Cisitalia 808XF Coupé

Vehicle Overview

The Cisitalia 808XF Coupé: In 1953, Cisitalia faced numerous challenges. Piero Dusio was determined to relocate his industrial businesses from Italy to Argentina, with the backing of Argentine president Juan Peron. However, financial limitations posed the biggest obstacles for him. Dusio had invested significant amounts in securing the release of Professor Ferdinand Porsche from a French prison and in the creation of various Porsche-designed vehicles, including the D46 monoposto racer and the 202 coupe and cabriolet models. Even though the Cisitalia name may not have been widely recognized and known in every circle around the world, the company’s badge and reputation were highly respected by those who were familiar with it. What these individuals understood was that Giovanni Savonuzzi possessed the remarkable ability to transform ordinary, mass-produced components into a vehicle that would be highly desired by true enthusiasts. Carlo, Piero’s son, reached out to Henry Ford II in his quest for affordable and easily maintainable components. At that time, Ford already owned a Cisitalia 202 cabriolet. Ford showed great interest in providing the necessary running gear for a larger Cisitalia sports car, surpassing the size of the firm’s previous models. The 808XF designation was used to indicate an X-shaped chassis with Ford running gear. The running gear consisted of Ford’s 215cid, overhead valve straight-six engine with a four-main-bearing crank in a cast-iron block. It had a conservative 7.0:1 compression ratio and a single-barrel Holley carburetor, producing 101 horsepower. However, Cisitalia needed a modified engine for their car. They made changes to the Cisitalia cylinder head, valve cover, and added twin Weber carburetors, aiming for an output of at least 110 horsepower. The power then passed through the Ford transmission. Ford also supplied the brakes, while some suspension modifications were planned. All these components were integrated into a Cisitalia-designed chassis that could accommodate both the more powerful Ford V-8 engine and a DeDion rear-axle layout. In an attempt to keep the project on track, four Ford chassis were sent to Italy for modifications. The goal was to fit them with Italian coachwork similar to the prototype. The changes made to the tuning and mechanics were not as ambitious, but this increased the likelihood of these cars reaching production. The engine modifications included dual carburetors, revised manifolding, and a beautiful cast-alloy valve cover. Vignale was responsible for creating a cabriolet and this coupe, while Ghia had completed the original prototype based on a Boano design. Racconigi then built two additional coupes using the remaining Ford chassis. Carlo Dusio personally escorted the two Vignale cars to Ed Sullivan in New York. Interestingly, a sharp-eyed reader of Road & Track might have spotted advertisements for Jericho Motors Ltd in Long Island, offering the Cisitalia 808XF Coupé for a whopping $7,500 in early 1953. It’s worth noting that Jericho Motors was owned by none other than Mr. Ed Sullivan himself. He held onto the Vignale cabriolet for quite some time before it eventually found its way into the possession of a collector in New York.

Photo courtesy of Max Serra / drives.today