Alfa Romeo Bimotore
 1935

Strictly speaking these cars were Ferraris.  Two cars were built to a design by Luigi Bazzi for Scuderia Ferrari for track racing and record breaking.   They were as the name suggests fitted with two engines, one in the then conventional position in front of the driver and another behind the driver.  These engines were the 2.9 litre Alfa Romeo P3 type and gave an output of about 540 bhp.

  
 

Suspension was by short wishbones at the front and swing axles at the rear.  I discussed handling with Rick Hall who restored this amazing car for Tom Wheatcroft’s Donington Collection and he agreed that with this suspension set up the car was virtually un-driveable. 
 
It also suffered a weight penalty not helped by the need to carry a high fuel load.  This in turn gave problems with the tyre life.
 

These cars were a vain attempt at a relatively low cost answer to the growing threat posed by the Mercedes and Auto Union teams.  The Bimotore’s first and best result was on it’s first outing at the Tripoli Grand Prix of 1935 where they finished fourth and fifth in the hands of Nuvolari and Chiron.
 
There are several excellent articles on these well documented cars and in particular by Thomas O’Keefe at www.atlasfi.com/2000/bri/okeefe.html