At the start of the 1920s, no extravagance was too much and the prestige car manufacturers competed to offer the highest level of luxury and indulgence. At Isotta-Fraschini, the Tipo 8A, presented in 1924, followed the first series produced car, the Tipo 8, that had an inline 8-cylinder engine designed by Giustino Cattaneo. Weighing more than 2 tonnes, the Tipo 8A was given a 7.3-litre engine that while not overly powerful (approximately 110 bhp at 2,800 rpm), had an enormous amount of torque, so that it barely needed all three gears. Most of the cars built went to the US where people were crazy about this type of model, and an Isotta was more expensive than a Duesenberg. One of the most famous fans of the Isotta- Fraschini during his Hollywood years was Rudolph Valentino - he shared his nationality with this impressive automobile. A real show-stopper, the Isotta was perfect for cruising down the wide boulevards, or for a long journey on the open roads, lulled by the gentle roar of its special engine. Testimony to a carefree time, cars like the Tipo 8A were condemned to a short production run by the 1929 Crash. Nothing like these cars was seen again.
The exceptional Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A on offer is known as "l'Isotta du marquis", a name given to it during the period it belonged to the late Yves Dalmier. In his celebrated book "Les roues de fortune", there are several hilarious pages on driving this car, or rather the adventures surrounding it. Dalmier tells us that the car, which was built in 1924, was initially given a " boule " torpedo body, original Isotta model. Some years later this was completely dismantled in the workshop of the Swiss coachbuilder Ramseier, in Worblaufen. According to Dalmier, " the only part of the first body to survive is a hint of the old bonnet, in the form of a Dural part, now useless, attached under the current bonnet." Ramseier created a new cabriolet body and exhibited the car at the Geneva Motor Show in 1932. Totally beautiful, the cabriolet body with steeply sloping running board gave this imposing automobile a lighter feel.
Yves Dalmier bought the car in 1960, in rather extraordinary circumstances, even for the period, having placed a small ad asking for " any nice old cars ", or something similar. He was sent a letter, offering him this wonderful Isotta. After various twists and turns in the story, Dalmier finally took possession of the car in exchange for a Salmson S4 that he had bought to attract buyers...According to " Les roues de Fortune ", which has a reproduction of the seller's letter dating from June 1960, the Ramseier coachwork was commissioned by the seller's father-in-law who at that time was responsible for Omega watches in Geneva (the reason why the body had been built in a Swiss workshop, in Worblaufen). The letter addressed to Yves Dalmier noted that " this car is in a perfectly maintained condition ". Dalmier kept this formidable cruise ship for six years, covering some 12,000 km and carrying out work, including an engine re-build, to allow the car to continue providing good service. In 1966, following a reversal in fortunes (recounted in the second volume of his book "Les roues de misère"), Dalmier was forced to part with his substantial Isotta-Fraschini, and it was Albert Prost who bought it. And so, this car that was born in the 1920s, has known just three families with its definitive coachwork. A very rare occurrence.
During the 1980s, Albert Prost had the car restored by the Ateliers de Restauration de Touraine, in Sorigny. It emerged with refurbished mechanical components and the magnificent coachwork repainted in cream, after a slight hesitation about the colour of the bonnet. There is an amusing anecdote about this : on display at Retromobile, a visitor passed by the car and exclaimed : " This is the car that my Grandfather built. " . Documents from the coachbuilder confirmed that it had indeed been the right choice of colours.
Rarely driven and regularly maintained, this extraordinary car remains in superb condition today. It is a rare testimony to the excesses of the Roaring Twenties, before the Crash of 1929 put a halt to the extravagance. Everything about this Isotta is extravagant, although the perfectly balanced styling of the body makes it appear 'less' than it is.
There is no other known example of this legendary model in France. With its continuous history, small number of owners, original engine and second body, this Isotta-Fraschini presents an opportunity that will not come again for a long time. It is for you to seize the exceptional opportunity that has arisen, for this Isotta is undoubtedly the most beautiful Isotta grand tourer, with the charismatic styling and undeniable beauty of an automotive masterpiece.
"An insane bonnet, fantastic..."
The book by Yves Dalmier, "Les roues de fortune", is full of anecdotes about the Isotta that he had between 1960 and 1966. Following the letter from the owner, the first contact he had with the car was a photo. His initial reactions are worth transcribing : " I took the photo in my hands, like a glass of water in the face. Surely, it was a dream ! In fact what I was looking at was a gigantic black and white cabriolet, appearing to fill every inch of the road it had stopped on. With extraordinary bicycle wings, enormous, connected to a curved running board sloping up to the front, an RR radiator grille and at the back, two huge spare wheels that stood higher than the trunk. Between the front and the back, a bonnet, just a bonnet, but an insane, fantastic bonnet.
Squashed behind this was a " compartment " with half a steering wheel showing. And in the middle of this monster, right on the top, a tiny windscreen, like a fingernail stuck on the deck of a ship.
These are the inadequate words that, after several years, describe the memories of this first contact. "
(Extract from "Les roues de fortune, les roues de misère", by Yves Dalmier, illustrations by Jacques Liscourt, Éditions Automobilia, Monaco, 1991)
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