To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 8 - 9
March 2019.
Estimate:
$450,000 - $650,000
- Retained by Isotta Fraschini for nearly 60 years; incredibly
preserved example
- Unique landaulet with work by two renowned coachbuilders
- The earliest known surviving Tipo 8A with three owners from
new
- Recently serviced and ready for touring
The car offered here, chassis no. 655, is the earliest known
example of the company's most famous and prestigious model, the
Tipo 8A. As one of the earliest Tipo 8As produced, its styling bore
much resemblance to the preceding Tipo 8, including the design of
the fenders, flat single-bar bumpers, and nautical-style cowl
vents, indicating that a styling transition was still in-process.
It was bodied by Cesare Sala of Milan, one of Italy's premiere
coachbuilders and one with a very close relationship to Isotta
Fraschini, as Oreste Fraschini, a member of the founding family,
occupied a seat on Sala's board.
According to Isotta historian Angelo Tito Anselmi, in his famous
book on the marque, the car was recorded as being sold to Filippo
Bolzari of Milan. Further recent research by historian Jonathan
Sierakowski has confirmed that Bolzari, owner of the Hotel
Metropole et Monopole of Milan, had the car first registered on 29
September 1927 with license plate number MI 11753.
According to copies of its original Italian registration, on 2 July
1936, Mr. Balzari relocated to the popular Italian resort community
of San Remo, 60 kilometers from Monte Carlo, and the registration
consequently changed to IM 4151 in the administrative commune of
Imperia on 18 July 1936. On 21 October 1946, the designation of the
car was changed, from "private use" to "rental" (what might better
be termed livery use) for the Excelsior Bellevue Palace, also owned
by Balzari, in San Remo. One can assume that it was used as the
hotel's courtesy automobile, for chauffeuring visiting guests to
the casino or fine restaurants. It remained until 16 July 1958,
when the car was sold back to the factory, Isotta Fraschini
Automobili-Breda of Saronno, for 100,000 Italian lire. Early on in
the factory's ownership of the car, Carrozzeria Riva was
commissioned to restore the car to its original splendor.
As is typical of a modern company, Isotta Fraschini evolved over
the course of the 20th century, through several different
ownerships and iterations. Isotta Fraschini & Motori Breda SpA of
Saronno eventually became Mec-Fin SpA of Rome/Nevio Russo, and
finally simply Finmeccanica, an Italian company active in defense,
aerospace, and security work, which acquired the Isotta Fraschini
name and the car in 1993. Chassis no. 655, a symbol of the
company's heritage that they were thoughtful enough to protect,
remained with its original manufacturer, in all of its iterations
and through multiple episodes of corporate turmoil, for a
remarkable 58 years.
The car was purchased by its current third owner in early 2017. It
was sent to the Pebble Beach award-winning RM Auto Restoration to
be worked on and prepped for touring. Mechanical work included
rebuilding the carburetor and water pump. In addition, all fluids
were replaced, and the car received new gaskets where applicable.
The brakes were checked and prepped for touring, and new tires were
mounted. A new muffler was fabricated from scratch to original
specifications. The hood was painted, as it was heat-checked, the
car was completely detailed and all brightwork was polished. The
car participated in the 2018 Pebble Beach festivities, completing
the Tour d'Elegance without issue, and later shown on the lawn at
the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the Italian Classic
class.
This well-preserved Isotta Fraschini, the earliest known Tipo 8A,
is a truly unique car with a fascinating story. Having been
mechanically sorted, it is ready for the next custodians to
experience the joy of Isotta Fraschini ownership.To view this car
and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.
