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    Alfa Romeo (F1-1979-1982) 179

    The Alfa Romeo 179 is a Formula One car which was used (in different variants) by the Alfa Romeo team from 1979 to 1982. The 179 made its debut at the 1979 Italian Grand Prix, replacing the flat-12 engined Alfa Romeo 177. During its lifespan there were many versions and 179D version was used for the last time at the 1982 South African Grand Prix.

    At the beginning of the 1981 season, the 179s were fitted with adjustable dampers and denoted as 179C. A lower 179D was the next evolution and the final version which raced was the fully carbon-fibre 179F. Alfa Romeo suffered a sad loss when Patrick Depailler was killed while testing the car at Hockenheim in 1980.

    There was also a V8-engined version of this car, the 179T in 1982, which was used for testing the 1.5 L turbocharged engine.

    The 179's best achievements were Bruno Giacomelli's pole position at the 1980 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen and 3rd place in the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. The car scored 14 points from 61 races.

    Source: wikipedia.org
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    Alfa Romeo 179 #2
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    Alfa Romeo 179 #3
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    Alfa Romeo 179 #4
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    RM Auction Paris
    5 February 2014
    1980 Alfa Romeo 179B Formula One
    Sold for €168.000

    Chassis no. 179B/04

    500 bhp, 2,991 cc V-12 engine, five-speed manual transmission, front and rear independent wishbone suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 2,743 mm

    • An exceptional example of Alfa Romeo’s return to F1 racing
    • Ex-Bruno Giacomelli; proven competition history
    • Eligible for Historic Grand Prix racing


    Alfa Romeo’s Formula One racing revival in the 1980s came after the firm spent decades as an engine supplier. However, that is not to say that Alfa’s F1 efforts were relegated to the back room. Under the guise of Carlo Chiti’s Autodelta competition department, Alfa Romeo carved out a deservedly positive reputation for building racing engines. By the late 1970s, however, Chiti convinced Alfa Romeo to fund an Autodelta-engineered Formula One effort, which made its debut to much enthusiasm as the Alfa Romeo 177 at the 1979 Belgian Grand Prix. Evolving into the 179 racing car, with the addition of a 500-horsepower, 3.0-litre V-12 engine that replaced a flat twelve, the team picked up the distinctive and lucrative Marlboro sponsorship.

    Under Bruno Giacomelli’s stewardship, this 179B Formula One racing car made its debut in January 1980 at the Argentinian Grand Prix. Finishing 5th, Giacomelli racked up the car’s highest finish that year in its very first race. Although it bears chassis number 04, it is generally considered to be the first true 1980 chassis that was finished in time for the beginning of the season.

    Giacomelli’s highest finish might have come in Argentina, but that is not to say that his season lacked excitement. Perhaps the most notable footnote was a half spin on a hairpin curve before Shoreline Drive at the Long Beach event. The experienced Giacomelli was attempting to rectify the spin, but he was hit by Carlos Reutmann and, subsequently, Alan Jones. Giacomelli was forced to retire, but more notably, the impact took out both of the Williams cars in the process.

    Although chassis 04 was retired from Alfa Romeo’s racing fleet at the end of the 1980 season, this 179B has remained in the public’s eye at vintage racing events primarily in the United States, where it is eligible for Historic Grand Prix racing. Its engine, recently rebuilt by Bob Slade Engines in California, has been used at just one event.

    This 179B, which is eligible for numerous historic racing events, is presented in the iconic red and white Marlboro livery in which it debuted.
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    Alfa Romeo 179B #6
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