Description
History of the model The De Sanctis SP 1000 is the only model of a Sport car from De Sanctis company, built in 3 samples: Luigi (Gino) and his son Lucio De Sanctis decided to build this sport aimed by the wish to win against the Lotus 23 with an engine by Giannini, driven by Cesare Toppetti. At the end of 1963 De Sanctis began the project of the Sport: the first rolling chassis could be seen in the magazine Auto Italiana (November ‘63), while Bruno Nestola – journalist – and Ing. Palanca designed the shape of this car, then realized by Carrozzeria Filacchione (in Rome), which already built the bodies of the De Sanctis formulas. The final body of the car appeared moden, fluent and slender with the typical De Sanctis 6 air-intakes on the front hood; the car also had two hidden headlights – according to the rules of that period - and two slim intakes right below the seats to bring fresh air into the engine bay. During the first months of 1964 Lucio De Sanctis carried on the testing sessions of the car thanks to his racing experience with Formula 830 and Formula 3. The testing car would have been sold to Sergio Bettoja with dry-sump Ford engine, derived by Formula Junior, while the second chassis with OSCA engine had been bought by Sesto Leonardi, a mid-aged driver with years of experience into motorsport (he started racing in late ‘30s). The third engine would have been built latter for Alberto Luti (AKA Gano) with a 2000 OSCA engine with a slightly different body, larger in its proportions. The tireless chassis 002 This car with chassis number 002 was bought by Sesto Leonardi who asked specifically the 1000 OSCA engine and some specs, different from the prototype 001: a different position for the rev counter for a “less layed down” driving postion and a higher engine lid to fit the twin-cam engine; this car weighted 442 kilos, 4 more than the 001 chassis because of the lighter Ford engine. Both cars mounted a 5 gears Colotti-Dauphine gearbox and were painted red. The two cars debuted the 22nd March 1964 in the Sport category attending the *** Coppa Gallenga: Bettoja finished 2nd in its class while Leonardi was retired. Few weeks later Sesto Leonardi raced the Coppa della Consuma but the car was too “modern” for his driving experience made of front engine cars: so the car came back to the Factory and at the end of May had been equipped with a 85hp Ford Engine, probably from the De Sanctis Formula 2 that raced in Berlin with Silvio Moser. With the new engine, the car won the IV Premio di Campagnano driven by Miro Gay (Lillo Annunziata) then with another engine, a twin-cam Ford-Lotus with 115 hp, the car reached the second place at the III Coppa Settecolli, driven by Lucio De Sanctis who drove the car also at the V Premio of Campagnano, last overall race for Lucio. The same year, Bettoja’s car was sold to Roberto Benelli (Robertino) who raced the Cesana-Sestriere and the Coppa Avezzano (finished 1st in class and 3rd overall). After there two races the car had been painted with the official De Sanctis livery: light yellow with a green stripe in the middle. Despite the good performances of the cars, the “1000 Sport class – track” championship of 1964 would had been won by Cesare Toppetti’s Lotus-Giannini, while the hillclimb championship went to Vittorio Venturi with Abarth. At 1965 Saloncino di Modena, De Sanctis exposed Robertino’s SP1000 and the rolling chassis of the 2000 OSCA for Gano. At the ’65 edition of the Coppa Gallenga, the three De Sanctis Sport were racing: Robertino retired, Gano finished 3rd in class 2000 and Geki, with the “works car” chassis 002, won his class. During the year this car raced with Cesare Toppetti, Antonio Maglione and Otello Rinaldi who gained the pole-position and won the IV Coppa Settecolli. The same year, Robertino raced the Bologna-Raticosa hillclimb, then Circuito del Mugello, Coppa della Consuma and won the 1st prize at the hillclimb Vergato-Cereglio, first overall success for the car. At the end of the year, Robertino updated the car with a 2000 ATS engine and with a new fiberglass body; thanks to the upgrade Robertino won the Lago-Montefiascone hill-climb then sold the car to Cesare Toppetti who alternated the 1000 and the 2000 engines gaining some podiums. Still in 1965 Gano won in Volterra, finished second in Predappio but retired in Vallelunga and in Circuito del Mugello. Updates over updates In 1966 sport-protoype cars received less restrictive regulations so De Sanctis presented in February ad Torino auto show and in March at Modena sports cars show the same “Works car” (chassis 002) with a new – less charming – body, higher windshield made of glass. The car could fit 1000, 1600 or 2000 engines with Colotti 5 or 6 gearbox. Despite the two shows, nobody ordered any new Sport so the chassis 002 – a development chassis – had been given to Luciano Verrocchio (AKA Ellevù): same engine, gearbox and Campagnolo wheels with new updates on the rear suspensions inspired by the...
