Alfa Romeo Disco Volante

Alfa Romeo Disco Volante
Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 Disco Volante in the Alfa Romeo Museum
Overview
Manufacturer	Alfa Romeo
Also called	Alfa Romeo 1900 C 52
Production	1952–1953
Designer	Carrozzeria Touring
Body and chassis
Class	Experimental racing car
Body style	2-door spider 2-door coupé
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	1,997 cc I4 3,495 cc I6
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,220 mm (87.4 in)
Kerb weight	2.0-litre: 735 kg (1,620 lb) 3.5-litre: 760 kg (1,676 lb)

The Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 "Disco Volante", commonly known simply as Alfa Romeo Disco Volante (Italian for "Flying Saucer"), is a series of experimental sports racing cars produced between 1952 and 1953 by Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo in collaboration with Milanese coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring. The car was distinguished by streamlined, wind tunnel tested bodywork.

Three spiders were made in 1952, with a 2-litre all-alloy four-cylinder engine; a year later one was modified into a coupé, and another one into a more conventional-looking spider. Two more examples were built fitted with a six-cylinder 3.5-litre engine from the Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM racing car. Four of the five cars built in total survive today.

The 1900 C52 was originally developed in 1952 to take part to Sport category races. Its fully enveloping aerodynamic bodywork was developed and built together with Carrozzeria Touring, and wind tunnel tested. Studied to achieve a low drag coefficient even in crosswinds, the body featured a cross-section both viewed from the front and from the side; the underbody was faired-in. According to some the design of the Jaguar E-type has some design cues similar to the Disco Volante.

Built around an all-new tubular space frame, the Disco Volante used lightened components from the Alfa Romeo 1900. As on the 1900, the engine was a inline-four with double chain-driven overhead camshafts, but used an aluminium block and inserted sleeves instead of the 1900's cast iron one. While the 1900's 88 mm stroke was retained, cylinder bore had grown from 82.55 mm to 85 mm, bringing total displacement to 1,997.4 cubic centimetres; compression ratio was raised to 8.73:1. So configured, fed by two twin-choke sidedraught carburettors, the engine produced 158 PS (116 kW; 156 hp) at 6,500 rpm. The transmission was 4-speed gearbox with synchronised forwards speeds and a multi plate dry clutch. Suspension was, as on other Alfa Romeos of the time, by double wishbones at the front and solid axle linked to the chassis by an upper triangle and two lower longitudinal reaction arms. The brakes were drums on all four corners, and the 6.0×16" tyres were fitted to wire wheels with duralumin rims. Thanks to its aerodynamic shape the car could attain a top speed of 220 kilometres per hour (140 mph).