TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Year of manufacture: 1940
Body type: Coupe
Chassis type: rigid U-shaped steel stringers and crossbars
Wheelbase: 2840 mm
Trail: front and rear 1480 mm
Number of cylinders: 6 in line
Displacement: 3432 cc
Cylinder diameter: 88.9 mm
Piston stroke: 99.2 mm
Power: 110 to 3400 RPM
Valves: two per cylinder
Carburetor: Rochester GM
Clutch: dry monodisco
Suspension: rigid axle, elastic and double front shock absorber; Elastic and double rear shock absorber.
Cooling system: by water
Fuel tank: 230 liters behind the seats - Reserve 60 liters
Weight in distance races: 1700 Kg
Maximum speed: 160 Km / h

SPORTS CAREER

09-27-40     GranD PrIX Internacional del Norte Nro. 26 | Location 1st.

12-14-40     Thousand Argentine Miles No. 73 | 8th Location | Argentine Road Champion 1940

06-22-41     Grand PriX "Getulio Vargas - Brazil No. 30 | Location 1st.

13-12-41     Thousand Argentine Miles No. 35 | Location 1st. | Argentine Road Champion 1941

01-01-42     Grand PrIX of Carretera del Sur Nro. 16 | Location 9th.

02-04-42     First edition of "Mar y Sierras" Nro. 16 | Location 1st.

In those years the cars of T.C. they maintained an almost standard physiognomy in their body and their mechanics.

It was just about taking some weight off the body without worrying about the safety of its crew. It was not until 1947 that the roof of the coupes began to be reinforced with a pipe arch that anchored to the chassis and passed over the crew. Sometimes another spout made a column between the arch and the chassis, in the middle of the two seats.

To alleviate the fenders were trimmed and the top of the trunk replaced by a tarpaulin. The seats were also changed.

A lot of attention was paid to the suspension, due to the routes that were passed. Generally, two shock absorbers were applied to each wheel and leaves were added to the elastics, hardening them and giving more clearance from the ground.

The engine did not have much preparation, only the compression was increased by lowering the cylinder cover, better lubrication was sought and the carburation was modified. Additional tanks for naphtha and water were also applied.

It is very difficult to rescue technical details of those engines because the measurements of values ​​were very rudimentary. Therefore, original factory data was handled, as in the case of the '40 Chevrolet.

NORTH INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIX
For some time, the Automobile Club Argentino has been thinking of a great international career in routes for the Road Tourism Category. Arriving in New York is a future goal and the previous step is the year 1940 when it was decided Bs.As.-Lima and return, through 9445 Km in 13 Stages. The first stage will be very long, Buenos Aires-Tucumán on 1363 km, distance never traveled in a single stage until then.

Then passing through the Andes Mountain Range to La Quiaca, entering the Bolivian Altiplano by Villazón at almost 3500 meters. After Pilcomayo, a short descent and the climb to Potosí at 3984 meters. Then to La Paz and to Lake Titicaca. From there down to the Pacific Ocean to continue through Arequipa, Nazca, and along the coast to Lima, capital of Peru, completing 4768 km. After two days of rest, begin the return to Buenos Aires.

Practically everything will be developed on dirt roads, in scythes, with a lot of mountains and rocky difficulties that will make this Grand PriX the North of the North, the longest and most difficult race of the disputed until then.

Fangio is registered with a 1940 model green coupe and corresponds to No. 26. Numerous public congregates in front of the River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires, to witness the start of this Grand Prix at 0 o'clock on September 27. A total of 92 participants are from the game. 

FIRST TRIUMPH OF FANGIO IN A GRAND PRIX OF TC

To settle debts after the Thousand Miles of 1939, Fangio had had to sell the black 1939 Chevrolet coupe, so when the Grand Prix of the North of 1940 was announced, he was on foot.

Advised by a friend, he buys and prepares a green 1940 Chevrolet coupe in his workshop. The money to pay for it had to come from a raffle, which had the same race car as a prize. Fangio decides to leave his car almost standard in the engine part, reinforcing it in everything else, to support the long journey. He arrives first at Tucumán, surprising with his 126 km / h average, without stopping. The climb to Potosí brought its problems, like the guadales of Cuandacol and Huaco.

The heat was tremendous and the engines suffered a lot. Several punctures were relegated and the most dramatic moment was when they hit the neutralization of La Paz - Bolivia. Then there were no problems; Broken radiator, temperature, 20 flat tires, a touch on the rock in the 12th Stage, when it was thought that everything was over it came the differential change and more cover problems. With all this, Fangio arrives victorious in the General Classification. He has spent 109 hours traveling the 9445 km. His general average is 86.2 km / h. His people are euphoric with this victory, the first achieved in TC, which will consecrate Argentine Road Tourism Champion.

Fangio is a consecrated person. This Northern International Grand Prix is one of its most important victories and since then Fangio and Galvez / Chevrolet and Ford will divide the TC fans for a decade.

SPORTS CAREER
CARRERAFECHAPOS
N ° 7 Northern International Grand Prize - Argentina - Bolivia - Peru27-09-19401º
N ° 8 Thousand Argentine Miles 14-12-19408º
N ° 9 Grand Prize "Getulio Vargas" - Brazil22-06-19411º
N ° 10 Thousand Argentine Miles 13-12-19411º
No. 11 Grand Prize of Carretera del Sur - Argentina21-01-19429º
N ° 12 First Edition of Mar y Sierras - Argentina02-04-19421º

Career

• RaceDatePos
• N ° 7 Northern International Grand Prix - Argentina - Bolivia - Perú 27-09-1940 1º
• N ° 8 One Thousand Argentine Miles 14-12-1940 8º
• N ° 9 “Getulio Vargas” Grand Prix - Brazil 22-06-1941 1º
• N ° 10 One Thousand Argentine Miles 13-12-1941 1º
• N ° 11 Southern Roads Grand Prix - Argentina 21-01-1942 9º
• N ° 12 Mar y Sierras First Edition - Argentina 02-04-1942 1º