The Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica Spider was an one-off mid-enginestreamlined prototype, built by brothers Eugenio and Oscarre Jankovits between 1934 and 1940 in Fiume (today Rijeka), and powered by an Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Turismo engine.The construction of the car took many years, and the result differed somewhat from the earliest drawings, while retaining a strong ladder type chassis fitted with US-sourced suspension components. The Aerospider represents:
The brothers Jankovits were sons of the Alfa Romeo dealer in Fiume. As such, they came into ownership of a second hand 6C 2300 Turismo berlina built in 1934, chassis 700316, whose engine they retained for their own project of a mid-engined sports car. Between 1935 and 1937 the Jankovits out the construction carried; a “running chassis” could be registered in Fiume (number plate 2757 FM) tested, and subsequently modified.
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The no. 700316 6C 2300 tipo Turismo straight-six engine placed behind the driver was Alfa Romeo: 2,309 cc, iron block, light alloy head, chain-driven dual overhead camshafts, spur gears, wet sump lubrication. The Jankovits fitted exhaust pipes of equal length and improved intake of air to reduce the pressure drop. Later the engine was upgraded with three dual Weber 36 D 04 carburettors, a setup used on the 6C 2500 SS of 1939. The transmission was the 4-speed gearbox from the 6C 2300, mounted with a Hardy discbehind the engine. originally standard fitted which they removed and installed in its place a differential unit from a Lancia Lambda. A unique system pre-selector gear change system was also developed. The clutch was hydraulically assisted.
The ladder chassis was made by the specifically by the two brothers for the central-mounted engine, with straight rails from front to the rear end of the car; it was numbered 700316 as per engine number. In December 1935, the Jankovits' drawing of the front suspension still considered it being sprung either by torsion bars or transverse leaf spring. Eventually, a new design was made using an OM Mille Miglia pivot and modified 1935 Ford elements. The final suspension was all-independent, with “silent bloc” bushes; front it consisted of double wishbones, with a thick sheet steel (4 mm) upper wishbone, lever-arm Houdaille hydraulic dampers, longitudinal torsion bars, and lower location through a transverse leaf spring; at the rear of swing axles and radius arms, with a transverse leaf spring and longitudinal torsion bars.
Steering was worm and sector with Hardy disc. Brakes used a two-circuit hydraulic system (two fluid distributors and two master cylinders, one for the front and one for the rear), Lockheed-type duplex brakes from a 1938 Buick, 17-by-2-inch (432 mm × 51 mm) drums all round. An equaliser was fitted, which could avoid overbraking by changing the distribution of braking force between the front and rear brakes during driving. 5.50-18 racing crossply tyres were mounted on Alfa Romeo 18-inch Rudge-type wire wheels.
The ladder chassis was made by the specifically by the two brothers for the central-mounted engine, with straight rails from front to the rear end of the car; it was numbered 700316 as per engine number. In December 1935, the Jankovits' drawing of the front suspension still considered it being sprung either by torsion bars or transverse leaf spring. Eventually, a new design was made using an OM Mille Miglia pivot and modified 1935 Ford elements. The final suspension was all-independent, with “silent bloc” bushes; front it consisted of double wishbones, with a thick sheet steel (4 mm) upper wishbone, lever-arm Houdaille hydraulic dampers, longitudinal torsion bars, and lower location through a transverse leaf spring; at the rear of swing axles and radius arms, with a transverse leaf spring and longitudinal torsion bars.
Steering was worm and sector with Hardy disc. Brakes used a two-circuit hydraulic system (two fluid distributors and two master cylinders, one for the front and one for the rear), Lockheed-type duplex brakes from a 1938 Buick, 17-by-2-inch (432 mm × 51 mm) drums all round. An equaliser was fitted, which could avoid overbraking by changing the distribution of braking force between the front and rear brakes during driving. 5.50-18 racing crossply tyres were mounted on Alfa Romeo 18-inch Rudge-type wire wheels.
The aerodynamic shape of the car was designed by Oscarre Jankovits, probably inspired by contemporary aerodynamic theories such as Paul Jaray's, and built at the Jankovits garage between 1936 and 1937. It was an open three-seater with central driving position, with fully integrated wings (ponton styling). The bodyshell was streamlined to minimised turbulence in the air flow, fully enveloping the underbody and integrating door handles and lights. An horizontal radiator which made it possible to design an exceptionally low front profile for a pre-war car. Air inlets were positioned in zones of high air pressure, and hot air outlets from the engine and brakes in areas of low pressure. Top speed was over 140 mph (225 km/h).
During the Second World War the completed prototype remained hidden in the Jankovits’ garage in Fiume. After the conflict the Jankovits, in need of money, had to sell their car to an Anglo-American officer. On Christmas Eve 1946, with a temporary registration document, the two brothers drove the Aerospider through the border into Italy. Then the Alfa disappeared for about 20 years until it was rediscovered in England. In 1978 well-known Alfa Romeo historian Luigi Fusi put the then-owner of the car in contact with the Jankovits, and considered to buy the car for the Alfa museum. The acquisition failed, but the prototype did eventually return to Italy, 30 years after its birth, to be restored. While being red according to 1946 documents, it has been repainted blue, and then black by current owner, who also replaced the original windshield with a smaller one. The car still has its original licence plate and documents of registration.
During the Second World War the completed prototype remained hidden in the Jankovits’ garage in Fiume. After the conflict the Jankovits, in need of money, had to sell their car to an Anglo-American officer. On Christmas Eve 1946, with a temporary registration document, the two brothers drove the Aerospider through the border into Italy. Then the Alfa disappeared for about 20 years until it was rediscovered in England. In 1978 well-known Alfa Romeo historian Luigi Fusi put the then-owner of the car in contact with the Jankovits, and considered to buy the car for the Alfa museum. The acquisition failed, but the prototype did eventually return to Italy, 30 years after its birth, to be restored. While being red according to 1946 documents, it has been repainted blue, and then black by current owner, who also replaced the original windshield with a smaller one. The car still has its original licence plate and documents of registration.
Source: Wikipedia