1947 Cisitalia 202 Aerodynamica
(taken from: http://www.fairfieldcountyconcours.com/2004.html)
The Italian manufacturer of Cisitalia is relatively unknown to many Americans, although visitors to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City may well have spotted an example on display. In the early 1950s, MOMA chose a 202 Cisitalia for their show "Automobiles As Sculpture" and following the event they kept an example for their permanent display. The MOMA car is a standard production car designed by Pinin Farina, whereas this example is one of just two Areodynamica coupes that were designed for racing by Giovanni Savonuzzi and built by Alfredo Vignale.
The Cisitalia firm was founded in Turin in 1946 and was a business conglomerate led by wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio. He employed both Dante Giancosa and Giovanni Savonuzzi as designers, and they were immensely successful in the 1100 cc classes. Savonnuzi's aircraft engineering background influenced the design of the aluminium multi-tubular spaceframe chassis. Transverse independent front suspension was used and power was derived from tuned 3-bearing overhead valve Fiat engines. In 1947 the sports cars were extremely successful in the famous 1000 mile (Mille Miglia) road race where the famed driver Nuvolari finished second in an open car and would have won if it were not for an error by his mechanic, while two other team cars were third and fourth.
This stunningly pretty Aerodynamica (Chassis No. 001) competed in the 1947MM driven by Piero Taruffi. With its futuristic looking coachwork and high rear fins which were designed to give straight line stability this car could easily be mistaken for a designer's concept vehicle rather than a functioning race car. In 1993 this car won the world famous Louis Vuitton Concours d'Elegance at Bagatelle, France.
1947 Cisitalia 202 Coupé Aerodynamica race car:
http://www.conceptcarposter.com/othe...erodynamic.jpg
Well, don't you think this is where the late 50s and early 60s tailfins came from?
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