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Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8 restoration project Chassis no. See…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Sydney
Date:
13-Nov-2010
Lot No.
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Description:
Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8 restoration project Chassis no. See textEngine no. 124, Cesare Isotta and Oreste Fraschini formed their Company in 1900, their first car, shown at the 1901 Milan Expo, was a single-cylinder, 5hp machine. Almost immediately Isotta started to make a name for itself in competition and would continue to do so for many years. In June 1902 Oreste Fraschini took 2nd place in the Sassi-Superga Hillclimb while six years later the marque scored a resounding victory in the tough Targa Florio race and took 2nd place in the Vanderbilt cup. In 1913 three Isotta-Fraschinis were entered in the Indianapolis 500 race, becoming the first cars with four-wheel brakes to compete in that event. Records show that among the Isotta-Fraschini drivers in 1920 was a young Italian named Enzo Ferrari.both Isotta-Fraschini and Hispano-Suiza concentrated on the luxury car market after World War I and both companies debuted new models in 1919, bristling with features that would not be out of place today. At this time Rolls-RoyceÆs sole model was the silver Ghost, which was produced from 1906 to 1925 with only relatively minor changes, but the Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8 had the edge on both the Rolls-Royce and the Hispano-Suiza. It was powered by the worldÆs first series-production straight-eight engine and featured four-wheel brakes, which the Company had pioneered in 1910. By contrast, Rolls-Royce did not fit four-wheel brakes until 1925. Like Rolls-Royce, Isotta-Fraschini built its reputation on one model, the Tipo 8, which remained in production for more than a decade.like many companies, Isotta-Fraschini fell victim to the depression and the fact that its one model was aimed at the top end of the market. Weighing 30cwt (approximately 1,520kg) the Tipo 8 was produced only in chassis form, leaving specialist coachbuilders to supply appropriately luxurious custom built bodies, these included formal town carriages, elegant limousines, æTorpedoÆ tourers, cabriolets and sporty two-seaters; and because of the engineÆs performance all could reach 100mph, even when burdened with the weightiest of bodywork.A handful of Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8s were sold Australia in the early 1920s and the vehicle on offer here is most probably one of those, the early history is not documented but the car is known to have belonged to Dr. Geoffrey Davis of New South Walesbefore passing into the present ownerÆs hands. Bought many years ago as a restoration project, the Isotta has been dry stored for some time and comprises the chassis frame, front and rear axles with brakes
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Motor Vehicles: Motor Cars