Founded just before World War
2 by Piero Dusio, a professional footballer whose
career in sport was cut short by injury. Dusio's
passion was racing, fortunately his business acumen
allowed him the financial freedom to run his own
racing team, Scuderia Torino. Following the war
Dusio decided to create his own automobiles, employing
ex Fiat employee Dante Giacosa to create one.
Based almost entirely on Fiat running gear, the
D46 was cheap, powerful and quick. Competition
success soon followed, including a second place
in the 1947
Mille Miglia. Orders for the D46 were
flooding in, but Dusio turned his attention to
the Grand Prix and, inevitably, this would send
him and the marque bankrupt.