Mar 6

Mar 6 Guide: Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale Pininfarina P33 Spider Speciale Cuneo

Alfa Romeo - Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 - Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale - Autodelta - 1970s Italian Cars - 1970s Supercars - 1970s Sports Prototypes - 1970s Concept Cars - One Offs - Pininfarina

Background

Alfa Romeo originally hoped to sell 50 examples of the handsome Tipo 33 Stradale in order to qualify the car into the Group 4 Sports class.

However, demand for the extremely expensive machine was subdued and, after the first 20 bare chassis had been assembled, no more were built.

Alfa Romeo ultimately only produced eleven Stradales in standard road-going trim (although there is a possibility three additional examples were built which would take the total to 14 units). As for the leftover chassis, five were dispatched to Italian coachbuilders where they were transformed into state-of-the-art fully operational styling exercises.

The first two of these went on display during 1968 (Bertone’s Carabo and the Pininfarina P33 Roadster). These were followed by another pair in 1969 (the Ital Design Iguana and Pininfarina 33/2 Coupe Speciale).

The P33 Roadster displayed by Pininfarina at the Turin Motor Show between late October and early November of 1968 was a wedge-shaped Speedster-esque machine characterised by its bulbous front fenders, central bank of covered headlights and massive basket-handle spoiler located directly above the engine.

Pininfarina built the P33 Roadster on chassis number 750.33.108. However, during the second half of 1970 they decided to replace its coachwork with a new design that would break cover at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1971.

The resultant P33 Spider Speciale Cuneo was the penultimate of these Stradale-based styling concepts and the last created by Pininfarina.

Bodywork

For the P33 Spider Speciale’s coachwork, Pininfarina adopted the wedge design language that was the height of fashion at the time. In this regard, it followed other Pininfarina creations such as the Ferrari 512 S Berlinetta Speciale and Abarth SE 010 Scorpio (both from 1969) and the Ferrari 512 S Modulo (from 1970).

The most striking feature of this latest machine was its remarkably flat surfaces and arrow-like profile. Although the nose tapered down gently towards its leading edge, the overall effect was of a plane-like upper body that was matched by its equally flat-sided flanks.

The headlights were housed in the front intake aperture and mounted behind an etched cover. The nose itself was accessorised with a distinctive satin bank band of a similar type to that subsequently adopted on the Ferrari 365 GTC/4. Further up, discrete bulges were incorporated on the fenders to enable sufficient suspension travel for the wheels.

The windscreen was a single piece of wraparound glass. No side windows of any type were provided. Directly behind the cockpit was a satin black rollover bar.

In between the finned rear fenders, the flat rear deck was only disturbed by the bank of eight downdraught carburettors that poked through the bodywork in a style similar to many Sports Prototype racing cars of the era.

A truncated tail had a rectangular fascia with a large central cutaway central where a trio of circular lights were mounted on each side. In between the tail lights was a bank of eight exhaust outlets mounted behind a satin black shroud.

Pininfarina added a reddish orange centre stripe with matching decals down each flank. The sides were also home to a Pininfarina emblem and Alfa Romeo cloverleaf ahead of the front and rear wheels respectively. Satin black was applied to the sills and rear apron to lend the car a more slender appearance.

Interior

Inside, bucket seats were trimmed with black vinyl bolsters and reddish orange velour centres.

The rev counter was located in its own binnacle directly behind a projecting two double-spoke steering wheel. Five additional gauges were housed in an oval binnacle located on the otherwise flat dash top.

Upholstery was minimal and black vinyl was typically used.

Chassis

Under the skin, the Cuneo Speciale was effectively a standard Tipo 33 Stradale which itself was based on the big tubed perimeter chassis of the 1967 Tipo 33 racing car. The 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 additionally 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 diameter 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 dry-sumped all-alloy 90° V8 was a formidable little engine. 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.