Alfa Romeo P2

A CIJ gorgeous race car (text by Pasky)

Much more than a toy, this particular model auto made by the french maker CIJ is nowadays amythicla toy car. It is oen of those that best demonstrate the profit to be drawn from sheetiron by cutting it out, perforating, then joining it together into a whole.

 

 

 This imposing racer is a car that is truly automotive. 21 inches long, this particular toy was produced exclusively in France from 1927 up to 1939. Designed after thetrue italian car Alfa Romeo P2 invented by Victorio Jano in 1924, an italian engeneer. FoUor race cars have been produced driven by several drivers, among them was Enzo Ferrari, a few years before he launched the Ferrari firm. The development of tin toys dates from the period manufacturers found a method of decorating by pre-painting the metal sheet ans also the smart invention of the lug-joint ( a Charles Rossignol patent). During the twelve years of production, three different issues were available for kids. 

This P2 Alfa Romeo toy auto was early sold at affordable price under the 37/1 reference and later at higher price for the "luxe "race model. All the toys have in common: a double seat, one put back, a rounded radiator-grill, a long tin-plate hood with air grills and three-leaf clover lithographed on tin.

 

All the CIJ race cars are fitted withsimple and effective clockwork motors, driven by a spring (actually a spiralled strip of steel held between two plates). This motor is in the rear of the toy. The clutch is very simple; when you push the handbrake forward, it frees a tiny metal spring placed around the rear axle of the vehicle and allows it to moves.

 

 

 

Yesterday and today values

Despite the fact that numerous cars has been sold since 1927, the Alfa CIJ is not very scarce but hard to find in pristine grading. Most of the toys available at present time are not totally fitted with the cute original equipments, I mean air stoppers, hand brakes or leather straps around the front bonnet for instance. So you have to be careful and watch the toy on multiple angles prior to buy one of them.

A P2 Alfa Romeo "luxe" issue including a driver and passenger in quite mint boxed could besold near 4000/5000 dollars. The toy car was sold $ 145 in 1930!

Numerous cars have been built, 5 different blus issue have been identified today.

Among the colors variations made, the bi-colored cars are the scarcest and avillysougt after models collected worldwide.