In its racing years it developed several innovative and experimental cars and engines, but perhaps its most famous invention was the 1.5-litre supercharged V16 engine that raced from 1950 until 1955. In the Type 15 it would only race twice in F1 after several setbacks before regulation changes rendered it obsolete.
Despite each cylinder displacing less than 100cc, the V16 developed close to 600PS (441kW) thanks to an incredible redline for its day of 12,000rpm and its two-stage supercharger. Little wonder it also became the first F1 car to use disc brakes. Juan Manuel Fangio described it as "the most fantastic car I ever drove – an incredible challenge in every way". It was also raced in its day by Stirling Moss, Jose Froilan Gonzalez, Peter Collins and Peter Walker. Sadly the rules for which it was designed, and would potentially have dominated after early reliability problems were ironed out, were abandoned for the 1953 season.