Alfa Romeo 12C-36
The supercharged V12 branch of Alfa Romeo’s Tipo C programme.
Twelve cylinders and a precise identity
The 12C-36 is a pre-war Grand Prix car whose name specifies both its twelve-cylinder engine and its 1936 development. It belongs beside the 8C 35 in Alfa Romeo’s competition history, but it should not be described as the same mechanical vehicle. Nor should it be merged with the later 12C-37 or the three-litre Tipo 312.
The 4064 cc V12
The Alfa Romeo museum lists a front-mounted 60-degree V12 of 4064 cc with two superchargers, two twin-choke carburettors and magneto ignition. Its specification gives 370 hp at 5800 rpm. A four-speed transmission drives the rear wheels. These values are attached to the museum’s 12C configuration and retain its hp label.
Chassis and suspension
The museum describes pressed-steel frame members, independent suspension at both ends and hydraulically actuated drum brakes. Its dimensions include a 2750 mm wheelbase, and it lists a weight of 820 kg. Together, these facts provide a useful comparison with the earlier Tipo B: the change in engine layout was accompanied by a different chassis specification.
Six in the museum specification
The museum page reports six cars for its GP Tipo C 12C entry. This profile records that scoped figure for the 12C-36 configuration described by the 4064 cc engine. It is not a combined twelve-cylinder Alfa total or a count of cars that survive today. An engine displayed separately from a chassis also should not be counted as another complete car.
Why the suffix matters
A date suffix is useful evidence when reading a racing-car catalogue. A 12C-36 claim should be tested against records for that development rather than a general twelve-cylinder illustration. A later engine, modified chassis or restored body can each change what is physically being presented. The model’s history remains important even when an individual survivor’s original configuration requires further investigation.
The illustrated example and its record
The selected photograph shows a 1936 12C at the Luigi Bonfanti museum’s Nuvolari exhibition in 2003. It is a modern display image, and it is credited to its photographer. For an individual car, assemble the chassis identity, restoration history and dated images into a chronology. Describe replacement work explicitly; it helps a reader understand the car without making unsupported claims about every component.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 12C-36 an inline-twelve?
No. The museum identifies a 60-degree V12.
Is the Tipo 312 the same car?
It is a separate three-litre Grand Prix designation; this entry concerns the 4064 cc 12C-36.
What does the count of six represent?
It is the factory museum’s count for the listed Tipo C twelve-cylinder configuration, not a modern survivor census.
Related vehicle profiles
Primary references
Photo and credit
1936 Alfa Romeo 12C displayed at the Luigi Bonfanti Automobile Museum during The Legend of Nuvolari exhibition in 2003. Photo: Odysseus 86 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and JPEG-compressed for web display; no content retouching. Website layouts may crop the image.
Why this machine matters
The 12C-36 is a pre-war Grand Prix car whose name specifies both its twelve-cylinder engine and its 1936 development. It belongs beside the 8C 35 in Alfa Romeo’s competition history, but it should not be described as the same mechanical vehicle. Nor should it be merged with the later 12C-37 or the three-litre Tipo 312.
Built in limited numbers
Six is museum-listed GP Tipo C 12C configuration count; do not combine with 12C-37 or Tipo 312.
Gallery
Specifications
Factory specifications may vary by model year, market and configuration.
Identity & production
- Official model
- Alfa Romeo 12C-36
- Country of manufacture
- Italy
Powertrain & performance
- Engine
- 4064 cc twin-supercharged 60-degree V12
- Horsepower
- 370
- Drivetrain
- Rear-wheel drive
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