As a Cisitalia 204A, the car was raced only a handful of times. It immediately proved faster than the existing Cisitalia racers, which had handsomely won their class and finished second in the Mille Miglia the year before.

Cycle fenders replaced the all-enveloping nose in the 204A’s final design. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Highlight of these few outings was the Giorgio and Alberto Nuvolari Cup in June 1948 when Adolfo Macchieraldo and Felice Bonetto finished first and second in the new Cisitalia. Sadly, the company was already in decline at this time and the development halted during the second part of the year. Fortunately, the cars were given a new lease of life as Cisitalia-Abarths in 1949.

Abarth had also managed to attract some of the best engineers and drivers from the now defunct Cisitalia. As a result, the newly formed Squadra Carlo Abarth hit the ground running. Piero Taruffi finished a strong season as Italian Formula 2 sports car champion and Guido Scagliarini won the title in the under 1,100 cc class. Now sporting Abarth’s famous “scorpion” badge, the cars were raced again in 1950 when the legendary Tazio Nuvolari scored the final victory of his long career in the Palermo-Monte Pellegrino hill climb at the age of 57.

During the season, the open racers were gradually replaced by a fixed-head machine. Confusingly still known as the 204A, it boasted a new platform chassis and a coupe body designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built by Vignale. It is believed that a total of five 204As were built, including the two cars produced in 1948.

They serve the distinction of being the last Cisitalias, the first Abarths and the last car raced to victory by the great Tazio Nuvolari.

Motorsports great Tazio Nuvolari raced the 204A in his last victory. (Photo: Wouter Melissen)

Completed by Abarth in 1950, this 204A has several unique features, including the bracket-supported front fenders. It was with this chassis that Nuvolari competed in and won his very last race. Various other drivers raced the car for Abarth in 1950, including Luigi Valenzano, who scored a class win in the Gran Premio di Pergusa.

The car re-appeared in 1953 in the hands of Ernesto Ferri, who raced for a year throughout Italy at events that included the Targa Florio.

Chassis 04 then followed Cisitalia founder Dusio home to Argentina. Here its racing career continued with the now 10-year-old car making appearances as late as 1958. It was subsequently used by the Asociacion Argentina de Automoviles Sport as a training car for racing drivers.

The current Argentine owner eventually acquired the car in 1978. A marque expert, he has since had the ex-Nuvolari machine meticulously restored to its original condition. At a rare outing, it is seen here during the 2012 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

For a gallery of photos, see Cistalia Abarth 204A Spider.

Read more stories like this at: The Ultimate Car Page.