Stanguellini 2800 Sport Nazionale

The Stanguellini 2800 Sport Nazionale was a one-off racing prototype constructed in 1939 by the Modena-based firm Automobili Stanguellini, with coachwork executed by Carrozzeria Campana. It was based on the Fiat 2800 chassis, modified for competitive use under national sports car regulations operative in pre-war Italy. The car represents an early example of Stanguellini’s transition from tuning Fiat mechanical components to developing complete vehicles tailored for motorsport. The chassis retained the structural configuration of the Fiat 2800 but was adapted to suit the requirements of a lightweight, open-cockpit sports car. The engine was a front-mounted inline six-cylinder unit with a displacement of 2,852 cubic centimetres. The cast-iron block featured overhead valves and a light alloy cylinder head. Power output figures were not officially published but are estimated to have exceeded the standard touring car specification. The powertrain included a Stanguellini-tuned manual gearbox driving the rear axle. Suspension consisted of independent components at the front and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Braking was managed via mechanically actuated drum brakes on all four wheels. The body was fabricated in hand-formed aluminium by Campana, a coachbuilder also located in Modena. The design featured a long bonnet, open wheel arches, and integrated front grille. The cockpit was configured for two occupants in a spartan arrangement suitable for competition use. Aerodynamic considerations were evident in the flowing side panels and recessed driving position. The visual presentation followed the conventions of late 1930s Italian sports-racing design, with minimal ornamentation and an emphasis on mechanical expression. Only a single example of the Stanguellini 2800 Sport Nazionale was constructed. The car was campaigned by various drivers in period, including Luigi Filippone and Luigi Villoresi, and later by Renato Balestrero in post-war events such as the Mille Miglia. No surviving factory documentation regarding chassis numbering or production records is publicly available. The vehicle’s current status is unknown.