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1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B

The Alfa Romeo was a replacement for the 6C 1750 and interim 6C 1900, and combined race car engineering with grand touring styling. It was a more affordable alternative to the 8-cylinder Alfa Romeo and made its debut in 1934, ranking among the company's most memorable creations. Coachwork was provided by some of the finest coachbuilders of the era including Castagna, Zagato, Touring, Pinin Farina, and James Young. Three versions were offered including (in ascending order of specification and performance)Turismo, Gran Turismo and competition Pescara models.

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B photo
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe by Touring
Chassis #: 815053
Engine #: 824007
View info and history
Auction entries : 3
Produced through 1938, 760 examples were of the rigid-axle 6C 2300 and 840 of the B-model (6C 2300B) with an independent front suspension and rear swing axle, along with hydraulic brakes.

The Alfa Romeo 6C
The '6C' name references the straight-6-cylinder engine and '2300' was for its displacement size (2,309cc). The first of the series was the 6C 1500 of 1927 which would set new standards for lightweight, high-performance motorcars. It combined a low and lightweight ladder-frame chassis suspended by semi-elliptic springs with a Vittorio Jano-designed, 1,487cc displacement engine. Several carrozzeria created coachwork for this chassis including Zagato whose Spiders would come to epitomize the springs 6C series.

A more powerful version, dubbed the 6C 1750, was introduced in 1929 with a displacement size of 1,752cc. It would win every major racing event it entered during the 1929 season, including the Grands Prix of Spain, Belgium, Tunis and Monza, along with the Mille Miglia, the Ulster TT, and the Brooklands Double Twelve. During the 1930 season, it won the Mille Miglia and Spa 24 Hours.

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B photo
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe by Touring
Chassis #: 815053
Engine #: 824007
View info and history
Auction entries : 3
The final derivative of the original 6C 1500 arrived in 1933 before the arrival of the 6C 2300 the following year. Known as the 6C 1900, it was built solely on a 115-inch 'Gran Turismo' chassis. The 6C 1500 chassis had wheelbase sizes that ranged from 114.2 to 122 inches and the 6C 1750 had a 108.1 to 124.4-inch wheelbase platform.

The lightweight and performance credentials bestowed upon the 6C 1500 continued and evolved through 1750, 1900, 2300 and 2500 models.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300
The 2300's six-cylinder DOHC 2,309cc engine featured an integrally cast crankcase and cylinder block topped by an aluminum-alloy cylinder head. The Turismo version produced 68 horsepower at 4,400 RPM and the Gran Turismo delivered 76 bhp at 4,400 RPM - both had a single carburetor. The Prescara had two carburetors and produced 95 horsepower at 4,500 RPM.

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B photo
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe by Touring
Chassis #: 815053
Engine #: 824007
View info and history
Auction entries : 3
The 6C 2300 B was unveiled in 1936 at the Milan Auto Salon and broke new ground for the company with its independent suspension that lowered the center of gravity of the car and improved its handling. The introduction of hydraulic brakes was a vast improvement. The wheelbase of these cars was now standardized at 3 meters (118.1 inches), with the optional long (Lungo) chassis variant at 3.25 metres.

The independently sprung 6C 2300B were built through 1938, when they were re-badged from Turismo, Gran Turismo and Pescara to Lungo, Corto and Mille Miglia. The 'Mille Miglia' name was in recognition of Alfa Romeo's 1st in Class in 1936, 1937 and 1938 at the event. The Mille Miglia versions had 20 additional horsepower while the racing versions had 30 more hp. The increase was from a 7.75:1 compression ratio and twin single choke Solex 35-40FH carburetors driving through a 14/61 rear axle.

The 6C 2300 made an auspicious competition debut in 1934 at the Giro d'Italia when Gran Turismo models (forming the basis of the Pescara version with 95 horsepower) featuring tuned engines and special bodies placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd. At the 24 Ore di Pescara in August, three examples would finish the race in 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B photo
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe by Touring
Chassis #: 815025
Engine #: 823823
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B was replaced by the 6C 2500, which would remain in production (albeit, halted during WWII) through 1952.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2023

Related Reading : Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B History

The 2.3-liter version of Vittorio Janos engine was a continuation of excellence and perfection. The 1500 was the first increment, and it truly created recognition for the Italian based manufacturer. The 1750 and 1900 soon followed, then came the 2300 which offered just over 70 horsepower initially. Its construction was very similar to its predecessors, utilizing two overhead camshafts actuating....
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Related Reading : Alfa Romeo 6C History

The Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 was introduced near the end of the 1930s. The 6C name was derived from the engine size, an inline-six while the 2500 represented the engines cubic-centimeter displacement size. The engine was a version of Vittorio Jano designed a six-cylinder engine. The 6C was available in a plethora of body styles and wheelbases and was produced during two different times in history.....
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Related Reading : Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B History

In the early 1930s, Alfa Romeo was in financial trouble. It was rescued by the Italian government who took control of the company in 1933 through the Istituto Riconstruzione Industriale (IRI). The day-to-day operation of the racing program was given to Enzo Ferrari. With the racing program well managed and the concerns of the marketplace put to rest, the Alfa Romeo engineers were free to create....
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1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Vehicle Profiles

1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B vehicle information
Mille Miglia Cabriolet

Designer: Graber
1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B vehicle information
Mille Miglia Spider Corsa

Coachwork: Touring
Chassis #: 815001
1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B vehicle information
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe

Coachwork: Touring
Chassis #: 815053
Engine #: 824007
Gearbox #: Alfa Romeo numbered 843047
1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B vehicle information
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe

Coachwork: Touring
Chassis #: 815.092
1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B vehicle information
Mille Miglia Superleggera Coupe

Coachwork: Touring
Chassis #: 815025
Engine #: 823823

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

6C 2300 B

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
115.16 in.
6 cyl., 140.36 CID., 80.00hp
115.16 in.
6 cyl., 140.36 CID., 80.00hp

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