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.