Dear Ultimatecarpage.com visitor,

In the formative years of Grand Prix racing, the cars were manned by the driver and a riding mechanic. Even though the riding mechanic eventually disappeared, in Europe the cars remained two-seaters until the early 1930s. Only once the regulations allowed for narrower cockpits, did the Grand Prix cars become single seaters. Today we take a closer look at two of the final Grand Prix cars that could seat two. Both are shot during the 2008 Monaco Historic Grand Prix.
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza was the most potent model in the diverse 8C line-up. It was not really built for Grand Prix racing but it was forced into the fray after the twin-engined Tipo A proved to be a failure. The model name was a reference to the debut victory in the 1931 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The following season, the Works team turned to the Tipo B, which as its nickname 'Monoposto' suggests, was a single seater. Privateers, like Scuderia Ferrari, continued to campaign the Monza for several seasons. One of the three featured examples was driven to victory in the 1933 Mille Miglia by the great Tazio Nuvolari.
Maserati's belated answer to the Monza was this 8C 3000 first raced late in 1932. One of the reasons for the delay was the untimely death of the company's main designer Alfieri Maserati earlier in the year. Eventually only two examples were built before, it was replaced by the 8 CM (the M is a reference to Monoposto) in 1933. Campari scored a win in the French Grand Prix in the first 8C 3000 beating one of the Alfa Romeo Monzas highlighted today. The other was raced by 'Bentley Boy' Sir Henry Birkin in the Tripoli Grand Prix. Unfortunately he burned his arm on the exhaust and later died from blood poisoning. Our 8C 3000 article includes both examples built.

Enjoy the links:

1931 - 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza - Images, Specifications and Information

1932 Maserati 8C 3000 - Images, Specifications and Information

Regards,
Wouter Melissen