Solved - NEH 1113: Vignale Cisitalia 808 203 - 1952

Carnut · May 27, 2011, 09:35:18 AM

What's this car, by whom - for 1 point?

Carnut · June 10, 2011, 04:06:10 AM

Experts?

SACO · June 11, 2011, 08:10:24 AM

Cisitalia Ford 808 Vignale?

Carnut · June 11, 2011, 09:42:29 AM

Quote from: SACO on June 11, 2011, 08:10:24 AM
Cisitalia Ford 808 Vignale?

None of that is wrong, but it's not quite the whole story.
I'm almost tempted to say it's enough for the point, but I'll lock it for you for 24 hours to see if you can come with the final bits: what chassis was it based on (not a Ford like the other 808XFs) and what engine does it have?

And welcome to AutoPuzzles, SACO!

Carnut · June 11, 2011, 10:46:36 AM

Here are a couple of extra pics:

SACO · June 11, 2011, 01:03:58 PM

Fiat 1900 chassis ?

Carnut · June 11, 2011, 02:13:54 PM

Quote from: SACO on June 11, 2011, 01:03:58 PM
Fiat 1900 chassis ?

Actually I led you up the garden parth - it does sit on a Ford Thunderbird chassis and sports a Ford straight 6 engine.

So to complete all questions I just need to know which Cisitalia 808 it is? There are 3 more numbers as part of its name..

Still locked for you.

Carnut · June 13, 2011, 05:15:13 PM

The 24 hours is up SACO.
Are you going to fill in the final detail?
It's Cisitalia 808 *** ?
If you don't answer someone else will and take your point!

thorax · June 13, 2011, 06:55:05 PM

maybe Cisitalia Vignale coupè 808 203?

SACO · June 14, 2011, 02:02:50 AM

Cisitalia 808 XF Mercury V6 by Vignale ?

Carnut · June 14, 2011, 11:03:05 AM

Quote from: SACO on June 14, 2011, 02:02:50 AM
Cisitalia 808 XF Mercury V6 by Vignale ?

No - I think I already said it sits on a Ford straight 6 and I was looking for 3 numbers...

Quote from: thorax on June 13, 2011, 06:55:05 PM
maybe Cisitalia Vignale coupè 808 203?

...so thorax has nipped in and taken the point!
Better luck next time SACO!

autospeurder · June 15, 2011, 04:50:18 AM

If somebody has a better picture (in its original glory) could you please post it

woodinsight · June 15, 2011, 01:35:16 PM

Not sure if this is the same car as I don't know the coachbuilder on this photo -

75america · June 15, 2011, 02:43:11 PM

Quote from: woodinsight on June 15, 2011, 01:35:16 PM
Not sure if this is the same car as I don't know the coachbuilder on this photo -

Ghia

woodinsight · June 15, 2011, 02:57:57 PM

Okay thanks, looks similar but.......

Wendax · July 20, 2012, 06:53:07 AM

According to my information it is from 1953, and it is in doubt whether it really is a Vignale body.

RayTheRat · July 20, 2012, 12:24:26 PM

The last photo posted is one that I have labeled as a Cisitalia-Mercury XF808. That would make some sort of sense to me, anyway, since the Merc motor would have been a flathead and I'm used to seeing XF representing a flathead motor.

The other thing that I noted was the statement about it being on a Thunderbird chassis. I don't think this is right, since the first Thunderbird appeared in 1955. So having chassis to build on in 1952 or 53 doesn't make sense. Upon further review this post : http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=11375.0 says that it was based on a Fiat 1900 chassis with "the inevitable manifold with two Zenith carburettors [sic] and the exhaust system with separate pipes." Not written by an American hot rodder, that's for sure. But maybe it refers to the 505, not the 808, which seems to have been built using the Fiat 1900 motor as well as the chassis.

On another site with fairly decent accuracy, but full of typos says that the only cabriolet version (see attached photo) has a "law enforcement" (we'd say "police interceptor") motor of 312 cubic inches and a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The issue here is that the 312 "Y-block" motor was first available in 1956, while the "Ford-o-matic" transmission was sort of a 3-speed (1st gear only used when manually selected) so if that's what it really has, I'd say that it got the engine and transmission out of a 56 T-bird. However, that information is contradicted on a different site which claims that it has a Ford 6-cylinder motor.

I haven't been able to see any photos of any of the Cisitalia Fords' or Mercurys' motors. So I can't verify any of it. But my guess would be on the flathead V8 for both of 'em. They were much shorter than the I6, weighed about the same and made more power, especially with the "two carburettors."

If someone has photos of a Ford 6-banger in a Cisitalia, I'd love to see it.

Allemano · July 20, 2012, 12:32:32 PM

There was a big historical feature on Cisitalia and their Ford connection in a recent issue of Germany's biggest magazine about classic cars. I will re-read it and post a comment later.

SACO · July 30, 2024, 02:49:52 AM

What is this car , and by whom ; for 1 point !

SACO · August 21, 2024, 04:03:44 AM

Experts !

D-type · August 21, 2024, 04:54:03 AM

Is it a Simca of some sort?

hermanoto · August 21, 2024, 05:33:12 AM

Beutler Bristol 406E 1957?

SACO · August 21, 2024, 09:13:58 AM

Not a Simca !

SACO · August 21, 2024, 09:14:57 AM

Not a Beutler Bristol !

mekubb · August 22, 2024, 04:34:03 PM

Italian base car ?

News:

Solved - NEH 1113: Vignale Cisitalia 808 203 - 1952

RayTheRat