1909 Isotta Fraschini FENC Tipo A

Jul 17

Written By Katelyn McSherry

1908 FE in Savannah original negative Detroit Public Library lightened copy.jpg

This car is one of five surviving examples of what many experts consider one of the first “sports cars”. Weighing less than 1500 lbs and powered by a 14 horsepower four-cylinder, this Isotta Fraschini FE Non Competizione is one of the early experiments in lightweight racing, a brilliant example of ‘voiturette’ competition cars- a stark contrast to the large displacement racing cars most common at this time. It is thought that approximately one hundred of these quick small cars were built.

FENC Tipo A #6023 made its American debut at the 1910 New York City Importers’ Automobile Salon, priced at $2,750. The first known owner was a Yale graduate, Noel McDonald, from Pelham Manor, NYC. By 1939, however, the car was abandoned in the Bronx where it was found in a derelict but nearly complete state by noted collectors A. Ulmann, S.H. Oliver, H.A. Clark, and R. Stein, and described in Stein’s book, The Great Cars.

Restored in the 1990s to driving condition by B. Rubin and J. Vogel at Bonfanti Garage, the current owners’ complete restoration in 2017 returned #6023 to factory originality and color. Although 111 years old, this FENC still offers lively performance and the classic sports car experience. #6023 has won at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, and Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace.

Isotta Fraschini’s first racing automobile quickly helped to build the brand’s racing reputation, the massive 17.2 liter 24 horsepower four-cylinder was driven by Vincenzo Fraschini in several races. The car, the Tipo D, led to the Tipo FE, which was powered by an innovative and compact 1.2 liter four-cylinder. The FE was far ahead of its time, it was one of the first cars to improve performance by integrating an overhead camshaft configuration. The FE was designed to meet the 600 KG minimum weight limit for the 1908 Grand Prix de Voiturettes at Dieppe. Just three examples of the FE were produced, and were not very successful in their sole 1908 race entry at Dieppe. The FE race car served as the predecessor to the FENC road car you see here.

A short time after the Dieppe race, Isotta Fraschini announced a road-going version of the Tipo FE voiturette under the designation “FENC”, differing mainly in minor engine design details like an increase in engine capacity to 1327cc. It was also about 100lbs heavier and developed 14 bhp against the 18 of the FE. And, had a four-speed transmission against the three-speed transmission found in the FE.

Lent by Harold Peters & Juanita Doerksen, Vancouver, WA