Giovanni Savonuzzi

Giovanni Savonuzzi (Ferrara, January 28, 1911 – Ferrara, February 18, 1987) was an Italian engineer and automotive designer who made significant contributions to the world of car design and engineering, especially during his time with Cisitalia and later in his collaborations with other renowned companies. Savonuzzi’s early life was marked by hardship, as he lost his father, Ezio, in World War I. He later went on to graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin.

His professional career began at Fiat Aviazione, where he conducted studies and experiments in aerodynamics and turbine engines. With the outbreak of World War II, he was recruited by the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS), where he worked with many other Fiat technicians, gathering intelligence and aiding the Allies and partisan forces. After the war, Savonuzzi joined Piero Dusio’s Cisitalia, a key moment in his career that allowed him to refine his design skills and work alongside notable automotive figures like Dante Giacosa, Tazio Nuvolari, and Carlo Abarth.

One of Savonuzzi’s most iconic creations at Cisitalia was the 202, a masterpiece that derived from the D46 racing car. The Cisitalia 202 became legendary for its elegant design and innovative approach to automobile styling, with features like a lower hood in relation to the front fenders and a continuous surface from the cockpit to the rear. It was so revered for its beauty that it was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Despite the success of the 202, the financial strain caused by the development of the ambitious 360 Grand Prix led to the downfall of Cisitalia. In response, Savonuzzi teamed up with Virgilio Conrero to found SVA (Società Valdostana Automobili), where they produced a lightweight Formula 1 car that, although unsuccessful in racing, showcased futuristic engineering ideas like a small turbocharged engine.

In the 1950s, Savonuzzi worked with the Ghia body shop, where he was appointed General Director. During this period, he was involved in the development of several prototypes and show cars, including the famous “Gilda” and “Futura” concept cars. His work at Ghia further cemented his reputation as a visionary designer. Savonuzzi also spent time at Chrysler in the United States, working on turbine-powered vehicle prototypes in the late 1950s, a technology that was thought to be the future of automobiles at the time.

Returning to Italy, Savonuzzi played an essential role at Fiat’s Orbassano Research Center, focusing on reducing harmful emissions and improving engine systems. He retired from Fiat in 1977 and began teaching Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic of Turin.

One of Savonuzzi’s personal curiosities relates to his time with the OSS. Although he was never involved in combat, he was issued a silenced pistol, which he took apart to understand its mechanism. This led him to an idea for reducing noise and slightly boosting power in a car’s exhaust system. He developed early experimental mufflers that were later used by Carlo Abarth to create the famous Abarth muffler, a significant contribution to automotive technology.