The story of Ghia – part 2
Read part 1 The revolution by Savonuzzi The succession of prototypes made on behalf of Chrysler undoubtedly influenced the 1951 project by Piero Dusio,…
Cisitalia 808XF Cabriolet
Chassis
#000202
In a search for low-cost, easily serviced componentry, Piero Dusio’s son Carlo made contact with Henry Ford II, who was already the owner of a Cisitalia 202 cabriolet. Ford was responsive to supplying running gear for a new Cisitalia sports car that would be substantially larger than the earlier cars marketed by the firm.
Vehicle Overview
The Cisitalia 808XF Cabriolet: Logically enough, the designation 808XF indicated an X-shaped chassis with Ford running gear. That running gear started with Ford’s 215cid, overhead valve straight-six with a four-main-bearing crank in a cast-iron block. With a conservative 7.0:1 compression ratio and a single-barrel Holley carburetor, power output was 101 horsepower. Naturally, a Cisitalia couldn’t use a stock version of a production engine and the company went to work. With a revised Cisitalia cylinder head, valve cover and twin Weber carburetors, the target output was at least 110 horsepower, which then passed through the Ford transmission. Ford also would supply the brakes, although some suspension modifications were envisioned. All of these components found their way into a Cisitialia-designed chassis capable of accommodating both the more powerful Ford V-8 and a DeDion rear-axle layout. Henry Ford II liked the prototype he was shown and asked his brother in-law, Ed Sullivan to oversee the project. As part of the review process, the prototype was evaluated by Ford’s engineering department. There were many changes recommended, but none were particularly serious and could have been rectified if proper funding were made available. In another less ambitious attempt to keep the project on track, four Ford chassis were sent to Italy to be modified, and fitted with Italian coachwork similar to the prototype. Tuning and mechanical changes were to be less ambitious, but that would also make the likelihood of such a car reaching production far more probably. Engine changes included dual carburetors , revised manifolding and a lovely cast-alloy valve cover. Two cars were bodied by Vignale; a cabriolet and a coupe, as apposed to the original prototype, which Ghia had completed to a Boano design. Two subsequent coupes were built by Racconigi on the remaining pair of Ford chassis. The two Vignale cars were sent-accompanied by Carlo Dusio to Ed Sullivan in New York. Apparently, an astute Road & Track reader might have notice the adds for Jericho Motors Ltd, in Long Island proclaiming that one of the Cisitalia 808XF Cabriolet could have been had for $7,500-a huge sum in early 1953. Not surprisingly, the proprietor of Jericho Motors was none other than a Mr. Ed Sullivan, who retained the Vignale cabriolet for many years and is now in the hands of a New York collector.
Technical Specifications
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Body
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Year1952
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MakeCisitalia
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Model808XF Cabriolet
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CoachbuilderVignale
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Length (mm)N/A
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Height (mm)N/A
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Units built1
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Engine Type6L
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DesignerGiovanni Michelotti
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Type ApprovalN/A
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ColourN/A
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Type ApprovalN/A
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Wheel PlanN/A
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Revenue WeightN/A
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