1951 Cisitalia 202 Gran Sport

Piero Dusio was a man of many talents and his ambition would earn him a place in history as one of the automotive 'greats.' During the 1920s, he was the star of Torino's Juventus soccer team until a knee injury ended his career. He found a job working at a Swiss textile film, and using his talents and charm, he reportedly sold more in a week than his branch had done in a year. Before long, he was made head of sales for all of Italy.

Dusio was a gifted racing driver who finished first in class at the 1937 Mille Miglia driving a Siata, and an impressive fourth overall in 1938, driving an Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. By this point in history, he had created Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia (Cisitalia), a conglomerate with interests in the sporting, hospitality, textile, and banking industries.

After World War II, Dusio enlisted Fiat engineers Dante Giacosa and Giovanni Savonuzzi to design the D46 Monoposto, believed to be the first race car with a full space-frame chassis. Many of the Cisitalia race cars used Fiat's mechanical components, including the D46 single-seater which used 500B Topolino parts. Named after the first letter of Dusio's surname and its debut year of 1946, its engine and suspension were sourced from Fiat. The D46 was very successful and dominated the voiturette series.

The two-seater 202 coupe and 202 SMM (Spider Mille Miglia) roadster were introduced in 1947, both with a similar design to the D46, except the three-speed preselector gearbox used in the D46 was replaced by a four-speed unit. The 202 was built for reliability, durability, and affordability. Although not particularly advanced, it was designed to complement the talents of the driver.

At the 1947 Mille Miglia, Tazio Nuvolari drove the 202 SMM sports-racing car to a second-place finish. Nuvolari led the race before rain compromised his electrical system, forcing him to relinquish that position to Biondetti's more powerful Alfa Romeo 8C 2900. Of the 155 cars that started the grueling event, only 54 would finish. The Cistalia driven by Bernabei/Pacni finished 3rd, and the Cistalia driven by Minetti/Facetti placed fourth. Nuvoari's accomplishment at the Mille Miglia would be recognized with the 202SMM body type being referred to as the 'Nuvolari Spider.' These examples are identified by its large rear fins, bright Italian red paint, and twin windscreens. Approximately 20 examples were built with a similar design to Nuvolari's winning car.

The road-going 202 version was based on the space-frame design of the race cars, with a handcrafted aluminum body penned by Pinin Farina and powered by a modified 1,100cc Fiat four-cylinder engine. The elegant proportions of the Pinin Farina design was conceived as a single body shell, with the hood, fenders, body, and headlights integral to a continuously flowing surface. Due to its appealing and aerodynamic design, it was selected in 1951 as a featured display in the New York Museum of Modern Art's 'Eight Automobiles' exhibition; a 202 SC Coupe remains in the MoMA's permanent collection to this day. It was elegant and attractive but not a commercial success due to its expensive cost. Most of the 170 examples (153 coupes and 17 spyders) built between 1947 and 1952 wore coachwork by Pinin Farina—a few received bodies by Vignale and Stabilimenti Farina. Many of the Vignale-bodied cars were lightweight cabriolets, with a few built in steel and aluminum.

The Fiat-derived, 1,089cc inline four-cylinder engine received dry sump lubrication, twin Weber 36DCM carburetors, and produced approximately 60 horsepower. Hydraulic drum brakes provided the stopping power, and the front suspension was independent with transverse leaf springs and shock absorbers. The rear used a rigid axle with longitudinal leaf springs and shock absorbers. The wheelbase measured 94.5 inches. Since these were largely hand-built, specifications and designs vary.

The Cisitalia 202, with its taut lines and graceful proportions, is regarded as one of the most influential postwar sports cars, helping establish automobile coachwork as a legitimate art form akin to sculpture.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Vignale
Chassis number: 128 SC
Engine number: 250

The small Italian automaker Cisitalia was founded by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio in 1946. His first cars were single-seat racers based on the Fiat 500 Topolino, and several were raced as voiturettes. In 1947 Dusio produced his first road car, the Cisitalia 202, the first of which were coupes styled by Pinin Farina. Later, Vignale bodied a small run of lightweight cabriolets, a few of which were built in steel and aluminum, including this car, a second series model. This car is one of six built by Cisitalia and sent to Uruguay in 1950 for Emilio Fontana, the Cisitalia dealer for South America. This is the only 202 SC Vignale convertible of 3 built which were steel and aluminum (a unique convertible/cabriolet). It has a split windshield like in the first series, but with a dashboard, instruments, and other details of the second series cars. The car has a four-cylinder 1100 cc 60 horsepower engine.

