Isotta Fraschini, as the name suggests, was the brainchild of two Italian automakers, Cesare Isotta and Vincenzo Fraschini. Together they created one of the first super luxury cars of the world in 1902 with a 24 HP four-cylinder engine, leaving an indelible impact on the automotive industry with their amazing craftsmanship, reliability and technical refinement.
What Made the 'IF' a Special Classic Car?
- The car's instant fame crossed the border, attracting elite clients from the United States. Soon, the affluent and the rich were queued up to grab their meticulously personalized and exclusive cars. The wealthy clientele included Pope Pius XI, Aga Khan, the Queen of Romania, the King of Egypt and Benito Mussolini.
- The car also was the superstar of the day featuring in movies like ‘Sunset Boulevard’, Giant’ , and 'Invisible Agent', to name a few.
How Can a Special Classic Car Get More Special?
Isotta and Fraschini did that by creating their masterpiece, the Tipo 8, in 1912, a pioneer in many ways:
- It was the world's first mass-production car with an eight-cylinder engine.
- It was also the first to introduce brakes on all four wheels in 1910.
Its successor, the Tipo 8A came out in 1924 with 115 hp, and its highly acclaimed synchromesh transmission. This car was priced at an upwards of $20,000 for the American market. About 950 of them were produced from 1925-1931 by which time The Great Depression had taken its toll on the industry, hampering the sales of luxury vehicles.
Coming out of the hiatus, the company soon introduced the new Tipo 8B in 1931 with a four speed gearbox and a more refined engine. The post war Tipo 8 Monterosa was manufactured between 1948 and 1949.
A few highlights endorsing the significance of the car today are:
- An Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Convertible Torpedo Sedan sold for $330,000 at the 2007 RM Auctions and another for $467,500 in 2008.
- In the same year a 1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan sold for $467,500 at the RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook'.
- A1931 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A sold for $1,860,500 at the Bonhams Preservation Sale in 2012
- A 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Convertible Sedan sold for $473,000 and a 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS Castagna Roadster sold for $1,320,000 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in 2013
If you are fond of custom classic cars, the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 series are additions that serious car collectors can’t pass up. These valuable investments cannot go unprotected, so do yourself a favor and get a free exotic car insurance quote from Classic Auto Insurance today! Our insurance experts and help you with a comprehensive list of customizable collector car insurance plan options that are right for you and your collection.
Sources
http://www.howstuffworks.com/1947-1948-isotta-fraschini-8c-monterosa.htm
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z6808/Isotta-Fraschini-Tipo-8A.aspx
http://www.ganzomag.com/isotta-fraschini-vintage-italian-luxury-cars.html
http://classiccars.about.com/od/classiccarsaz/a/IsottaFraschini.htm
http://classiccarweekly.wordpress.com/tag/isotta-fraschini/
http://omniumcars.com/cars/isotta-fraschini-tipo-8a-1933
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
