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 Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2023