1927 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A S Fleetwood Roadster
Built for movie star Rudolph Valentino
Was one of the first cars on the market to have disc brakes on all four wheels, since the technology was first used in 1909
Won Best of Show at the 2019 inaugural Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance
Rudolph Valentino, a worldwide silent film star in the 1920’s, was a huge fan of Isotta Fraschini. Valentino had already owned an Isotta Fraschini Town Car when he commissioned this car to be custom bodied by Fleetwood with a sporting and elegant body paying close attention to all details as it was being built. Unfortunately, due to health complications, he passed away at the young age of 31 before LeBaron and Fleetwood finished building it and he never saw the car. When completed, it was shown by Isotta Fraschini at the 1926 New York Auto Salon, drawing Valentino fanatics by the thousands with hopes to feel his magic one more time.
This car was acquired by renowned collector Judge Joseph Cassini in 2001 and fully restored by RM Auto Restoration in 2003. Still in nearly immaculate shape, this Isotta Fraschini 8A S Fleetwood has remarkably won Best in Class awards at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance twice and took Best of Show at the inaugural Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance in 2019. It also recently won Best of Show in Switzerland at the Lugano Elegance Concours 2024.
Named for its founders Cesare Isotta and Vincenzo Fraschini, Societa Milanese Automobili Isotta, Fraschini & C was founded in January 1900 with the purpose to, “Import, sell, repair cars.” The brand’s earliest cars resemble the Renaults of the time and used Aster engines. Isotta Fraschini was one of the first companies to market cars with four-wheel brakes, after the technology was brought to light in 1909. With the Roaring Twenties taking hold in North America, Isotta Fraschini marketed deluxe limousines to wealthy clients in the United States including Clara Bow marketed deluxe limousines to wealthy clients here in the States including Clara Bow, whereas Valentino opted for an unusual sporty roadster version.
In addition to this Isotta Fraschini roadster, a second Fleetwood-bodied roadster, chassis no. 1400, was built in-period, with very similar styling, had also claimed the identity of “the Valentino car.” With the goal of definitively determining which car had been commissioned for the silver screen star, numerous period photographs of both automobiles were carefully analyzed.
Furthermore, chassis no. 1400’s long-term second owner, Joseph Gaeta, had been a salesman at Isotta Motors, and knew the history and provenance of his automobile, delivering the car to its first caretaker. His published recollections mention a man in California, but neither Valentino nor Joyce, who is well documented in period as having been the recipient of “the roadster built for Valentino.” Indeed, and most importantly, Mr. Gaeta never personally applied Valentino’s name to chassis no. 1400 during his half-century of care.
Specifications
Configuration: Front-Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
Engine: 5.9 L Inline Eight
Horsepower: 135 @ 2600 RPM
Transmission: 3-Speed Manual