Intended as a low-cost feeder class to Formula 1 racing, Formula Junior was first introduced in Italy in 1958 and quickly spread to other European countries.

Naturally, Italian manufacturers dominated the series at first with front-engined cars.

Going against the grain was Gino De Sanctis, who ran a Fiat dealership in Rome with his son Lucio.

Rather than build a front-engined car, De Sanctis chose to make his Formula Junior mid-engined, fitting a 1,100 cc Fiat 1100/103 engine with dual Weber carburetors and a four-speed gearbox, producing 72 bhp at 6,200 rpm.

De Sanctis also utilized a tubular spaceframe chassis with coil-spring front suspension and transverse leaf-sprung swing axles at the rear.

Bearing chassis number 005, this specific De Sanctis was built in 1958 and raced by Antonio Maglione in 1959 and 1960 in the Italian Junior Constructors Championship.

Piloted by him in over the course of two seasons, he managed an incredible six podium finishes and two victories, at the ...