Cisitalia 505 DF

Vehicle Overview

The Cisitalia 505 DF: In the early fifties, Cisitalia had developed excellent contacts worldwide with the best engineering companies and car designers. The new 505 was based on an improved Fiat 1900 chassis and drivetrain and was considered as a very early example of pure personal luxury cars. Bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia, the stunningly clean design was falsely attributed to Giovanni Savonucci, but the original design sketches show that the design is actually by Aldo Brovarone. Thunderbird, Riviera, Hawk, Grand Prix, Charger, Monte Carlo… you name all of them and they are unmistakingly present in the 505′ spirit. Presented at the 1953 Geneva Auto Salon this classy, sleek and elegant Cisitalia 505 coupé was the perfect car for the then-current Concours d’Elegance show circuit. Also the 505’s technology, based on the Fiat 1900 platform, was state of the art. Fiat’s 1901 cc engine was uprated using a modified alloy cilinderhead and twin Weber 34 DR 6 carburettors on a Cisitalia manifold. Furthermore the camshaft, pistons and exhaust system were upgraded much like those on the Abarth cars of the same period. The 4-speed gearbox was fitted with an overdrive unit. Power jumped to 80-85 HP at 5.500 revs enabeling this 505 to reach easily 160 Km/h. To stop, alloy finned drum brakes were fitted. Only 10 Cisitalia 505 DF were built.