Enrico Nardi – Part II: Steering Wheels and More

30 September 2016 Redazione Vintage

Edited by Vita di Stile

Enrico Nardi still holds a legendary place in the history of the automotive industry. His story is quite intriguing and it intertwines with the life of some famous characters. However, Enrico Nardi is well-known, in particular, for theproduction of both classic and sports steering wheels.

However, his inexhaustible passion for anything on four wheels and great talent drove him towards a career as a businessman with a varied and original production line, thus, it would be wrong to associate him only with the production of steering wheels.Indeed, his passion for mechanics led Nardi to the automotive world: when he was only 25 he accomplished the “Chichibio” project together with Augusto Monaco, Massimo Lancia and Giulio Aymini.

Nardi started to collaborate with Lancia and then with Ferrari as test driver; in 1940 he competed in Mille Miglia and in 1942 he graduated.

His love and interest in the construction techniques led him to found in Turinin 1947the Nardi-Danese (together with the roman racing car driver, Renato Danese): a company specialised in building racing cars, prototypes and small-series special designs.

Over time, Nardi specialised in the production of technical and mechanical parts able to improve the performance of his cars: for that reason, Nardi planned innovative exhaust and vacuum systems, then chosen by Mini Cooper S, Austin Healey Sprite, and he also tested different types of manifolds.

Nardi career as builder of fast racing cars ended in 1955 with the realisation of the Bisiluro. That car, created as ultra-light and aerodynamic in order to compete at Le Mans alongside the much larger and far better funded factory teams like Jaguar and Ferrari, did not represent a success because of its unpredictable stability provoked by technical and aerodynamic choices.

In the 50s Nardi’s career had a breakthrough, indeed, his passion and determination led him to specialise in the production of steering wheels.

According to him the steering wheel wasnot a simple accessory, but an essential elementaround which the ability of a driver is centred. Moreover, he maintained that the steering wheel had to be provided with “beautiful technique”, therefore they should be beautiful concerning both the designand the quality of material used such as wood and aluminium.

Nardi’s steering wheel are characterized by some basic values: safety(in case of impact, the elasticity/flexibility of the framework was able to guarantee the steering wheel deformation in order to avoid driver injuries), flexibility (the light structure of the steering wheel was able to filter the many vibrations), ergonomics (the usage of wood in the production of steering wheels guarantee a great/good grip even without gloves) and solidity.

These features have always been the basic ingredients of a success formula that continues also today.Yesterday as well as today, the greatest car builders such Maserati, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and McLaren rely on Nardi-Personal. The Nardi steering wheel is a classic, something very close to perfection in this field.