ISOTTA-FRASCHINI TYPE 8 A – year 1929

Manufacturer: Isotta-Fraschini Automobile Factory, Milan, Italy.

Double names - Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza and Isotta-Fraschini were a symbol of this in the 1920s, what is the most luxurious and important in the automotive world. Isotta-Fraschini, a brand of prestigious high-power cars with large-capacity engines became the first company in the world, which equipped its models with brakes on 4 wheels and introduced 8-cylinder in-line engines to series production.

The era of 8-cylinder engines was initiated by the company in 1919 r. the model marked as Tipo 8, which in 1924. was replaced with an improved Tipo model 8 A. The original engine's cylinders were in diameter 95 mm, what with the stroke of the piston 130 mm represented the capacity 7300 cm3. The entire engine block was made of cast aluminum, the one the company used for aircraft engines. The pistons were also made of an aluminum alloy. The timing was an OHV overhead valve. A notable peculiarity of the engine was the two Zenith carburettors. The crankshaft based on ten bearings is equipped with a vibration damper. The engine power was calculated as 81 do 88 kW (110 do 120 KM) by 2400 RPM. The drive was transmitted to the rear axle - through a multi-plate clutch and a 3-speed gearbox - by the crankshaft. It was obvious that the brakes were on 4 wheels with vacuum assist. The handbrake also worked on 4 wheels. The classic chassis with rigid axles was sprung with semi-elliptical springs with friction shock absorbers. The chassis itself cost 2500 German marks and weighed 1500 kg. The fact is noteworthy, that the company produced only chassis and only ordered the body from a selected body shop at the request of the buyer. The famous film actor Rudolf Valentino owned a car with a coupe de ville body - the American company Fleetwood.

The model shown in the picture was made by the Cesare Sala body in Milan. From 1928 r. the company also supplied complete cars.

Isotta-Fraschini in the late twenties decided to produce not only super-luxurious, but also the fastest cars. Therefore, a new model was presented on the market - Tipo 8 ASS. An engine with a higher compression ratio, with larger valves and two carburettors it achieved power 100 up to 110kW (135 do 150 KM). The engine torque made it possible to smoothly develop the speed in third gear from 8 km/h do 180 km/h.