Cisitalia D46 Monoposto
The name Cisitalia is derived from “Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia” a business conglomerate founded in Turin in 1946, and controlled by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio.
Dusio participated in a World Championship Grand Prix, driving a car made by his company, a Cisitalia D46.Using Fiat parts as a base, Dante Giacosa designed the D46, which made its successful debut in 1946. Giacosa had a vast knowledge of Fiat parts down to the smallest details because he had designed the legendary Fiat 500 “Topolino” before WWII. The 1100cc engine and suspension were derived from Fiat’s production models, but were extensively modified for racing. The engine received modifications such as dry sump lubrication, a custom cylinder head, forged crankshaft, lightweight connecting rods and higher compression pistons which increased the power output to 60-70 bhp. With a light-weight space frame chassis the entire car weighed less than 400 kg (880 lb) so the available power was more than enough for competitive performance. The D46s started to dominate the voiturette series. Highly talented drivers like Tazio Nuvolari, Ascarai, and Taruffi, piloted D46s to multiple successes against more powerful but less efficient and older racing cars. One such success of Nuvolari was famously photographed in a D46 after finishing the Coppa Brezzi driving the car by the steering column, clutching the broken steering wheel in his hand!
The D46 is an absolutely gorgeous early post war racing car and holds many aesthetic features in common with the ultra-sought after and expensive Grand Prix Maseratis of the era such as the 4CLT and the 4CM. Stunning details such as the convex brookands screen, aero covered suspension arms, and the beautiful protruding horizontal grill ribs make the D46 an absolute joy to look at, even when stationary.
Indeed the D46 represented the most successful period for Cisitalia’s single seater racing efforts, and the company shortly withdrew from racing when the D46s successor, the Cisitalia 360, proved too expensive to finish.
| Manufacturer | Cisitalia |
| Model | D46 Monoposto |
| Year of production | 1947 |
| Start of production | 1946 |
| End of production | 1947 |
| Body type | monopost |
| Number of doors | 0 |
| Number of seats | 1 |
| Engine position | front |
| Drive wheel | rear |
| Fuel | petrol |
| Number of cylinders | inline 4 |
| Cooling | liquid |
| Capacity | 1089 ccm, 66.1 cu-in |
| Bore | 68.0 mm, 2.677 in |
| Stroke | 75.0 mm, 2.953 in |
| Compression ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Valve Gear | OHV |
| Valves per cylinder | 2 |
| Fuel system | carburator, 1 x Zenith |
| Aspiration | normal |
| Max power [kW / PS / hp] | 44 / 60 / 59 at 5500 rpm |
| Max torque [Nm / ft-lb] | |
| Total power (hybrid) | |
| Total torque (hybrid) | |
| Gearbox | M3 |
| Gearbox (option) | |
| Wheelbase | 2005 mm, 78.9 in |
| Front track | 1225 mm, 48.2 in |
| Rear track | 1125 mm, 44.3 in |
| Length | 3000 mm, 118.1 in |
| Width | 1400 mm, 55.1 in |
| Height | 1020 mm, 40.2 in |
| Weight | 370 kg, 816 lb |
| Maximum speed | 175 km/h, 109 mph |