1927 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8AS 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.
Rare custom coachwork by Fleetwood Metal Body, Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.
Rudolph Valentino, a worldwide silent film star in the 1920’s, was a massive fan of Isotta Fraschini. Valentino had already owned an Isotta Fraschini Town Car when he ordered this car to be bodied by Fleetwood with a sporting and elegant body. Unfortunately, he passed away at the young age of 31 before the car was completed. When completed, it was shown by Isotta Fraschini at the 1926 New York Auto Salon, drawing Valentino fanatics by the thousands. 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 was then shown in 2020 in the exhibition From the Racetrack to the Opera: Marques That Did It All.
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 brands 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 introduced in 1909. During the “Roaring Twenties” in America, Isotta Fraschini marketed deluxe limousines to wealthy clients here in the States such as 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, and had also eventually 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.
Specifications:
Configuration: Front-Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
Engine: 5.9 L inline 8-cylinder
Horsepower: 135 hp @ 2600 rpm
Transmission: 3-speed manual