Photo: Arnaud 25 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Raced1940
Top speed175 km/h
Units built2
The 1940 Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 was the first car Enzo Ferrari designed and built entirely on his own. At the time, he was not yet permitted to use the Ferrari name due to legal disputes with his former business partners at Alfa Romeo. Two open two-seaters were produced with a 1.5-liter inline-eight, designed by Alberto Massimino and Vittorio Bellentani. At the 1940 Grand Prix of Brescia, both cars retired with engine troubles. One was later scrapped, while the other is now housed in a collection in Italy.
Summarized from the sources cited below; every figure in the text was automatically verified against the sources.
Good to know
- The core of the engine consisted of two Fiat Type 508 C four-cylinder units mounted end-to-end, but sharing a specially cast aluminum block.
- The designation 815 refers to eight cylinders and a 1.5-liter displacement.
- The commission was placed in December 1939 by Lotario Rangoni: two racing cars for himself and Alberto Ascari for the Mille Miglia in April 1940.
- Rangoni's car was luxuriously appointed with leather and decorative chrome, whereas Ascari's car was spartan; the chassis carried the numbers 020 and 021.
Learn moreOrigins · Technical details · Chassis and body
Origins
When Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo in 1938, his contract prohibited him from restarting Scuderia Ferrari for four years. In Modena, he founded Auto Avio Costruzioni (AAC), which manufactured aircraft components and machine tools for the Italian government, including hydraulic grinding machines for ball bearing production. In December 1939 came the order for two racing cars. They were developed by former Alfa engineers Alberto Massimino and Vittorio Bellentani, advised by test driver Enrico Nardi. The Mille Miglia for which they were intended was officially named the Grand Prix of Brescia in 1940.
Technical details
The straight-eight was based on the Fiat 508 C Balilla 1100: the valve gear, cylinder heads, and connecting rods came from Fiat, and the compression ratio rose from 6:1 to 7:1. New elements included the aluminum block cast at the Calzoni foundry in Bologna, a five-bearing crankshaft, and an in-house camshaft. Instead of two Fiat distributors, AAC built a single unit to avoid synchronization issues. For its era, the engine was advanced: two valves per cylinder, semi-dry-sump lubrication, and four Weber carburetors. The Fiat gearbox was fitted with in-house manufactured gears and formed a single unit with the engine.
Chassis and body
Because the Mille Miglia regulations required production chassis, the chassis was also derived from the Fiat 508 C Balilla. Up front was a Dubonnet-type independent suspension with integrated shock absorbers, and at the rear a live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs. The bodywork by Carrozzeria Touring was made of Itallumag 35, an aluminum-magnesium alloy, and featured long, flowing lines with integrated fenders. Touring also penned an open version; drawings and a model were created, but World War II prevented further development.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
Frequently asked questions about the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815
When was the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 raced?
The Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 was raced in 1940.
How much power does the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 have?
Power of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815: 72 at /minuto.
What engine does the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 have?
Engine of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815: 1.5 l (1496 cm³) OHV I8.
How fast is the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815?
Top speed of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815: 175 km/h.
How many Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 were built?
2 units of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 were built.
Who designed the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815?
Design of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815: Alberto Massimino, Vittorio Bellentani.
What are the predecessor and successor of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815?
Successor: Ferrari 125 S.
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