1911 Isotta Fraschini PM

Sold for $544,669 (£348,700) at 2015 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale.
In 1899 two Italians, Cesare Isotta and Vincenzo Fraschini began to import cars from France to Milan. The following year they began to assemble the same cars with different engines. They slowly increased their range of models, and in 1905 a Tipo D was entered in the Coppa Florio. By 1906 they were the second largest car producer in Italy, after Fiat. A 02 horsepower engine was fitted to a range of models, including this Tipo PM. These cars were amongst the first in the world to have four-wheel brakes. They sold in large numbers and many were exported to the United States.

The elegantly designed automobiles were popular with the rich clientele. Their creations were reliable, stylish, and quick. At Targa Florio in 1908, one of their automobiles won.

In 1912 the Isotta Fraschini Company introduced a straight eight-cylinder engine but would not go into production until 1919 due to World War I. During the war, the Company shifted its resource to building airplane engines. When the war was over, the eight-cylinder engine was used to power their Tipo 8, making it the first straight-eight-cylinder engine to go into production. The 5.9-liter engine was capable of producing 100 horsepower, an extremely difficult accomplishment at the time.

The vehicle could be had in a variety of flavors and sizes. The standard model sat atop a 145-inch wheelbase, while a sportier version was fitted with a 134-inch wheelbase. The price to own one of these magnificent creations was not cheap, weighing in around $20,000.

In 1931 a four-speed gearbox and a refined engine were introduced and the name was changed to 8B. As with most businesses at this time, the Great Depression and a Second World War had taken their toll on the company. The company had shifted focus to creating airplane and marine engines during World War II. After the war, several efforts were made to jump-start vehicle production but all attempts failed. The factory was forced to close.