The Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 was the first car to be fully designed and built by Enzo Ferrari to side step an agreement reached with Alfa Romeo in 1939. Scuderia Ferrarti built the car in a very short space of time. The 815 was developed by ex-Alfa Romeo engineers Alberto Massimino and Vittorio Bellentani and by Enrico Nardi.
The designation "815" was based on the car's eight-cylinder, 1.5 L engine. This engine was largely based on the four-cylinder, 1.1 L engine of the 508 C.
The chassis was constructed of large frame and cross members. The bodywork was done by Carrozzeria Touring. Only two cars were built, the first for Lotario Rangoni Machiavelli and the second for Alberto Ascari. This is the Ascari's car that made its debut on 28 April 1940 in the Mille Miglia. The car was sold to Enrico Beltrachini who raced it with modest results.