Seat Nardi 750GT: The Mysterious Spaniard Tiny Racer

Unique ONES - In the realm of classic cars, there exists a hidden gem – a tiny sports car from an Italian affiliated Spaniard coachbuilder company that remains unfamiliar to many modern automotive enthusiasts. Let's delve into the intriguing tale of the Seat Nardi 750GT, a distinctive coupe born out of the fervor for car racing in the late 1950s by a group of Spaniards from the Zaragoza region.

The Seat Nardi 750GT is a distinctive coupe born out of the fervor for car racing in the late 1950s by a group of Spaniards from the Zaragoza region. (Picture from: AutoCollec)

During the 1950s, Nardi Torino gained global recognition for crafting exquisite steering wheels from top-quality wood and aluminum, adorning prestigious cars such as Ferrari, Lancia, and Alfa Romeo. While renowned for steering wheels, Nardi Torino expanded its horizons, venturing into accessories for racing cars and becoming synonymous with competition.

In the mid-1950s, a Spanish group, led by pilot engineer Pelayo Martínez, forged a deal with Enrico Nardi in Turin. This collaboration birthed Nardi Española SL on March 4, 1955, with a focus on designing and producing motor vehicle elements and accessories.

Nardi Española collaborated with the famed Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti to reimagine the Seat 600 into the legendary Nardi 750, unveiled in Madrid in 1960. (Picture from: AutoCollec)

With the commencement of Seat 600 production in 1957, Nardi Española shifted its focus to accessories and engine preparation kits for this model, boosting its power by 50%. The kits, which included modifications to the cylinder head, pistons, carburetor, and crankshaft, enhanced the displacement and compression, utilizing Weber dual-barrel carburetors. The most potent kit, the 1000 kit, doubled the power to 54 hp, transforming the Seat 600 into a high-performance machine.

The Seat Nardi 750GT's interior was plush and offered all the instrumentation of a real sports car, obviously with a Nardi steering wheel and full Veglia instrumentation. (Picture from: AutoCollec)

Driven by boundless creativity, Nardi Española enlisted the renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti to transform the Seat 600 into the Nardi 750, unveiled in Madrid in 1960. Constructed entirely in Zaragoza, Spain, this aluminum-bodied coupe retained the 750 Nardi engine. Despite sharing the same engine as the Seat 600, the Nardi 750 boasted modifications from the Nardi engine preparation kit, generating 46hp at 6,000 rpm.

The Seat Nardi 750GT sharing the same engine as the Seat 600, is boasted modifications from the Nardi engine preparation kit, generating 46hp at 6,000 rpm. (Picture from: AutoCollec)

A testament to meticulous craftsmanship, the assembly of the Nardi 750 required 900 hours of work. Surprisingly, it weighed almost 40 kg less than the Seat 600, thanks to extensive aerodynamic and weight reduction enhancements. Nardi Española's confidence in the car was evident as they offered it with a 100,000-kilometer warranty, showcasing the reliability of their prepared engines.

The Seat Nardi 750GT reached a top speed of 160 km/hour, enhanced by stability improvements like Koni shock absorbers. (Picture from: AutoCollec)

The Nardi 750 GT reached a top speed of 160 km/hour, enhanced by stability improvements like Koni shock absorbers. It positioned itself as a "customer competition" car, rivaling the likes of Italian Abarth and French Alpine productions. 

Furthermore, this Spaniard tiny racer adorned with plush interiors featuring Nardi steering wheels and Veglia instrumentation, the Nardi 750 GT, priced at almost 200,000 pesetas, stood as an elite symbol within Spanish society until the arrival of FASA-Renault Alpine.

Produced from 1960 to 1965, with approximately 65 or 66 units crafted, the Nardi 750 GT remains a rarity. Legend has it that the Nardi 750's reputation transcended borders, attracting owners like the American actor William Holden, who journeyed to Zaragoza to add one to his private collection. | cGmRS-qGKYo |

Among the surviving examples, one stands out – had showcased at the 2019 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este competition, it belongs to the fortunate Greek auto enthusiast Alex Vazeo, preserving the legacy of this extraordinary piece of automotive history. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | OLDTIMERPICTURES | CONCORSODELEGANZAVILLADESTE | AUTOCOLLEC ]

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