Vehicle Description
Destined to become one of Italy's most prestigious luxury car
manufacturers, Isotta-Fraschini formed in the late 1800s when
lawyer Cesare Isotta partnered with brothers Vincenzo, Antonio, and
Oreste Fraschini. The four men shared a passion for motorcars, and
they began importing French DeDions into Milan before embarking on
a more ambitious plan to build a car of their own. Finding success
in the early 1910s, the company grew steadily and enjoyed an
increasingly loyal following, particularly in the American market.
The Tipo 8 of 1912 marked Isotta-Fraschini's arrival in the upper
echelon of car manufacturers, featuring world's first production
inline 8-cylinder engine and four-wheel brakes.
The successor Tipo 8A followed in 1924, retaining the
eight-cylinder layout, but with an entirely new chassis and
suspension. Testers criticized early iterations for being
underpowered compared to the mighty Hispano-Suiza, but in Isotta's
defense, the 8A's objective was silence over speed. Not to be
outdone, however, subsequent evolutions of the Tipo 8A, the Spinto,
and Super Spinto, made 135 hp and 160 hp respectively, putting any
criticism to rest. Particularly in ultimate S.S. form, the
Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A stands among the most desirable of all
Classic Era automobiles. The combination of power, prestige and
engineering excellence was matched by the work of great
coachbuilders including Fleetwood, Derham, Worblaufen, and Italy's
own Castagna. In America, where nearly a third of Isottas were
sold, the price of an 8A exceeded that of a Model J Duesenberg.
Pricing started at $9,750 for a chassis alone, with complete cars
often approaching $20,000 depending on coachwork. As such, Isottas
attracted the likes of King Faisal, the Aga Khan, William Randolph
Hearst, and Rudolph Valentino, to name just a few.
One of those aforementioned great coachbuilders was the
Floyd-Derham Company.With the passing of Derham's founder, Joseph
J. Derham, in 1928, a rift between his three sons was exposed,
which would change the makeup of the company. Son Philip wanted the
firm to modernize and expand, while siblings James and Enos
remained in favor of running the firm just as it had been with
their father at the helm. Philip left the Derham Body Company in
1928 and utilized the backing of William Floyd, a European car
importer based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Philip Derham was
responsible for the design and drafting work, and the actual body
production was carried out by the well-known Alexander Wolfington,
Son & Company.
Just prior to the stock market crash of 1929, the Floyds imported
car business began to falter, and they withdrew their support of
the nascent coachbuilding firm, despite the fact that there were
orders to fill. These were ultimately completed by Wolfington, with
the help of the Derham Body Co. Although short-lived, the firm did
manage to produce two vehicles for display. One of those was a
Minerva Town Cabriolet, displayed at the Chicago Salon in the fall
of 1928, which is now part of the Nethercutt Collection. The second
car is this Isotta Fraschini Convertible Sedan, chassis 1571, which
was displayed at the New York Auto Salon in December.
After the show, the car went into private ownership and next
appeared in the collection of early enthusiast Paul F. Cofrancesco,
of New Britain, Connecticut, who was actively purchasing these
magnificent, used, pre-war masterpieces in the 1940s and '50s. A
graduate of the Yale School of Fine Art, Paul was an accomplished
artist and musician, and he was also a friend of Rudolph Valentino.
Perhaps it was Valentino's association with the Isotta Fraschini
marque that fueled Cofrancesco's interest, because he ultimately
had four of them in his collection.
Cofrancesco came to the attention of fellow pioneer collector
Anthony Pascucci, of Meriden, Connecticut, who tried many times
over the years to acquire the cars. Ultimately, well-known
collector and operatic tenor Sergio Franchi got involved in the
chase, and the two ultimately convinced Mr. Cofrancesco to part
with his cars around 1975.
As unearthed from the garage in New Britain, the car was still
finished in its original color scheme of Butterscotch with yellow
fenders and belt line. Mechanically recommissioned, it remained
largely original through the subsequent ownership in several
well-known collections. In 2006 it was entrusted to Reinhold's
Restorations, of Reinhold, Pennsylvania, for a thorough body-off
restoration. The work, which was completed in 2008, saw the body
stripped down to the bare chassis and all of the components rebuilt
and refinished. The engine, transmission, and rear end were fully
disassembled and rebuilt with all-new gaskets and seals. In
addition, new high-compression aluminum pistons and rings were
fitted. In the process of restoration, every piece of chrome was
replated, and the wheels were fully rebuilt and balanced by the
Dayton Wire Wheel Company. More recently, the car has received
further maintenance and sorting by noted Classic Era specialist
Automotive Restorations in Lebanon, NJ.
Finished in a handsome two-tone green, the body is accented with
subtle red stripes.Providing a pleasing contrast to the body color
scheme is a richly appointed dark tan leather interior with ostrich
seat inserts and a tan cloth top. The chromed wire wheels are shod
with whitewall tires, and the radiator stone guard, which is nearly
unique on every Isotta Fraschini, depicts a point-down triangle
divided down the middle. Some interesting features of this example
are the tubular bar-type bumpers, the wood ribs on the front splash
apron, and the upward curve of the door, which reaches up almost
imperceptibly to match the height of the cowl. The long belt
molding traverses the length of the hood and then splits at the
cowl and continues down the side of the body, where it rejoins and
dips down sharply to allow room for the convertible top to fold
down. The rear contains additional room for a stationary trunk rack
and trunk.
The mighty 7.3-liter, overhead valve, inline-eight is more than up
to the task of propelling the big Isotta along with ease. With the
signature bright red cylinder block, the jewel-like presentation
continues on the engine, which was completely rebuilt during the
restoration.
Compared with the Americans and other European neighbors, Italy's
contribution to Classic Era automobiles was somewhat smaller, yet
as we see with this exceptional motorcar, no less
impactful.Fastidiously restored, this is the sole example of
Floyd-Derham coachwork on an Isotta Fraschini chassis and is ready
for the next keeper to carry on its remarkable legacy.
Offers welcomed and trades considered
