THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Production period
- 1946
- Body style
- Monoposto
- Type
- Limited
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Cisitalia D46 Monoposto is a captivating example of innovation and resilience during challenging times. Designed by Dante Giacosa and Giovanni Savonuzzi, the car was commissioned by Piero Dusio, an industrialist and president of the Juventus Football Club. The story of its creation is as fascinating as the car itself, shaped by determination, creativity, and a touch of wartime adversity. In late 1944, Giacosa was introduced to Dusio through Mr. Casalis, a trusted associate of the Turin industrialist. At the time, Cisitalia was a modest mechanical workshop located on Corso Peschiera, primarily producing Beltrame bicycles. Despite his full-time role at FIAT, Giacosa undertook the design of the D46 in his spare time. Dusio, eager to support the project, extended a generous offer to Giacosa to reside in his villa on Corso Galileo Ferraris. Though the villa had been abandoned after a bombing, it remained habitable and provided a quiet space for Giacosa to focus on the car’s development. The project faced significant challenges due to the war. Giacosa, alongside designer Edoardo Grosso, persevered to bring the vision to life. One notable setback occurred when the first 1:5 scale plasticine model was destroyed by a German police patrol searching for Dusio. Despite such obstacles, Giacosa remained deeply involved, even contributing to the physical construction of the prototype. The D46 featured a simple yet striking aluminum body. The prototype’s bodywork was shaped by coachbuilder Motto with Giacosa’s assistance. Among its unique features were the fairings over the front suspensions, which Giacosa humorously referred to as “aesthetic coquetry”—elements designed to conceal suspension parts rather than serve a practical racing purpose. The Cisitalia D46 Monoposto represents more than just a racing car; it is a testament to the ingenuity and passion of its creators during a tumultuous era. Its legacy endures as a symbol of automotive artistry and the unwavering spirit of innovation.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production type
- Limited
Design & manufacture
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Cisitalia
- Designer · Candidate
- Giovanni Savonuzzi
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Motto
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
No events or documented awards are currently recorded for this vehicle.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 9 photographs
Show 3 more photographs Show fewer photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| MAUTO — Cisitalia D46 www.museoauto.com | Manufacturer museum official |
| Auto Italia — Cisitalia history www.scribd.com | Specialist automotive periodical |











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