Cisitalia, 1963, 850 GT

Cisitalia "850 GT", 1963

Cisitalia (i.e. Compagnia Industriale Sportiva Italia) was founded in Turin in 1946 by Piero Dusio with the purpose to manufacture simple and economic racing cars.
Supported by Piero Taruffi’s advice, Dusio made his first racing appearance with the 1,100cc small and fast single-seater D46, his first creation, at the Brezzi Cup on Sept. 3, 1946, in Turin. Seven cars were given to seven great drivers: Nuvolari, Taruffi, Biondetti, Cortese, Sommer, Chiron, and Dusio himself. It was a great race with three cars ending in the first three places.
Soon after the 202 Coupé, designed by Pinin Farina, started being built: it became a legend, so much so that one is still exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as an example of self-moving sculpture. In 1964 Cisitalia stopped the production.
The 850 GT coupes and spiders were the last Cisitalias manufactured before the factory closed permanently. The mechanical components derived directly from the Fiat 600 with the engine displacement increased to 850cc, front disc brakes and higher performances. Many 850 GTs were sold to Argentina, where Cisitalia ICSA was active in Buenos Aires, until 1964 when it was closed together with the Italian headquarters.