1948 Nardi Corsa

Nardi-Danese

Enrico Nardi achieved notoriety and a small amount of fame in the pre-war era as a racing car designer, constructor, and driver. In the 1940 Mille Miglia, he was the co-driver of the first Ferrari, the Tipo 815.

After the war, he is reported to have assisted in the construction of the first Tipo 166 Spider Corsa sports racing cars. This may well be true since the cars he constructed with his partner, Danese, around 1947-1948 bear a strong resemblance to the Ferraris. Nardi, however, had neither the facilities nor finances which would enable him to build his own engine. Instead, he turned to the only large displacement engine then available in Italy, the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500. This dry sump marine motor six-cylinder, 2 1/2 litre engine had been used in Alfa Romeo sports racing cars before the war, winning a number of long-distance races had been used in Alfa Romeo sports racing cars before the war, winning a number of long-distance races and placing 2,4,7 and 8th in the 1940 Mille Miglia. The overhead twin cam seven main bearing engine design gave it a good bit of potential. In fact, Alfa Romeo used this engine in sports racing coupes which not only placed third in the 1949 Mille Miglia but also won the Targa Florio in 1950. The Alfa Romeo engines were tuned to produce 145 HP.

In late 1947, Nardi began construction of three cars for the 1948-49 Mille Miglia and Targa Florio. This car, number 948-5, is one of the two used in the 1948-49 race and was sold to American Perry Fina of New York in 1950.

Mr. Fina ran an establishment in the heart of Manhattan which specialized in the sale and preparation of racing and high-performance cars. He campaigned the Nardi, driven by himself, Jim Pauley, and Harry Grey in events at Palm Beach, Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen. In the early 1950s, a Cadillac engine was installed by Fina to keep the Nardi competitive with Allards and Jaguars which would outpower the Alfa engine. Sometime after this, Mr. Fina sold the car and it did not surface again until 1969, when it was purchased by Homer Tsakis. The restoration started with the purchase of the proper type 6C2500 Dry Sump Alfa Romeo engine and transmission, fortunately, the body and chassis were virtually intact.

The restoration has preserved the original racecar. The original AAA contest Board Plaque No. 035 is still affixed to the car. The original and famous Nardi competition steering wheel is in excellent condition. Richard DeLuna purchased the Nardi in August 1997 and began a complete ground-up restoration in November 1998, with over 2,700 hours devoted to its completion. He intends to show the car worldwide and return it to the original racing venues in the very near future.

The owners intend to vintage race the car at its original tracks for the 1940s and 1950s both in Italy and the U.S. The Nardi competed in the 2002 Mille Miglia, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Monterey Historics, Speed Festival, and was a class winner at Pebble Beach.

1948 NARDI CORSA-BARCHETTA
Unique Features: One of three spiders built.

In 1947 Nardi began construction of three cars for the 1948-49 Mille Miglia and Targa Florio. This car, No 948-5, is one of the two used in the '48-'49 races and was sold to Perry Fina of New York in 1950. Mr. Fina specialized in the sale and preparation of racing and high-performance cars. He campaigned the Nardi, driven by himself, Jim Pauley, and Harry Grey in events at Palm Beach, Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen. In the early 1950s, a Cadillac engine was installed by Fina to keep the Nardi competitive with Allards and Jaguars, which would outpower the Alfa engine. Sometime after this, Mr. Fina sold the car, and it did not surface again until 1969 when it was purchased by Homer Tsakis.

The restoation started with the purchase of the proper type 6C2500 Dry Sump Alfa Romeo engine and transmission; fortunately, the body and chassis were virtually intact. The restoration has preserved the original race car. The original AAA contest Board Plaque No 035 is still affixed to the car. The Nardi competed in the 2002 Mille Miglia Goodwood Festival of Speed, Monterey Historics, Speed Festival, Wine Classic and was a class winner at Pebble Beach.