In the heart of Modena, within the walls of his workshop on Via Sabbatini, Sergio Sighinolfi embarked on his journey as a constructor of sports cars. His first creation, a 1948 sports car with a body crafted by the renowned Modenese coachbuilder Campana. This car, driven by Cremona’s Antonio Morandini, later featured an Ermini engine and finished 42nd overall at the 1951 Mille Miglia.

Fast forward to 1953, and Sighinolfi was ready to unveil his next ambitious project. Utilizing a tubular chassis engineered by Nardi, a specialist in high-performance automotive components, Sighinolfi built a 750 cc sports car that would soon make its mark on the racing circuit. This car was powered by a BMW motorcycle-derived engine, meticulously tuned by Nardi to produce 40 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The lightweight aluminum body, once again shaped by Campana, allowed the car to reach an impressive top speed of 150 km/h—an extraordinary feat for such displacement.

The car’s first appearance was at the XXXVII Targa Florio, with Sergio Sighinolfi himself behind the wheel. Its performance on the Sicilian mountains was just the beginning of an illustrious racing career. After its debut, the car was sold to Sicily, where it continued to compete in various prestigious events. Pasquale Placido piloted the car at the 1954 Targa Florio, while Giovanni Canale drove it in the 1953 Catania-Etna race. Placido also took the car to the Palermo-Monte Pellegrino hill climb, the Trullo d’Oro, the Giro delle Calabrie, and the Coppa San Rizzo, further cementing its legacy in the annals of Italian motorsport. FInd it for sale at €240,000 (today $265,000) here in Reggio Emilia, Italy.