Alfa Romeo RL "Targa Florio" - 1924

Описание: The RL was a car produced by Alfa Romeo from 1922 to 1927. It was designed by Giuseppe Merosi in 1921. In 1920 Alfa Romeo started to prepare the project "RL", interpreting the regulation of the new formula "three thousand" for international competitions which went into effect in 1921 and which provided for the decrease in engine capacity of participating cars. The RL was prepared and given the initial interest, Alfa Romeo decided to produce it in series and in different versions. Was presented October 13, 1921 in Milan and later at the London Motor Show 1921. With the RL Alfa Romeo also completed its range with the launch of a model which occupied a market segment previously empty. The vehicle had a six-cylinder engine in line with displacements that came up to 3,600 cm³ for the latest competition. Of this model, which had as its younger sister, MRI, were produced four versions. Were initially launched the "Normal" and "Sport", and later (in 1925) were introduced in the "Tourism" and "Super Sport". It was built a version for racing - the "RL Targa Florio" - which was built from 1923 to compete in the prestigious Targa Florio, at that time the most important automobile competition. The street version, however, was then accepted tiepidamente the market precisely because of the engine which, because of the limited displacement, was characterized by a relatively low power. The "RL Targa Florio in 1923" was a racing car with bodywork spider two places to "torpedo" with a dry weight of 980 kg including two spare wheels (halved compared to the standard model), with four main bearings and two carburetors. Was produced in only five specimens of which three are powered by engines with 2,994 cc displacement (with a power of 88 hp) and two with 3,154 cc engine (with a power of 95 hp). Both engines were six-cylinder in-line, and the increase in displacement and power was achieved by increasing the cylinder bore 76 to 78 mm. The RL was a winning car. He was deployed to "Targa Florio" in 1923 where he won the first, second and fourth. In 1923 the racing team Alfa Romeo won the Targa Florio with the RL driven by Ugo Sivocci, while the other cars were deployed were to be driven Antonio Ascari, Giulio Masetti and Enzo Ferrari. Specimens more powerful, equipped with 3154 cc engine, were entrusted to Ascari and Sivocci. Noted on the Sivocci debuted symbol cloverleaf Alfa Romeo that, since then, would appear in all the competitive activities of the Milanese house and sportier versions of its cars. The four-leaf clover was painted by the pilot Ugo Sivocci on your car at the Targa Florio in 1923 for superstitious reasons, since the model is listed at the competition with the number 17; with this symbol the pilot Salerno won the first career victory. The statement was also the first of Alfa Romeo in the famous Sicilian competition. Subsequently a "RL Targa Florio 1923" entrusted to Ascari came before the Circuit of Cremona establishing the 10 km average speed of 157 km/h, remarkable for its time. In 1924, to maintain supremacy in the Targa Florio, the Alfa Romeo prepared four copies of "RL Targa Florio 1924", two with 2994 cc engine (brought to 90 hp) and two with the engine 3620 cm³. The latter engine was equipped with seven main bearings in place of the four of the other models, and was able to develop a power of 125 hp at 3,800 rpm. Ascari was leading the race when a screeching halt about 100 meters from the finish caused a spin. Failing to restart the car, Ascari and his mechanic had to push the car to the finish uphill. The Alfa Romeo came second, third, fifth and tenth. In 1924 at the Circuit of Cremona came second with Campari (behind the rookie Alfa Romeo P2 that occasion was led by Ascari) by establishing the remarkable average of 178 km/h. Unripe also won the Cup in 1924 and 1925, respectively, with Enzo Ferrari and Guido Ginaldi.