Alfa Romeo Tipo 33B/2 #39 – Top Model

1968 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33B/2 #39
Pilots: I. Giunti, N. Galli
Team: Autodelta SpA.
Race: 4th overall (1st in P 2.0 class) at Le Mans in 1968
Top Model - TMC 246 (diecast) 

Published 07/18/19

Alfa Romeo’s racing branch, Autodelta, started the development of the Tipo 33 in 1964. The first complete car, a barchetta, was ready in 1965. In 1967 Autodelta further developed the car into a coupe, and this new car was called the Tipo 33/2. After its debut at the March 1968 Daytona 24 Hours, it received the nickname Alfa “Daytona”.

For Le Mans in 1968, Alfa Romeo fitted the T33/2 with a long-tail bodywork. They also used small fins near the trailing edge to add aerodynamic stability. That specific model was called the Tipo 33B/2. All those modifications were to allow the car to reach 300 km/h on the Mulsanne.

Autodelta had four cars in the race, and the team did pretty good. They managed fourth to sixth places, with only one DNF (#41). The Tipo 33B/2 #39 here (chassis #75033-017) managed a fourth place overall and first place in P 2.0 class. I already had the #40 sixth place car, from Spark. A gorgeous model, and without a doubt the best racing Alfa of the W-143 Garage. So when I found this class winner for a tempting price, I went for it. This is my first car from Top Model, and consequently I wasn’t sure what I would get. But, what I got, sucks. Thus, there’s no point in sugar-coating it: this is a bad model, period. Lateral window is too small and worse of all, the body is wrong (chubby front). So bottom line, either get the Spark version or another car, because this one is crap.