Nardi Steering Wheels

Nardi Steering Wheels

Definition and Historical Status
Nardi is a legendary Italian steering wheel marque founded in Turin in 1932 by engineer and racing driver Enrico Nardi. The brand is renowned worldwide for its iconic three-spoke wooden steering wheels, having supplied original equipment (OE) steering wheels across Ferrari’s entire model range between 1959 and 1965, while also serving as the factory-fitted choice for celebrated classics such as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and Porsche 356. Nardi is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious classic and sports steering wheel brands, with an enduring footprint spanning OEM supply, motorsport competition, and aftermarket tuning.

Founder Enrico Nardi
Enrico Nardi was born in Bologna in 1907. At the age of 22, he joined Lancia as an engineer and test driver, earning the high regard of founder Vincenzo Lancia. In 1937, he moved to Ferrari—then operating as a racing outfit—becoming the first test driver in Ferrari's history and contributing to the development of the Tipo 125C, the first car to carry the Ferrari badge in 1947. In 1946, Nardi partnered with Roman racing driver Renato Danese to establish "ND", manufacturing wood-and-metal steering wheels and performance components, which gave birth to the signature silver-and-blue "ND" emblem. In 1958, Nardi rekindled his partnership with Enzo Ferrari; from then on, the majority of Ferrari models came factory-fitted with Nardi steering wheels, a collaboration that continued until 1965.

Core Craftsmanship: Handcrafted Wooden Steering Wheels
Nardi’s most recognisable product remains its three-spoke wooden steering wheel, characterised by a polished solid wood rim (predominantly walnut or mahogany), three slim metal spokes (finished in silver or black), and the signature "E. Nardi" script emblem at the centre. Every steering wheel is handcrafted in Italy, from timber curation and finishing to the final assembly of the metal spokes by master craftsmen. From an engineering standpoint, Nardi prioritises ergonomics and tactile feedback, fine-tuning spoke angles and rim profiles to deliver direct, unfiltered steering feel to the driver. In 2002, marking 70 years of heritage, Nardi cemented its benchmark position in classic and performance steering wheel manufacturing.

Product Lineup
The Nardi portfolio is primarily split into two distinct brands. The Nardi brand centres on classic wooden steering wheels, comprising the Classic series (such as the ND34 and ND35), the Vintage series (recreating period-correct OE specifications from 1950s and 1960s Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and other marques), and the commemorative Anni series (50th and 60th Anniversary editions). The Personal brand, introduced in the early 1960s, is geared towards motorsport with leather or Alcantara-wrapped rims and a more aggressive, track-focused aesthetic, having served as a technical supplier to Formula 1 teams including Williams, McLaren, Lotus, and Benetton. Nardi steering wheels typically feature diameters ranging between 330 mm and 360 mm, with dish depths from 25 mm to 40 mm, catering to everything from vintage classics to modern performance machinery.

Motorsport Heritage and OEM Collaborations
Nardi’s motorsport pedigree is rooted in Enrico Nardi’s racing background and the marque's active presence in the golden era of post-war Italian motorsport. A standout creation from this period was the 1955 Bisiluro Damolnar Le Mans prototype, whose distinctive twin-boom "torpedo" design remains an engineering marvel in racing history. On the OEM front, Nardi’s clientele encompasses virtually every premier European performance marque, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Lancia, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, McLaren, Rolls-Royce, TVR, Volkswagen, and Abarth.

Brand Ownership and Manufacturing
Following Enrico Nardi’s passing from sepsis in 1966, the Nardi family stepped away from the business in the 1970s. Two years later, the Nardi trademark was acquired by Personal, leading to the incorporation of Nardi Italia S.p.A. as an independent entity in 1990, based in Tradate, Province of Varese, Italy, headed by CEO Lorenzo Cerofolini. Today, all Nardi products remain handcrafted in Italy, with each steering wheel bearing an individual serial number verifiable on Nardi’s official website. Nardi also provides an authentic restoration service, where master artisans restore heavily worn or weathered original steering wheels back to pristine factory condition.

Aftermarket Applications and Vehicle Inspection Considerations
In the aftermarket tuning scene, Nardi steering wheels are primarily fitted in two key segments: interior upgrades for classic cars (without airbags) and track-oriented builds on modern performance platforms (such as the Toyota 86 and Mazda MX-5). Because Nardi wooden steering wheels do not incorporate airbag modules, retrofitting one to a modern vehicle equipped with factory airbags will trigger a persistent airbag warning light, which will lead to a failure during mandatory vehicle roadworthiness inspections. Much like MOMO, Nardi steering wheels are best suited for factory non-airbag classics or dedicated track-only applications where regulatory compliance is straightforward; on modern road-going passenger cars, removing the factory-fitted airbag breaches vital safety and legal compliance boundaries.