The Cars of Giovanni Savonuzzi

Known by Cisitalia as the ‘Savonuzzi Streamliner,’ or ‘Aerodynamica Savonuzzi’ it was designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi with the help of the small wind tunnel at the Turin Polytecnico and the model and drawings handed to Vignale for construction. Forty years later, in the full size Pininfarina windtunnel, the car achieved a CD of a very low .029. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

There were three Cisitalia Mille Miglia coupes. 001 was a mule without streamlining or fins, and CMM (for Coupe Mille Miglia) 001 and 002 were both raced by Taruffi in the Mille Miglia; 001 CMM in the 1947 event, and 002 CM in the 1948 event. Both of the CMM cars had high fins. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The round portholes suggest that this particular car is 001CM. Note the similarities between the Savonuzzi Aerodynamica and the later 202 as transfigured by Pininfarina in late 1947. This car was the genesis of the Pininfarina Cisitalia 202. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Savonuzzi not only designed the the three Cisitalia coupes but was also responsible for the three Spiders that entered the 1947 Mille Miglia. The cars were similar to the coupes but the fins were toned down. When Savonuzzi drove the new Spider, 001a for Nuvolari’s approval, he noted that the great drivers stroked the fenders as it if were a thoroughbred horse. And indeed, it was a thoroughbred. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Of the first three spiders, one, driven by Dusio himself, had cut down doors and was called ‘Razzo’ Pictured is one of the Nuvolari Spiders with standard bodywork. Note the reduced size of the fins and how well they are blended into the rear of the car. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

In a day when new names are constantly affixed to old cars to increase the value and glamour, the ‘Nuvolari’ is a fully authorized factory name. After the heroic drive to second place in the 1947 MM, Piero Dusio formally requested Tazio Nuvolari to allow this car to be called ‘Spider Nuvolari’. The great driver replied on October 4th 1947, giving his permission. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The sixth two-seater Cisitalia chassis as developed by Savonuzzi was sent to Pininfarina. The drawings from both Pininfarina and Savonuzzi can be compared in our article, ‘Giovanni Savonuzzi, Designer’. The differences are slight, but in translating Savonuzzi’s drawings to steel, Pininfarina demonstrated both his genius and that of Savonuzzi. Savonuzzi himself was the first to give Pininfarina the credit due. Pininfarina, on the other hand, kept quiet and received the accolades. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

This body is by Vignale, not Savonuzzi, who returned to Carlo Dusio’s Cisitalia in 1952 for brief time. The car is one of the small run of 808XF series built by Cisitalia for Ford. Savonuzzi designed the X shaped backbone frame which incorporated a De Dion rear suspension and up front, a six cylinder Ford or V8 Mercury. The project died when Ford introduced the Thunderbird. For more on this, see ‘Savonuzzi the Designer’. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Savonuzzi went to Ghia in 1952, and immediately helped his friend Virgilio Conrero construct a special Alfa Romeo 1900 for a client. The result was the ‘Supersonica’ Series, and the same style was applied successfully to a line of Ottu Vu Fiats. Savonuzzi designed by the body and chassis for the Alfa 1900 special. The Supersonica’s pictured here are all on the Fiat Otto Vu chassis. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The rear taillight treatment would show up on several other show cars as well as production models and reflected Savonuzzi’s interest in jet aircraft. Most Ghia designs at the time were for American companies, Chrysler, Ford and GM. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

In addition to the special Alfa 1900, an amazing 14 Fiat Otto Vus were constructed with the Supersonica body by Ghia. Chassis numbers 00035-00041, 00043-00045, 00049, 00053, and 00056. Most still exist. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The Ghia Gilda was perhaps Savonuzzi’s most extreme design. Truly a spectacular show stopper which brought down the house at the 1955 Turin Auto Show in April, it was sleek, sexy and someone — we don’t know who – called it Gilda after Rita Hayworth’s role in the movie of the same name. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Savonuzzi was intrigued by the use of turbines and Gilda was designed to accommodate a turbine. Over a half century later, Scott Grundfor realized Savonuzzi’s intentions by buying the car and installing a small turbine into the rear. The full story can be seen in the article, ‘Gilda, The Car’. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The rear of the car leaves little doubt as to why Gilda was aptly dubbed. Also, in a strange twist of fate, the fins that overtook U.S. car design in the later fifties were a result of Savonuzzi’s work in the wind tunnel. The difference, however, was that Savonuzzi’s fins were the result of aerodynamics, whereas the use of fins in the U.S. was largely decorative. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The Desoto Adventurer was a series of show cars built for Chrysler, some designed by Virgil Exner, some by Savonuzzi. The Chrysler Adventurer I was designed by Exner. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Long, low, wide and typically American, Savonuzzi’s Desoto Adventurer II was shown in 1954 and had elements from the Supersonica series, particularly the rear lights. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The tinted rear window retracted into the trunk space. The interior was a nice combination of American and Italian elements working with more harmony than the body. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

In 1935 Count Gianni Lurani broke International Class I records with a neat little 500 cc Guzzi twin mounted to a special frame and with a very streamlined body. With other engine displacements Lurani broke more records in 1939 and again in 1940. He named it Nibbio (kite). Pictured here is Nibbio II. Photo by Hugues Vanhooland

In 1955, a new car was designed, this time with a chassis by Volpini and a 350 cc Moto Guzzi single. For the body, he turned to Giovanni Savonuzzi who was still at Ghia.Savonuzzi used the knowledge gained from the Turin Polytechno wind tunnel and came up with a record breaking Gilda. In June of 1956, Lurani established a new 3 hour record at 81 mph at Monza with what was now called Nibbio II. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

Ferrari enthusiasts were aghast at the sight of this very Americanized 1956 Ferrari 410 Super America, serial number 0473SA. But was it really Americanized? Good question, since Savonuzzi did this right off of Gilda, not for Chrysler and was influenced only by the wind. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The Ferrari was also referred to as Super Gilda for obvious reasons. Some called it ‘pure showcar fantasy’ but it was always roadworthy, and well maintained over the years. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt

The car was ordered by Bob Wilke of Milwaukee Wisconsin who was very involved in racing at Indianapolis. His Leader Card entries won the 500 in 1959, 1962 and 1968. Wilke was a true enthusiast and knew his cars. Photo by Hugues Vanhoolandt