Description
The Ferrari Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, often regarded as the first car to bear Enzo Ferrari’s influence, was produced in 1940. However, due to contractual obligations with Alfa Romeo, Enzo Ferrari could not use his name on any new cars, so the vehicle was named under the Auto Avio Costruzioni brand. The 815 was developed for racing and was built for the 1940 Mille Miglia.
The car featured a 1.5-liter inline-eight engine, from which the “815” in its name derives: eight cylinders and a 1.5-liter capacity. The engine, based on Fiat parts, produced around 75 horsepower, and the car was paired with a four-speed manual transmission. It had a lightweight aluminum body and a tubular steel chassis, showcasing Ferrari’s early emphasis on performance and design.
Only two units of the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 were built, making it an extremely rare and historically significant car. It marked the beginning of Ferrari’s legacy in motorsport, despite not officially carrying the Ferrari name at that time. Both cars entered the 1940 Mille Miglia, although neither finished the race due to mechanical issues. The 815 laid the foundation for Enzo Ferrari’s future successes in the automotive world.