Become a Member: Get Ad-Free Access to All Our Content
1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider

1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider

1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider

One of the most original stylistic offerings from Alfa Romeo is the ‘Disco Volante’ which literally translates to ‘Flying Saucer’. These streamlined cars were initially designed by Carrozzeria Touring to participate in motor sport, but they did not race. Instead they influenced Alfa Romeo design including the 6C 3000CMs which ran the 1953 Mille Miglia and numerous Pininfarina show cars which followed.

The design was very uncommon for the era, with its rounded fenders, low slung profile and convex tail. In many ways this aerodynamic shape predated the Jaguar D-Type which would shared many of the Disco Volante’s lines.1

Back in 1952, Alfa Romeo was very keen to experiment with this shape. A coupé was made along with a slab-sided version but none of these cars were used in motor sport.

Powering all the Disco Volante variants was a revised version of the four-cylinder engine found in the Alfa Romeo 1900. Alfa Romeo increased the bore size of this engine to 1997cc which offered a healthy 158 bhp.

The body was made using Carrozzeria Touring Superleggra principles which stretched an aluminum body over a steel-tube lattice work. This was then affixed to the main steel tube frame and the unit was exceptionally light. Just one year later, Alfa Romeo abandoned this construction, preferring a proper space frame for the 6C 3000CM.

Fortunately, the Alfa Romeo History Museum in Arese, Milan, Italy has retained both a coupé and spider version of the Disco Volante for their permanent collection. The one slab-sided car is part of the The Schlumpf Collection in Mulhouse, France.

Sources & Further Reading

1.Batchelor, Dean. ‘Alfa Romeo Disco Volante’ Road & Track. September 1974.

Story by Supercars.net

1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider Gallery

See full 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spider Gallery Here

In Detail

submitted by Richard Owen
type Concept / Prototype Car
body stylist Carrozzeria Touring
coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring
production 3
engine Inline-4
position Front Longitudinal
fuel feed Twin Weber Carburettors
displacement 1997 cc / 121.9 in³
bore 85 mm / 3.3 in
stroke 88 mm / 3.5 in
power 117.8 kw / 158 bhp @ 6500 rpm
specific output 79.12 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 210.67 bhp per tonne
body / frame Supperleggra Aluminum & Steel Body over Steel Frame
driven wheels RWD
curb weight 750 kg / 1654 lbs
wheelbase 2220.0 mm / 87.4 in
front track 1234.4 mm / 48.6 in
rear track 1198.9 mm / 47.2 in
length 3919.2 mm / 154.3 in
width 1780.5 mm / 70.1 in
transmission 4-Speed Manual
top speed ~225 kph / 139.8 mph