Dante Giacosa, the designer of the Fiat Topolino and Fiat 500, was commissioned by Piero Dusio, who had made his fortune during the Second World War making uniforms for the Italian army, to design a low cost single-seater racing car. In 1946 he financed the production of about 40 single seat Cisitalia racing cars which were forerunners of the later Formula Junior. This was a “one make” formula intended to support Grand Prix meetings. The components were derived from The Fiat 500 and the chassis was advanced for the time, being the first to use a tubular “space frame” on a production racing car with aluminium body panels by Motto. The engine of the Cisitalia was an 1100cc Fiat unit converted to magneto ignition, dry sump lubrication , gear driven race camshaft and twin downdraught Weber carburettors. In this state of tune it gives about 60 bhp and with a weight of 350 kg the maximum speed is about 110 mph. A classic design.
