The earliest examples still sported Weber carburetors but by the time of its debut, a more modern fuel-injection system was fitted. Despite its modest displacement of just 1,995 cc, the high-revving V8 produced a hefty 270 horsepower at 9,600 rpm. This was about the same as Porsche's similarly sized flat-8.

Fed by fuel injection, the V8 engines were boosted for 1968 to 2.5 liters and 315 horsepower. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

The first Alfa Romeo 33 was completed late in 1966 but not shown to the media until March of the following year. The car sported a Spider body with a periscopic engine intake that earned it the nick-name Periscopica. The new car made a victorious debut at the Fleron hill climb in Belgium.

Despite the long gestation period, the new 33 still proved fragile and failed to impress in international events that year. Additional victories were scored in hill climbs and also in a minor race at Vallelunga. Meanwhile, development continued at Autodelta, focusing mostly on reliability and a more-efficient body design. At Mugello, a differently styled Spider was used, but this remained a unique machine.

Autodelta worked diligently over the winter to ready the updated 33/2 not only for the works team but also for privateers. The mechanical specification remained virtually identical as in 1967 with reliability still the biggest concerns. The 33/2 did sport a new coupe body, which has gone into history as the Daytona following the updated 33's debut at the March 1968 Daytona 24 Hours.

Alfa Romeo Daytonas swept their class in the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Rule changes had caught Alfa Romeo out as a new three-liter prototype class was introduced, which replaced the earlier under and over two-liter classes. Porsche had responded and fielded 2.2-liter cars at Daytona, which duly won. The three Alfa Romeos that started did finish and in a promising 5th, 6th and 7th.

Over two dozen 33/2s were built in 1968 and raced with considerable more success than the original had done a year earlier. Meanwhile, larger versions of the V8 were developed by Autodelta. A 2.5-liter, 315 horsepower V8 was introduced halfway through the season and was also made available to some of the customers.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans was not held until September and four special coupes were readied with long tails and the original two-liter engines (Le Mans still had a two-liter class). Three of the works cars reached the finish in 4th, 5th and 6th, sweeping the class podium in the process. VDS also entered two cars but they, like the fourth works car, retired with mechanical failures.