The Mystery of the Nardi Silver Ray finally solved?

The use of an American V8 engine in the Nardi Silver Ray marked a significant milestone for Italian sports cars, in fact this never happened before. Crafted by Giovanni Michelotti, this automobile was built in 1960, using an unknown chassis, till today…

Thanks to our reader Tom McCrea, we may now shed some light on the enigmatic Nardi Silver Ray / Alfa Romeo 412 (read our special here). The intriguing details surrounding this unique vehicle, whose existence has been shrouded in mystery, might finally be unveiled.

Tom McCrea received the Nardi Silver Ray in 2011 for inspection, with no expectations of discovering any evidence of the original Alfa 412 GP car upon its delivery.

Tom lacked any visual references such as photographs, blueprints, or any other means to identify the chassis components. In order to gain insight, he decided to remove a portion of the body that enveloped the frame rails. 

This allowed him to observe the welded section where the front frame of a 1951-1954 Dodge or Plymouth had been attached. By examining the front brakes that required fixing, he successfully determined both the year and make of the vehicle.

This is where the Plymouth frame was attached to an existing frame of unknown origin, could this be part of the Alfa Romeo 412?

In 2012, the car was later transported to New Jersey and carefully placed within a shipping container, while keeping its ultimate European destination undisclosed.

Might we have finally solved the mystery behind the Silver Ray with the confirmation that part of the chassis of the Alfa Romeo 412 was used in the construction of this one-off signed by Giovanni Michelotti? Now, it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions, happy research…

Thank you to Tom McCrea for the informations and photos.