1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Flying Star Roadster

One of the most beautiful Isotta Fraschinis was a dramatic two-passenger roadster produced by the famed Milanese coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring on a Tipo 8A chassis. Set off by a bright chrome molding and hood louvers its lines recalled the trail of a flaring comet and was dubbed the 'Flying Star'. It made an appearance on Touring's stand at the Milan show of 1931 and won first prize at that year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Its subsequent history is unknown though it almost certainly did not survive World War II. The loss of such a great beauty inspired the creation of the automobile presented here, a painstakingly correct 'line for line' recreation of the 'Flying Star' on an original Tipo 8A chassis delivered originally to Bishop Eris O'Brien in Sydney, Australia.

The Milanese Carrozzeria Touring built a striking two-passenger roadster body on a Tipo 8A chassis. It was finished in bright white, including its chassis, and featured a veered and contoured windshield, rear-mounted spares, and a smooth, plunging, curved beltline. It was complimented by chrome molding and dubbed the 'Flying Star.'

It was put on display in 1931 on Touring's stand at the Milan Show. It later won a 1st prize at that year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. From that point, its history remains a mystery and may have been destroyed during World War II.

This particular example is a painstakingly correct recreation of the 'Flying Star' on an original Tipo 8A, chassis number 651. Number 651 had been delivered new in Australia, and its original coachwork is not known, but it may have been by James Flood or Waring Brothers. At some point in the car's history, it wore coachwork from a British automobile, possibly an SS1. The car was eventually restored and re-bodied to the 'Flying Star' design in Australia. The current caretaker acquired the car in 2001 from Jorge and Maria Fernandez.

This 'Flying Star' Recreation was displayed at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (2nd in Class), 2004 Amelia Island Concours (Best in Class), 2005 Meadow Brook Concours, 2009 Keels & Wheels Concours, 2011 Greystone Concours (Best in Class), the Santa Fe Concorso and Rodeo Drive Concours in 2014, and the Desert Concorso in 2015 (President's Award).

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2017