The Alfa Romeo 8C was originally a range of Alfa Romeo road, race and sports cars of the 1930s. In 2004 Alfa Romeo revived the 8C name for a V8-engined concept car which made it into production for 2007, the 8C Competizione.

The 8C designates 8 cylinders, and originally a straight 8-cylinder engine. The Vittorio Jano designed 8C was Alfa Romeo’s primary racing engine from its introduction in 1931 to its retirement in 1939. In addition to the two-seater sports cars it was used in the world’s first genuine single-seat Grand Prix racing car, the Monoposto ‘Tipo B’ – P3 from 1932 onwards. In its later development it powered such vehicles as the twin-engined 1935 6.3-litre Bimotore, the 1935 3.8-litre Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, and the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Mille Miglia Roadster. It also powered top-of-the-range coach-built production models, including a Touring Spider and Touring Berlinetta.

In 1935, Alfa built eight new 8C engines specifically for racing. The 3.8-litre which shared no castings with earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, and most were used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari, who dropped the P3 designation. The 3.8 produced 330 bhp (246 kW) at 5500 rpm, and had 320 lb⋅ft (434 N⋅m) from 900 rpm to 5500 rpm. The Pirelli’s were anchored by 15.5-inch drum brakes all round.

Though no match for the big Mercedes and Auto Union on the faster circuits, they came into their own on the tighter circuits and races.

– Edited, Wikipedia