts down each flank.
Key aspects of the P5 that stayed were the pontoon fenders, cutaway body sections behind the wheels, Gullwing doors and windows.
In addition to the full complement of front lighting, Pininfarina added a removable access hatch and a traditional Alfa Romeo shield.
At the back, the tail fascia was modified with a new rectangular air vent, re-profiled apron, satin black bumperettes and elegant light clusters from the BMW E9.
Interior
Inside, the cockpit was completely new. Most obviously, what had been a right-hand drive car in the case of the P5 was now left-hand drive.
A full width alcantara dash featured a twin gauge binnacle for the speedometer and tach. Supplementary instrumentation was laid out horizontally between the dash top and knee roll.
The seats were trimmed with brown leather bolsters and the centres were green tartan velour which matched the head rests. Brown leather was also used to upholster the sidewalls, sills, transmission tunnel and rear bulkhead. The carpet was pale green.
Chassis
Under the skin, the 33/2 Coupe Speciale was mechanically unchanged from the standard Stradale which itself was based on the big tubed perimeter chassis of the 1967 Tipo 33 racer. This competition spaceframe comprised two light-alloy side members that doubled up as fuel tanks with front and rear subframes to carry the suspension, engine, gearbox and differential.
Suspension was via wishbones, helical springs and anti-roll bars with radius rods also installed at the back. Fully adjustable telescopic dampers were fitted all round along with ventilated disc brakes (mounted inboard at the rear).
The 13-inch magnesium wheels measured 10-inches wide at the front and 12-inches wide at the back. They were originally shod with Dunlop tyres.
Engine & Gearbox
Alfa’s compact and lightweight 90° V8 was a complex piece of kit. It featured two chain driven overhead camshafts per bank, four ignition coils, SPICA fuel-injection and 16 spark plugs. A capacity of 1995cc was achieved thanks to a bore and stroke of 78mm and 52.2mm respectively.
Compression was 10.0:1 which gave a peak output of 230bhp at 8800rpm.
Transmission was via a five-speed Colotti gearbox with a ZF limited-slip differential and single-plate hydraulic clutch.
After its debut at the 1969 Paris Motor Show, the 33/2 Coupe Speciale made a couple more salon appearances before it was tucked away in Alfa Romeo’s Museo Storico.
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Alfa Romeo - https://www.alfaromeo.com
