Featured today is a Nardi ND 4 Spyder, seen here at the New York Championship Race meeting, Thompson CT July 20th 1958 where it came in 11th driven by John Igleheart in Race 1, a race which I will be returning to tomorrow.
Enrico Nardi was an Italian racing driver, engineer and designer who worked for Lancia and the works Alfa Romeo Scuderia Ferrari Team. Enrico is credited with being one of the first two drivers to race the Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, considered to be the very first Ferrari model in all but name, in the 1940 Mille Miglia.
In 1951 Nardi established his own workshops on Via Lancia, Torino to build prototypes and one of the strangest vehicles out side of Can Am 2 the twin boom Nardi Bisiluro for the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours.
The mid 1950's ND4 Spyder is one of many of Nardi's 750 cc vehicles which came in a variety of shapes powered by a variety motors including JAP, Crosley, Panhard and in the case of this particular vehicle a 4 cylinder 43 hp 747 cc / 45.5 cui FIAT unit sourced from the FIAT 600 parts bin.
John Igleheart driver of the #95 seems to have been a specialist at racing cars with small motors he is known to have raced from at least 1953 to 1968, he seems to have been most successful driving a 'Bobsy'.
My thanks again to Ed and Steve Arnaidin for todays valuable contribution and to Terry O' Neil for the race results.
Hope you have enjoyed today's 45.5cui edition of Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres' and that you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !
Great lookin little ride!
ReplyDeleteI love these little vehicles from Italy Racer, until I started researching Ed's pics I had no idea there were so many of them :-)
ReplyDeleteI think my car is a Nardi. It says Nardi on the steering wheel.
ReplyDeleteSame company JC, I understand Nardi produce/d a range of performance parts :-)
ReplyDeleteJD Igleheart, continued to race with the VSCCA for many years. He had an OSCA 750 and a pre-war Riley.
ReplyDeleteHis son used to compete in Candy Poole's PBX Crosley powered HM special. The last I heard he is now living in South Carolina.
John
Thanks for the update on JD John :-)
ReplyDeleteSad news from Truitt Rabun :-
ReplyDeleteArt,
I tried to reply to one of your blogs but was unable to do so. Therefore, this
email.
I am sorry to report that John (JD) Igleheart passed away this past Thursday.
JD and his wife Rita were members of my car club on Hilton Head Island, SC. His
service is tomorrow at St. Mark’s Episcopal Chapel, Port Royal, SC. Interment
at the Beaufort National Cemetery, Beaufort, SC. Memorials may be sent to the
Beaufort County Open Land Trust.
I knew that JD had raced in the past, but not the extent until doing some web
research this evening. Small displacement seems to have been his forte. The
Nardi stands out for uniqueness. Alfa and Bobsey come up often.
The Oyster Club has many members with notable automotive and racing backgrounds
that are often unknown to the other members. For the most part, we’re a humble
lot who enjoy one another’s company with only an occasional tale tale here and
there.
JD will be missed.
Regards,
Truitt Rabun
Lowcountry Oyster & Motorcar Driving Society
To which I’d like to add my sincerest condolences to JD’s family and friends.
RIP John Ingleheart