The Alfa Romeo Tipo B — universally known as the P3 — changed Grand Prix racing the moment it appeared at the 1932 Italian GP. Designed by Vittorio Jano, it was the first purpose-built single-seat GP car, and its dominance stretched from 1932 through 1935. CMC's 1:18 die-cast rendering focuses on one specific chapter of that story: Luigi Fagioli's victory at the 1933 Grand Prix de la Comminges in Saint-Gaudens, France, race number 40, running under the Scuderia Ferrari banner.
Vittorio Jano's Masterpiece: The Alfa Romeo P3
Introduced in 1932, the Tipo B was a technical departure from anything seen in Grand Prix racing before it. Jano engineered a twin-propeller-shaft layout that allowed the driver to sit lower in the chassis, concentrating mass and improving handling. Power came from a supercharged straight-eight engine producing between 215 and 265 bhp depending on specification year. The car's approximate overall length of 4,000 mm gave it a compact, purposeful stance that read as aggressive even at rest. It was not just fast — it redefined what a racing car could be.
Luigi Fagioli and the 1933 Comminges Victory
Luigi Fagioli — known in paddock circles as 'Il Vecchio', the old man — was among the most formidable drivers of the early 1930s. In 1933 he drove for Scuderia Ferrari, which ran the Alfa Romeo works entries that season, and claimed multiple Grand Prix victories. The Grand Prix de la Comminges, held at the Saint-Gaudens circuit in Haute-Garonne, France, was one of them: Fagioli took the win in car number 40, the Rosso Corsa P3 carrying the identity of Italian works racing at its most potent. Fagioli (1898–1952) remains an underrepresented figure in model form despite his achievements.
CMC's Die-Cast 1:18 Scale Model
CMC — Classic Model Cars — occupies a distinct tier among 1:18 manufacturers. Their models are die-cast metal constructions augmented with photo-etched and machined components, yielding a level of structural and surface fidelity that approaches the museum piece rather than the conventional scale model car. The P3 in this specification benefits from that approach: fine wire-spoke wheels, exposed chassis and engine detail, and the multi-part construction CMC applies across their pre-war programme all feature. The Rosso Corsa livery and race number 40 are specific to Fagioli's Comminges entry, making this a precisely documented replica rather than a generic P3.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Luigi Fagioli?
Luigi Fagioli (1898–1952), nicknamed 'Il Vecchio', was one of the leading Grand Prix drivers of the early 1930s. In 1933 he drove for Scuderia Ferrari, winning multiple Grands Prix including the Grand Prix de la Comminges at Saint-Gaudens.
What is the Grand Prix de la Comminges 1933?
A French Grand Prix held at the Saint-Gaudens circuit in Haute-Garonne, France. Fagioli won the 1933 edition driving the Alfa Romeo P3 number 40 under the Scuderia Ferrari entry.
Why is the Alfa Romeo P3 historically significant?
Designed by Vittorio Jano and introduced in 1932, the Tipo B P3 was the first purpose-built single-seat Grand Prix car. Its twin-propeller-shaft layout and supercharged straight-eight engine made it the dominant GP car from 1932 to 1935.
What makes CMC 1:18 models different from standard die-cast?
CMC builds their 1:18 scale models in die-cast metal supplemented by photo-etched and machined parts, producing multi-part assemblies with exposed engine and chassis detail and fine wire-spoke wheels — a standard associated with museum-quality replicas.
