Belgian title
Chassis No 157 SMM
Engine No 102/3-006

- Built from the engine of Nuvolari's Cisitalia (2nd Mille Miglia 1947)
- Replica of an exceptional model
- Eligible for the Historic Mille Miglia

According to information compiled by the seller on the Cisitalia bearing the chassis number 157SMM and the engine number 102/3-006, this car was created in the 1990s.This was confirmed to him by experts of the brand and by collectors based in Argentina, who even provided detailed photos.

Therefore, this car was built in Argentina in the 1990s by Noel "Coto" Girelli. He created a chassis and bodywork from scratch based on the Spider Nuvolari model, as well as the interior's layout. He assigned the fictitious number "157" for his project, which was stamped on the chassis. Later in the car's life, someone stamped the letters "SMM" (Spider Mille Miglia) right behind the number.

Mechanically, the gearbox, front and rear suspension, instruments and various small parts originated from a destroyed Cisitalia Spider Nuvolari belonging to Mr. Diaz in Argentina. As for the engine fitted by Girelli in his creation, it bears the number 102/3-006. It was the one advertised for sale in 1988 in the Italian magazine Auto Capital No 11. It then turned out that this engine came from the Cisitalia Spider Nuvolari No 001A, driven by Tazio Nuvolari in the 1947 Mille Miglia event.

Once Girelli completed his car, it was sold to a German buyer residing in Peru. The latter managed to enter it in the 1995 edition of the classic Mille Miglia in which he took part, before selling it at auction in September 1995 through Sotherby's. It was acquired by an English enthusiast who stripped it down so he could send it to be restored in a local workshop in New Zealand. It stayed there for many years (still dismantled) before being purchased by an Italian collector through an American dealer. The buyer entrusted the car in 2005 to the Faralli Restauri workshops in Italy, so it could be properly restored. According to Faralli, the front suspension was the wrong type and was probably from a Cisitalia Type D46.
Once completed, this car was again entered in multiple Italian rallies by its owner and took part three times in the Mille Miglia. Around 2015, It was located in Belgium.

Let's remind ourselves that the original Cisitalia Spider 1100, designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi and Dante Giacosa under the leadership of Piero Dusio, owes its name to the astounding driving ability of Tazio Nuvolari during the 1947 Mille Miglia. Despite his car's modest engine size and the lung disease he was suffering from, he held first place for a good part of the race. But a violent thunderstorm unfortunately drowned the ignition and slowed the car down, consequently handing the victory to the mighty Alfa 8C 2900 B car of Biondetti / Romano and Nuvolari finishing second.

Full catalogue and more photos https://www.artcurial.com/en/sale-4315-retromobile-2023-artcurial-motorcars