Description
- Mille Miglia Eligible
- Participant in the 2023 Mille Miglia edition
- One of approximately 20 303 DF examples built
- The last of the Cisitalias
- Highly Influential Pinin Farina Design
- Combining coachbuilt bodywork with race-proven engineering, Cisitalias remain today as a highly celebrated postwar Italian marque
- Cisitalias are rarely available for purchase, and this example warrants serious consideration
- In excellent condition throughout
- With Fiva Passport and Mille Miglia Registro
- With the ASI Passport with the “Gold” plaque adding to the documentation and history associated with this fine example of Italian motoring excellence
- The engine sounds great and is tractable, producing great noise
Founded in 1939 by Piero Dusio to manufacture sports equipment, Consorzio Industriale Sportiva Italia (Cisitalia) amassed a fortune for its former soccer star owner making military uniforms during WW2.
The founder, Piero Dusio, was a motor racing enthusiast and used his fortune to become involved with the sport he loved, building the first Cisitalia competition car in 1946.
He produced seven D46 monoposto racers, which he entered in the Coppa Brezzi, the first post-war closed circuit race in Italy.
During this race, legendary Tazio Nuvolari broke his steering wheel and drove his D46 for two laps without it.
Dusio followed up this successful single-seater by building a two-seater sportscar.
The sports cars which followed were also very successful in the 1100 class and in 1947 Nuvolari brought his Cisitalia over the line in second place in the Mille Miglia and his team mates followed in third and fourth places. That season, Taruffi took the national championship for the marque.
In 1948 Cisitalia introduced the hugely influential 202 Gran Sport Coupé by Pinin Farina.
It is perhaps best known for its appearance at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in the landmark exhibit 8 Automobiles in 1951, subsequently becoming the only car in the museum’s permanent collection.
Based on that first competition car, the 202 was expensive to produce, in comparison with other models of the period, prompting the introduction of the 303 DF (DF standing for ‘Derived from FIAT’), which used the FIAT 1100E chassis to cut costs.
In the early 1950s, Cisitalia was losing money faster than they could make it back. The founder Piero Dusio was trying to field a mid-engined Formula One car – which has always been an inherent money loser.
At the same time Dusio had to flee Italy due to tax issues and production of the Cisitalia 303 ceased after approximately 20 examples had been made with approximately nine still known to be existing.
This extremely rare model is from the 2023 edition Mille Miglia eligible.
Eligible cars are those of which one model ran in the original 1927-57 race and just recently this model has been discovered has been participated in the race.
This specific model raced in the 1953 Mille Miglia (racing number 349), driven by Ugo Gandini. The race car appears in the book “Mille Miglia 1947 – 1956” by Carlo Dolcini, on the page 482.
The Mille Miglia is a spectacular rolling museum and is frequently billed as “the most beautiful race in the world.”
Eligibility is so prestigious that a car from 1957 realistically has a much higher price than an identical car from 1958, just because it’s Mille Eligible.
Just approximately 12 Cisitalias 303 DF have been built.
This exmaple is extremely rare because of the small amount of cars which have been produced by Cisitalia but more unique is that only around 6 examples are still know to be existing.
ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
In 1993 this Cisitalia was purchased by it’s former Italian owner, resident in Mantova, Northern Italy, as a rust-free, example that had never had a complete, professional restoration.
In his ownership the Cisitalia was brought to several noted Italian specialist shops were retained to furnish the car with its first complete and professional restoration.
The paint was carefully stripped, revealing a body underneath that was in very good condition.
The restoration of the car’s distinctive Cisitalia bodywork was similarly handled with tremendous skill by artisans.
The restoration ended and the Cisitalia was ready to be enjoyed by the former Italian owner participating with his daughter in a number of events including participating successfully in a couple of editions of the Gran Premio Nuvolari as well.
The restoration is simply stunning throughout, having been restored in Italy by marque experts, using great care retaining several original components, most critically, the original engine.
The car remains registered in his name until November 2022 when it passed into the ownership of the current Belgian owner, who exported the car to Belgium and drove the 2023 Mille Miglia.
This historically significant and superbly sorted Cisitalia 303 comes with FIVA Class A3 Passport, Mille Miglia Registro, old photos of the car, copies of the Italian registrations in the 50’s, multiple photos documenting the restoration process and the ASI Passport with the “Gold” plaque adding to the documentation and history associated with this fine example of Italian motoring excellence.
CONDITION EXTERIOR
The exterior of this Cisitalia has been finished to a high level with excellent paint and very nice fitting and gapping of all body panels.
Doors open and close smoothly and various bright work throughout the exterior have been polished and finely detailed to complement the deep Dark Green paint.
The windows and glasses as well as the rubbers are in a very nice condition.
This is exterior wise a superb looking Cisitalia in a condition which we don’t see often on Cisitalia’s.
CONDITION INTERIOR
The bold and elegant exterior is further enhanced by the art deco influenced interior. Once seated inside, the car is surprisingly roomy and open due to the expansive glass and light pillar work.
The door panels and seats are covered in contrasting Beige beautiful fabric covered by some elegant customised silk covers to preserve the seats.
The dashboard is a wonderful display of fully functional instruments and indicators, beaming in harmony with what has to be one of the most artfully designed steering wheels ever to grace the interior of a sports car.
All components are very nice in presentation and condition overall – beautifully designed and faithfully restored.
ENGINE BAY/ UNDERNEATH
The engine bay and underpart of the Cisitalia are in a exceptional nice and correct condition. The engine bay as well as the underpart present very fresh.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Cisitalia are considerably more rare than Ferraris of comparable vintage, although Ferrari was just starting production at the time when the Cisitalia emerged
When the engine runs the sounds is wonderful and racy like the driving experience.
The car is rather fast and handles as a sports car. The response on the steering as well as the brakes is very fast.
This must be a great and very enjoyable car to drive races like the Gran Premio Nuvolari or the Mille Miglia with.
Possessing a wonderful rare elegance, Cisitalias are rarely available for purchase, and this extremely rare example, Mille Miglia eligible, warrants serious consideration.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website has been compiled by The Houtkamp Collection with the utmost care. The information contained within this advert is provided ‘as-is’, without warranties as to its accuracy whether expressed or implied and is intended for informational purposes only. The Houtkamp Collection is not liable for any errors or mistakes.
