Cisitalia 303 DF Coupé Pininfarina

The Cisitalia 303 DF, often referred to as the “poor man’s 202,” bears a strong resemblance to its iconic “cousin” showcased at the MoMA in New York, yet it features a more traditional engineering beneath its stylish exterior. Produced between 1951 and 1953, this rare Turin sports car saw only about 30 units made, available in both coupé and cabriolet versions. Despite its rarity, its market value today remains below 70,000 euros, although one model did fetch 75,000 euros at an auction four years ago. Designed to revive Cisitalia during a period of financial difficulty, the 303 DF (short for Derivata Fiat) was intended to be a more economical alternative to the 202. The bodywork, initially crafted by Stabilimenti Farina and later by Pininfarina after Farina’s closure, closely mirrors the design of the legendary Berlinetta introduced four years prior. It features a higher beltline, a grille without vertical slats, and solid wheels instead of wire wheels, while sharing many mechanical components with the Fiat 1100 E. The chassis of the 1951 Cisitalia 303 DF Coupé is nearly identical to that of the Fiat 1100 E, featuring crossmembers and side members with independent front suspension and a rigid rear axle. Its engine is the same 1.1-liter unit from the 1100 E, previously seen in the 202 but tuned to a lower output of 52 hp. This engine, coupled with a four-speed manual gearbox, allows the 303 DF to reach a top speed of 140 km/h for the coupé and 135 km/h for the cabriolet. In 2015, Cisitalia 303 DF Coupé was auctioned for just under 75,000 euros. The cabriolet versions, however, are exceedingly rare and almost impossible to find.