1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Convertible Sedan

The Società Milanese Automobili Isotta, Fraschini & C. was founded on January 27th of 1900. Early work focused on the assembly of Renaults before advancing to the production of its namesake automobile. Their early cars were high-horsepower vehicles that were well-suited for racing. In 1908, the cars proved their potential by winning the 1908 Targa Florio. In the late 1910s, the company began establishing itself as a luxury manufacturer by introducing the Tipo 8, the first production car to feature a straight-eight engine. The 5.9-liter Tipo 8 was followed by the 8A, which had a 7.3-liter straight-eight engine, offered 110 horsepower.

This 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan wears coachwork by Floyd-Derham. When Joseph J. Derham (the Derham Company's Founder) passed away in 1928, it created a rift between his three sons, which would change the makeup of the company. Sons James and Enos wanted to run the firm just as it had been with their father in charge, while Philip wanted the firm to modernize and expand. Philip left the Derhams Body Company in 1928 and - with the financial backing of William Floyd (a European car importer based in Bryn Mawr, PA) began designing and drafting projects. The actual body production was carried out by Alexander Wolfington, Son & Company. When the Floyds import car business began to feel the effects of the stock market crash of 1929, they withdrew their support of the coachbuilding firm. The open orders were later completed by Wolfington with the help of the Derham Body Co. Though the firm was short-lived, it did manage to produce two vehicles for display. One example was a Minerva Town Cabriolet, displayed at the Chicago salon in the fall of 1928, which is now part of the Nethercutt Collection. The second car is this Isotta Fraschini convertible Sedan, chassis number 1571, which was displayed at the New York Auto Salon in December.

After the show, the car went into private ownership and next appeared in the collection of Paul F. Cofrancesco of New Britain, Connecticut. Mr. Cofrancesco would retain the car until around 1974. At that time, the car was still finished in its original color scheme of Butterscotch with yellow fenders and belt line. Mechanically re-commissioned, it remained largely original through the subsequent ownership of Bill Lassiter, Sonny Abagnale, and the Imperial Palace.

After the current owner acquired the vehicle, it was given a thorough body-off restoration. The work was performed between 2006 and 2008. It is now finished in Green with Forest Green fenders and belt molding. There is a tan cloth top and brown leather interior with ostrich seat inserts. It rides on chromed wire wheels with whitewall tires. There is a radiator stone guard, tubular bar-type bumpers, and wood ribs on the front splash apron. The 7370cc, L-head eight-cylinder engine offers 110 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel Dewandre vacuum servo-assisted mechanical drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2013