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Details
1955 CISITALIA 808XF CONVERTIBLE
COACHWORK BY VIGNALE
Chassis No. 000202
Red with black interior and black convertible top
Engine: 90 degrees V8, 2 pushrod operated overhead valves per cylinder, single 4-barrel carburetor, 312 ci., 225bhp; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent by unequal wishbones with concentric coil springs and tubular shock absorbers; rear, solid axle with leaf springs. Left hand drive.
Starting with a successful sporting goods company, Piero Dusio epitomized the racing adage, to make a small fortune in racing, start with a large one. A regular Mille Miglia competitor before World War II, Dusio began an ambitious car-building enterprise after the war, producing the beautiful and fast Fiat 1100-based Cisitalia 202 designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi and Dante Giacosa. In the first post-war Mille Miglia in 1947, Biondetti's 8C2900 Alfa Romeo was followed home by no less than three 1100cc Cisitalias in 2nd through 4th positions. The first of them (only 16 minutes behind Biondetti) was driven by the great Tazio Nuvolari. Dusio's plans were thwarted by the innovative (twin supercharged, flat twelve, mid-engined, four wheel drive) Cisitalia Grand Prix racer which he commissioned from the Porsche design team and which quickly emptied the Dusio bank account without ever appearing anywhere but the 1949 Turin auto show.
By 1952 Piero Dusio's son, Carlo, was looking under every rock for work to keep the company running and saw opportunity in assembling cars using American componenets for the prosperous North American market. A prototype was built and presented to Henry Ford II who, after endorsing the concept, turned further evaluation and implementation over to his brother-in-law, Ed Sullivan. A not-invented-here reception from Ford engineers greeted the project, however, and a second series of prototypes were commissioned based on standard Ford chassis with the expectation that Cisitalia's bodies would be shipped to the US for assembly. Two were built by Vignale, a coupe and the convertible offered here. Time, however, had overtaken Carlo Dusio's vision. Ford was tooling up for the two-seat Thunderbird and the Cisitalia 808XF's window of opportunity had closed. This Vignale convertible prototype became for many years Ed Sullivan's personal car.
Like many prototypes, the Vignale-bodied Cisitalia 808XFs were intended for the specific purpose and limited life of demonstrating the potential of a Cisitalia/Ford venture. Its use as Sullivan's daily driver has taken a toll which has not been redressed by a comprehensive restoration, but has not lessened the style of Cisitalia's design or Vignale's execution. It also benefits from a 312 ci. Ford law enforcement special engine which originally gave over 225 bhp. The restored 808XF will be an important milestone car and would undoubtedly be a wonderful and intriguing addition for any collection.
COACHWORK BY VIGNALE
Chassis No. 000202
Red with black interior and black convertible top
Engine: 90 degrees V8, 2 pushrod operated overhead valves per cylinder, single 4-barrel carburetor, 312 ci., 225bhp; Gearbox: three speed automatic; Suspension: front, independent by unequal wishbones with concentric coil springs and tubular shock absorbers; rear, solid axle with leaf springs. Left hand drive.
Starting with a successful sporting goods company, Piero Dusio epitomized the racing adage, to make a small fortune in racing, start with a large one. A regular Mille Miglia competitor before World War II, Dusio began an ambitious car-building enterprise after the war, producing the beautiful and fast Fiat 1100-based Cisitalia 202 designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi and Dante Giacosa. In the first post-war Mille Miglia in 1947, Biondetti's 8C2900 Alfa Romeo was followed home by no less than three 1100cc Cisitalias in 2nd through 4th positions. The first of them (only 16 minutes behind Biondetti) was driven by the great Tazio Nuvolari. Dusio's plans were thwarted by the innovative (twin supercharged, flat twelve, mid-engined, four wheel drive) Cisitalia Grand Prix racer which he commissioned from the Porsche design team and which quickly emptied the Dusio bank account without ever appearing anywhere but the 1949 Turin auto show.
By 1952 Piero Dusio's son, Carlo, was looking under every rock for work to keep the company running and saw opportunity in assembling cars using American componenets for the prosperous North American market. A prototype was built and presented to Henry Ford II who, after endorsing the concept, turned further evaluation and implementation over to his brother-in-law, Ed Sullivan. A not-invented-here reception from Ford engineers greeted the project, however, and a second series of prototypes were commissioned based on standard Ford chassis with the expectation that Cisitalia's bodies would be shipped to the US for assembly. Two were built by Vignale, a coupe and the convertible offered here. Time, however, had overtaken Carlo Dusio's vision. Ford was tooling up for the two-seat Thunderbird and the Cisitalia 808XF's window of opportunity had closed. This Vignale convertible prototype became for many years Ed Sullivan's personal car.
Like many prototypes, the Vignale-bodied Cisitalia 808XFs were intended for the specific purpose and limited life of demonstrating the potential of a Cisitalia/Ford venture. Its use as Sullivan's daily driver has taken a toll which has not been redressed by a comprehensive restoration, but has not lessened the style of Cisitalia's design or Vignale's execution. It also benefits from a 312 ci. Ford law enforcement special engine which originally gave over 225 bhp. The restored 808XF will be an important milestone car and would undoubtedly be a wonderful and intriguing addition for any collection.