Its first owner sold the car to a U.S. Air Force pilot in 1959, who kept it until 1970. Then, in 1986, it was sold to an Italian collector, who brought it home to Italy to be restored. Its current owner saw the car in the Mille Miglia Museum in 2013 and purchased it a year later.

Sport Convertible by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 0126
Engine number: 049

Cisitalia has always been a bit of an enigma. Although Piero Dusio focused on creating nimble high-performance sports cars, he was also determined to outwit the oppressive post-war Italian tax codes.

This car is a 202SC Spyder Pininfarina Cabriolet number 0126. It was constructed by Cisitalia circa 1950/51 and arrived stateside in the 1970s. The car was located by Stan Nowak, and eventually shipped to California where it was restored by Steve Tillack. It was then shown at Pebble Beach and used in vintage rallies. A decade later, the car was purchased by the current owner. He had the vehicle mechanically re-restored at Automotive Restorations of Stratford, CT. It is driven frequently, weather permitting, and is a wonderful example of rolling Italian sculpture.

Cabriolet by Vignale
Chassis number: 128 SC
Engine number: 250

This Cisitalia 202 SC Gran Sport Cabriolet wears coachwork by Vignale and is powered by a 1,089cc FIAT overhead valve inline four-cylinder engine. With a single Weber Tipo 38 DR3 carburetor, it delivers 63 horsepower at 6,000 RPM> There is a four-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs.

In 1950, this Cisitalia was imported to Uruguay and first registered in 1951 to Carlos Rodriguez Tellecha. It was sold in 1959 to an Air Force major named Alejandro Dighiero, who kept it until 1970, selling it to Rafael Machado. After passing through several Italian collectors, it was purchased by Maurizio Leonesio of Brescia, who entrusted it to Carrozzeria Quality Cars of Vigonza in the early 2000s for restoration. Upon completion, it was shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este and, in 2011, it participated in the Mille Miglia Storica.

While on display at the Mille Miglia Museum in 2013, Miami-based collector Leo Schigiel first saw the car and immediately fell in love with it and was able to negotiate its purchase from Mr. Leonesio in 2014. In 2017, Mr. Schigiel exhibited the Cisitalia at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it participated in the Post-War Open Class and received a Third in Class award. More recently, it was displayed at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March 2018.

by Dan Vaughan

Prior to World War II, Italian industrialist Piero Dusio had proven his abilities through amateur racing competitions. He had a passion for racing and the talent to back it up. More importantly, he had the financial means to create his own sports car and to compete in a more competitive arena. He had done well with the Consorzio Industriale Sportivo Italia, which was a conglomeration with interests in various industries such as sporting goods, banking, and textiles. When World War II emerged, his dreams of building racing cars were put on hold. At the conclusion of the war, he convinced Dante Giacosa and Giavonni Savonuzzi to aid in the creation. Both of these individuals were renowned engineers who had worked with Fiat and were more than capable of building a competitive racer.

The first creation of the Cisitalia Company was the D.46 monoposto powered by a 1100cc engine. They were the first racing cars to use a full space-frame chassis. Since the engineers had experience with Fiat technology, many of the components were from Fiat, such as the engine and four-speed gearbox. The engine was modified with dry-sump lubrication and twin Weber downdraft carburetors which resulted in an increase of horsepower to 60.

Seven monopostos debuted in 1946 at the Coppa Brezzi in Turin's Valentino Park. The competition was fierce but the Cisitalia, driven by Dusio, was still able to cross the finish line ahead of the pack. Though this was an impressive accomplishment, it was not as entertaining as watching Tazio Nuvolari cross the finish line in hot, and angry pursuit. His steering wheel had come detached and he was forced to drive the car by the steering hub with one hand as the other held a hold of the detached wheel.

The next iteration of vehicles produced by Cisitalia was a road-going sports car named the 202. The first vehicle off the production line was a space-framed chassis which was sent to Carrozzeria Colli to receive its body. The second was another coupe sent to Alfredo Vignale to receive its body. The third vehicle was given an open roadster body that was clothed by Garelli and further improved by Stabilmenti Farina.

Production of the 202 continued until 1952, with a total of 17 spiders and 153 coupes being constructed.

by Dan Vaughan