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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
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
2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $600,000
Sale Price :
USD $196,000
2017 RM Sothebys : Hershey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $500,000
Sale Price :
USD $302,500
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A
(Data based on Model Year 1930 sales)
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Transformable Cabriolet by Castagna Chassis#: 1585 Sold for USD$298,523 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Roadster Sold for USD$885,000 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1927 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A 'Flying Star' Recreation Chassis#: 687 Sold for USD$196,000 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Two-Door Sports Coupe Chassis#: 1676 Sold for USD$235,200 2019 Bonhams : Collectors Motorcars and Automobilia Auction | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Boattail Cabriolet by Castagna Chassis#: 1581 Sold for USD$1,270,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A 'Flying Star' Recreation Chassis#: 687 Sold for USD$302,500 2017 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Cabriolet Chassis#: 1578 Sold for USD$1,040,486 2015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1930 ISOTTA FRASCHINI TIPO CABRIOLET Sold for USD$1,100,000 2012 Barrett-Jackson at Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Sold for USD$467,500 2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | |
1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Transformable Torpedo Chassis#: 1585 Sold for USD$495,000 2008 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 1578 Sold for USD$330,000 2007 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona |
Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8As That Failed To Sell At Auction
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8AS Boattail Cabriolet | 1581 1599 | 2012 RM Auctions Monterey | $1,450,000 | $1,750,000 | $2,500,000 |
1930 Isotta-Fraschini 8A Convertible Sedan | 1578 | 2009 RM Auctions Automobiles of London | $165,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A | 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | $240,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 |
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1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A
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