1947 Cisitalia D46

The Cisitalia D46 is credited with helping to restore car racing to Italy after the Second World War. Commendatore Piero Dusio, an Italian racing driver and businessman, commissioned Ing. Dante Giacosa to create a single-seater racing car. The aspiration for this newly designed vehicle was to construct an inexpensive racing car. Giacosa was a perfect candidate for this opportunity, having designed vehicles like the Fiat Topolino. He was an experimental aero engineer with the resources and connections to obtain chrome-molybdenum, a material that would give the car a sophisticated spaceframe.

An 1100 cc Fiat engine was selected. After being converted to dry sump lubrication, the engine produced 62 horsepower. Where it lacked horsepower, it made up in design, low weight, and excellent handling. The D46 was built on principles backed by aeronautical research and academic expertise. Although it had what could be considered as 'mild success' on the racing circuits it was successful at getting Italy back into the racing scene. The highlight of the D46's career was when it nearly won the Mille Miglia while being piloted by the famous racing driver, Nuvolari.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2005