Topic: Solved - NEH 4131: Nembo II - 1966

[Carnut]

This car seems to have had various lives and names; it's been pictured here before but for the point I'm asking for what it is called and what powered it in the form you see here?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[thewarlord]

1967 Strale 'Daytona' by Neri and Bonacini in Modena

[Carnut]

1967 Strale 'Daytona' by Neri and Bonacini in Modena

That's what it was when puzzled here before, but what I want is what it was in the picture used in this puzzle: it was not 1967 and not Strale..

[richard cuyler]

Was it a 1900cc  Opel engine?

[thewarlord]

It was wrongly called Nembo II by Road & Track in August 1966 issue -your photo comes from there-, and said to have a Chevy engine, but actually, when the car was premiered to the world at Torino's Motorshow in December 1966, it was officially baptized Strale, the ephimeral brand which had paid its construction to Strale.

[Carnut]

Was it a 1900cc  Opel engine?

No, I think you may be thinking of the Bizzarrini 1900 GT Europa!

It was wrongly called Nembo II by Road & Track in August 1966 issue -your photo comes from there-, and said to have a Chevy engine, but actually, when the car was premiered to the world at Torino's Motorshow in December 1966, it was officially baptized Strale, the ephimeral brand which had paid its construction to Strale.

Well, I'm not so sure it was wrong at the time.  I've read different stories about this car's various different identities so maybe this is how it really started life.  I'll have to try to dig out the fully story of this and how it became a Strale and indeed an Iso Daytona..

[Carnut]

The following was posted by sixtee5cuda in the thread 1966 Strale Daytona a few years ago:

QUOTE
An interesting car, which has had several names and different looks over the year.

The Strale Daytona 6000GT also carried the name "Nembo II", and seems to be the same car as the Iso Daytona Prototype, shown in this puzzle:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=548.0

To quote an internet source:

This Daytona GT Prototype began life as an Iso Rivolta GT 'stradale.' It was involved in an accident early on its life, and than acquired by car dealer Carlo Bernasconi of Milan who commissioned a prototype for an Iso-based, dual purpose competition GT with the a body shape of his own design. The work was performed by coachbuilders Neri & Bonacini of Modena. The mechanical components were similar to the Iso models developed by Bizzarrini, but the lightweight alloy body was similar to the Ferrari GTOs and the 250LM.


This paragraph probably explains why the car carries Chassis No. IR 330039 from Iso Rivolta.

Another web site indicates the car belonged to Carlo Bernasconi until 1991, when it suffered flood damage in Florence, Italy.  It was restored in Italy and rechristened the Iso Daytona.  Later American owners have extensively modified the car, adding more power, modified suspension, and body styling changes.

Bernasconi may have "commissioned" this car to be built during 1965, but as the car had its debut at the 1966 Italian Grand Prix, it should probably be labeled as a 1966 model.  Conflicting internet information shows Bernasconi as simply the designer of the car.

Eduardo Martini established the Strale company to produce the Strale Daytona.  Only a few cars were built before the company closed in 1967.

I haven't found any indication that a Chrysler 383 V8 actually made it into any of these cars, they all seem to have Corvette power.

Strangely, a series of Iso Rivolta Daytonas may have been built, perhaps 5 with solid roof and two open top cars.  (Could these all be called "Strales"?)
UNQUOTE

I can add nothing else!